Overpopulation?

Question

One of the biggest factors in world issues today. Why is it that this is never addressed? Pollution, food, healthcare, infrastructure, education, poverty are all examples of problems that stem from a world that is over populated.

We have tons of laws telling people what they can and cannot do. How about a law that dictates how many children people can have, so the rest of us dont get screwed by having to pay for them.

Contaception is a wonderful thing that would solve many world problems.

What do you think?

Answer 1

Currently we as humans use about 1/2 of the available fresh water; most lands suitable for farming; and we have impacted virtually every system on earth..

Since 1960, our ability to stimulate crop production via synthetic fertilizers has decreased by about 60 %. Thus our returns our diminishing.

No one knows what the earth's carrying capacity for humans is, but that number would be determined from a stable, static environment. Because we live on an ever-changing planet, and because our actions affect the habitability of earth, it is safe to say that any reduction in population will occur through traumatic and dramtic means.

This is simply because our present population of 6.5 billion (expected to double by 2050) exploded over the last century due to cheap, abundant energy sources. These energy sources are used directly to grow crops (synthetic fertilizer) as well as other factors led to our population growth. { Example earth had 2 billion in 1930; 4 billion in 1970; 6 billion in 2000}

We cannot sustain the exponential population growth, especially when faced with depleting resources. Regardless, our population will be reduced, be it from calamity, disease or famine. We have the ability to stave off disaster if we employ more rational means to curb this growth.

The choice is ours.

Answer 2

I think the issue is being addressed. Is it front and center? No, but that's not the same thing. One of the problems is that family planning isn't widely used in developing nations. Part of it's cost, part of its availability, part of its culture.

One factor that has been shown to help is education and training for women. Those women tend to have fewer children and greater ability to financially support their families.

Of course the world's most populous nation, China, has been on top of it's population growth for more than a generation now. Other wise we'd be in even more trouble.

Answer 3

Birth control is a two edged sword. It's great in the short term as new schools and facilities for the young don't have to be paid for and those extra mouths don't have to be fed. This would greatly help in Africa and South Asia.
On the other hand it's predicted that countries like Japan and Italy that have had low birth rates for years are going to have a big problem as their aging populations reach retirement age and there is no one to fill the vacuum left by their leaving the work force.

Answer 4

The notion of overpopulation seems plausible, but it is in fact very far from being a factor.

People like Paul Ehrlich get caught up in such notions and try to hammer statistics into a framework that supports their fears. They tend to, however, end up making fools of themselves. (1)

The population of the world could now fit quite comfortably inside the state of Texas. (2) However small the world seems, it isn't.

More at issue would be food and water, but neither is anywhere near a problem except on a regional basis in some cases.

Most people are rightly appalled at the notion of proactive mercy killing. Nobody is fit to determine that a child in Zimbabwe is better off having never been born. Contraception is fine, but targeted efforts to prevent lives that are by some arbitrary determination 'not worth living' represents the opposite of humanity (3).

Life is wonderful, even in poverty. I have lived it. I am very glad that nobody sold my parents on the notion of preventing me.

Don't let Al Gore put you in crisis mode. He is actually a student of Paul Ehrlich. Honestly. He wrote the foreward for one of Ehrlich's books. How many times do we duck and cover when the sandwich-board gang shows up forecasting the doom that never comes?

People used to laugh at the lunatic on the street corner with a sign reading "The End Is Near". How funny is it that the same guy in a suit seems credible?

Answer 5

population is an issue for each country and over populated countries are doing things about it, you just don't know. China has laws to control it's population, while India offers benefits to families of 2 or lesser children

Answer 6

Re: I'm sorry, but "overpopulation" is yet another LIBERAL MYTH, on the order of "global warming."

I'm sorry but since when is something based on facts also called a myth? Over population has been a problem for DECADES, that's more than 20 years. Especially in China where there are laws restricting couples to no more than two children.

The world is overpopulated, there's no question about it. The U.S. should also take this 2-children per couple law and heavily fine those who have more (with exception of giving birth to more than twins).

Answer 7

Not going to be an issue for long. Give us a generation or two and we will have a big war to cull the herd of a couple billion.

Answer 8

Yes, contraception would help, but as western countries have tried to introduce condoms in Africa and SE Asia, acceptance from the local population, has been at best,very cold. Especially in Africa, where locals refuse to wear them, even when they are given to them. It would greatly help reduce the spread of AIDS, which has reached epidemic preportions in central Africa.

Answer 9

there is a law in China now that restricts the number of children a couple can have

Answer 10

how about this we kill everybody over 65 that should solve the problem - they lived already had a fairly long life and are just a burden on our pocketbooks and will soon be the majority on the planet - do you see how sick your idea sounds to me now - THIS IS NOT A SERIOUS SOLUTION