why are population control programs a good idea?

Question

from an ethical point of view..why are population programs such as China's "one child policy" a good idea? please state reasons why from an ethical point of view

Answer 1

Interesting question....
Reasons why population control would be good:
1. Fewer people would mean that there are more available resources for the population to utilize, such as
1. housing
2. jobs
3. food
4. health care
5. education

However, I don't agree with China's tactics for enforcing their laws. I think the practice of forced abortion is abhorrent.

In my opinion, the use of education to help curb overpopulation is a better choice. Birth control programs in India are a good example. In many third world countries, women are poorly educated. By giving them a good understanding of birth control practices, and giving them resources to make good choices, the birth rate is declining.
Furthermore, education in general serves to reduce birth rates. If you look at population statistics, countries with higher levels of education have lower birth rates.

Answer 2

The main reason why we should curb over population is the strain on limited resources, such as food, energy and raw materials. A secondary reason is, statistically speaking, the greater the population density, the higher the crime rate and violence between population members.

Another reason why we should curb population growth is that we have eliminated so many causes of death (cures for diseases, safer transportation, better fire protection, etc). People who would have died 20 years ago from disease or traffic accidents are surviving and continuing to add to the population.



Now with all that said, I am not in favor of negative population growth. China's "one child policy" is not going to solve the problem on its own. Zero population growth (two children per family) will be a bit better; but face the truth, people still love having sex and children are a natural result. If we over populate the world, we will have two choices: major wars destroying most of our accomplishments or leaving the planet.

Answer 3

Not sure what country you are in, but in America we have freedom. Limiting our reproductive rights slaps the face of the founding fathers. reason one: having laws limiting children encourages abortion and child abandonment. "im sorry Honey we were trying for a boy and we got a girl, lets leave this one in the hospital and try again" reason two (reason one should be enough but): Mathematically it doesn't add up. One child policies would shrink the population by half within two generations. And that's assuming that everyone is coupled with another person, and they all have a child. But in reality they population would shrink faster than that. reason three (one and two weren't enough?): Our constitution couldn't allow for it. I know I said that in our introduction, but its worth saying twice. Land of the free remember? The government has not place telling anyone how to reproduce.

Answer 4

Because there are too many people on this planet. We are already taxing the water supply, garbage disposal, sewage treatment, natural resources. And I want more elbow room.

Answer 5

they aren't. my system of ethics won't allow that level of control over others.

don't you have some personal values that will help you answer? our ethics are unique to ourselves.

Answer 6

because people are unable to police themselves and do what they need to do as a society- they only think of their individual wants.

Answer 7

So they won't have over population

Answer 8

They ARE NOT a good idea. Therefore "WHY?" cannot be answered.