Overpopulation - Problem or Not?

[Rogue]

:les:This is NOT a pole!

What say you, too many people, not enough?





Site discussing the "myths" of overpopulation (http://www.lifeissues.net/writers/kas/kas_01overpopulation.html)

Group decidedly in the "too many people" camp. (http://www.overpopulation.org/)

Nat Geo (http://www.nationalgeographic.com/eye/overpopulation/overpopulation.html)

Erlichs...more in the "too many people" bloc (http://dieoff.org/page27.htm)

[jkjsooner]

The first article was one of most ignorant things I've ever read. The arguments were weak and she didn't even address many key issues. When was that even written? Why so many references from studies from the 1960
's?

1. "But while we crowd together for economic reasons in our great metropolitan areas, most of the world is empty, as we can see when we fly over it." Only a simple minded person would think that that is relevant.

2. "According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, world food supplies exceed requirements in all world areas, amounting to a surplus approaching 50 percent in 1990." Obviosly this was written before our current food crisis. Again, I'm not sure why we're even discussing something that was clearly written in the early '90s.

There is absolutely no discussion about how our food production has been temporarily improved dramatically due to the use of fossil fuels. When those energy sources run out we better have another plan. Even if she diagrees with this, she still needs to address it and make a counter argument.

I don't know if we're overpopulated now or not. However, I sure wouldn't let the first article influence my opinion.

[Rogue]

It's hard to find a decent reference for the "overpopulation is no problem" camp. Maybe I'm biased and think all of the information from that side is bogus.

[RUSH LIMBAUGH is my clone!]

It's hard to find a decent reference for the "overpopulation is no problem" camp. Maybe I'm biased and think all of the information from that side is bogus.Ever the optimist, Rogue!

[Sooner Eclipse]

I don't know if overpopulation is a problem for the world or not. I don't see it as a problem for the western hemisphere to this point.

I do think that the first article that you list in the "pro overpopulation" camp is about the best proof that environmental and overpopulation advocates for the most part are mainly just using these movements as vehicles to promote their views of communism and socialism over capitalism.

Honestly, I can't believe they're being so obvious about it. Admitting their socialist views typically erodes support for the cause du jour. Generally these groups vehemently deny their socialist goals claiming they want only to save the earth from itself and evil corporations.

[Scott D]

I don't know if overpopulation is a problem for the world or not. I don't see it as a problem for the western hemisphere to this point.

I do think that the first article that you list in the "pro overpopulation" camp is about the best proof that environmental and overpopulation advocates for the most part are mainly just using these movements as vehicles to promote their views of communism and socialism over capitalism.

Honestly, I can't believe they're being so obvious about it. Admitting their socialist views typically erodes support for the cause du jour. Generally these groups vehemently deny their socialist goals claiming they want only to save the earth from itself and evil corporations.

I don't necessarily have communistic or socialistic views, however I think that for the most part Cities are an abomination of humanity and serve to do little more than bring out the basest flaws in human nature. Corruption runs rampant in cities, and cities by being major population centers tend to make decisions for rural areas governmentally by the sheer volume of populace they have over rural areas.

There were a great many of the founding fathers whom felt the same way, mainly in Virginia.

[85Sooner]

I don't necessarily have communistic or socialistic views, however I think that for the most part Cities are an abomination of humanity and serve to do little more than bring out the basest flaws in human nature. Corruption runs rampant in cities, and cities by being major population centers tend to make decisions for rural areas governmentally by the sheer volume of populace they have over rural areas.

There were a great many of the founding fathers whom felt the same way, mainly in Virginia.

Unfortunately, in Oklahoma it has been the southeastern rural Yellow dog democrat folks that have held the state legislature hostage for the past 40 years. It why Oklahoma still has to rely on oil and agriculture and has had a poor history of attracting business.

[SoonerInKCMO]

You know how I know we're overpopulated? Every morning when I drive to work there are too many of you ****ers in my way. :mad:

[Sooner Eclipse]

I don't necessarily have communistic or socialistic views, however I think that for the most part Cities are an abomination of humanity and serve to do little more than bring out the basest flaws in human nature. Corruption runs rampant in cities, and cities by being major population centers tend to make decisions for rural areas governmentally by the sheer volume of populace they have over rural areas.

There were a great many of the founding fathers whom felt the same way, mainly in Virginia.

I agree with your opinion of cities. However, just because a city is crowded doesn't mean that the nation it is in is overpopulated.

Don't let BRJ see your post on cities. You'll get the 12" post on why cities=good/burbs=bad spiel. ;)

[Jerk]

People who believe over-population is a major problem should kill themselves.

[Jerk]

That was a joke. I forgot the smiley.

[King Crimson]

"overpopulation" is actually a secondary premise built on the primary premise that people consume more than is sustainable (which we kind of take as a given, for better or worse). such that too much of an implied (never stated) controlled variable like population is "too much".

[LosAngelesSooner]

I actually feel that the biggest problem with overpopulation isn't our CONSUMPTION...it's our WASTE.

We can grow things pretty quick and harvest energy we need...but the disposal takes time...and takes up room.

[Chuck Bao]

Some people just don't get it, so it bears repeating;

Listen up folks, IT'S NOT A CLOWN CAR!

[yermom]

for the most part, there is a reason no one lives where no one lives...

[mdklatt]

for the most part, there is a reason no one lives where no one lives...

I'm surprised why so many people live in some of the places they do live. Bangladesh comes to mind.

[King Crimson]

I actually feel that the biggest problem with overpopulation isn't our CONSUMPTION...it's our WASTE.

We can grow things pretty quick and harvest energy we need...but the disposal takes time...and takes up room.

this is one of dumbest posts i've seen. who's "We"?

troll? how can you make an analytical distinction between consumption and waste?

what energy do we "grow"? that "we" are gonna "harvest".

[yermom]

i'd say there is a difference between the two

[SoonerInKCMO]

People who believe over-population is a major problem should kill themselves.

Naw, we can do more good by killing other people.

[Chuck Bao]

this is one of dumbest posts i've seen. who's "We"?

troll? how can you make an analytical distinction between consumption and waste?

what energy do we "grow"? that "we" are gonna "harvest".

Huh? It is all the difference in the world.

It's not only the piling up garbage produced by our wasteful modern economies, it is also about efficient use of our global resources.

Take for example the paper industry. Huge strides have been made in recycling in the western world, but some of those gains have been eroded by competition from paper mills cutting down rain forests in the developing world.

Okay, I probably already lost that argument.

Ummm...plastics. I hate plastic socks. I hate plastic underwear. I hate plastic bags. I probably lost this argument too, but I feel much better.

Oh yeah, in case you guys haven't picked up on this yet. Nuclear energy is the way to go on the whole energy thing.

[Scott D]

People who believe over-population is a major problem should kill themselves.

that's why we have wars ;)

[Scott D]

Unfortunately, in Oklahoma it has been the southeastern rural Yellow dog democrat folks that have held the state legislature hostage for the past 40 years. It why Oklahoma still has to rely on oil and agriculture and has had a poor history of attracting business.

From what I remember of my time there it's also the fire and brimstone baptist churches that do a pretty good job of holding the government of Oklahoma hostage as well.

[LosAngelesSooner]

this is one of dumbest posts i've seen. who's "We"?

troll? how can you make an analytical distinction between consumption and waste?

what energy do we "grow"? that "we" are gonna "harvest".
Uhm...I'm gonna just kinda hope and assume you were kidding with this post rather than take the time to point out what it obviously meant.

[TUSooner]

There are definitely too many of the wrong kind of people.

Is it ironic that the people who seem most concerned about the bad effects of over-population, that is, the people who try to live the "greenest," least destructive lifestyles, aren't having children, thus leaving the future of the planet to those who are making lots of hungry babies without a thought of the consequences? There's your "natural selection" for you.

Of course, my factual premise may be wrong....

[swardboy]

In 1990, the entire population of the world would fit in the city limits of Jacksonville, FL standing shoulder -to - shoulder.....I know that has expanded in the last 18 years, but it still puts the global population in perspective. I believe it is still true that about 180 million Americans live within 5 miles of the coast.

[sooner_born_1960]

Not too many.

[jkjsooner]

In 1990, the entire population of the world would fit in the city limits of Jacksonville, FL standing shoulder -to - shoulder.....I know that has expanded in the last 18 years, but it still puts the global population in perspective. I believe it is still true that about 180 million Americans live within 5 miles of the coast.

May put it in perspective but scientifically totally irrelevant...

[NormanPride]

Man, that would be a whole lotta stank.