16 October 06

Malthus' Ghost

Tonight, at some point, the 300 millionth “American” will be born.

The population of the United States hit 100 million in 1915; 200 million in 1967. It wouldn’t matter so much, really, if we didn’t consume at the frenzied rate we do. Our footprint is out of proportion to our size, geographically and in terms of population. By the time the 400 millionth person is born here, water will be as precious a resource as oil now is.

Who are the breeders these days? Republicans, natch. We childless progressives are painting ourselves into a corner. But this in itself does not constitute a good reason to have children, people. We can rant and rave and shake our fists but the future and what a mess we’re making of the planet will have to depend on the children and grandchildren of those who insist global warming’s a figment of Gore’s imagination…

Posted by at 09:05 PM in Miscellaneous | Link |
  1. Bingo. People seem to forget that a/ you can’t breed ideology or even logical thinking and b/ the chances that their children will be and do exactly what they expect/want them to be and do is, well, probably lower than the chances that the people in question have been and done exactly what their parents and grandparents and so on wanted them to be and do. Or even imagined their descendants would be and do.

    Yeah, parse that. Nevertheless.
    — Ron Sullivan    17. October 2006, 09:39    Link

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