Re population:
Yes, its population vs quality of life.
In some places folks are freer to make those choices personally.
In others, children are the retirement plan.
In others the church or the mullah forbid contraception.
The the power of the church or mosque is directly proportional to the size of the flock ... so its unintelligent self interest on the part of the leader that IMHO drives this behavior.
"The power of population is indefinitely greater than the power in the earth to produce subsistence for man" – T.R. Malthus, 1766 – 1834.
We have managed to increase the ability of the earth to support us, through knowledge and applied science. However, this may have its limits... we shall see.
Additionally, if you cram too many folks into too small a space, and too low a living standard, you get all kinds of social behavioral aberrations which are not pleasant. Also, the exponential function, applied to population can sneak up on you, as outlined by Chris Martenson.
The genetic experience of men through their breeding and existence has not been to live in mega cities... that is a new phenomenon. The small town or village, is more like what we are used to and adapted to.
Ultimately this is a self correcting system... and will self correct in a way that may be less pleasant than if approached rationally and with forethought. Seems difficult for humans, somehow.
Some places, like China, have done this. |
