"Too many people" is only part of the population problem.

[raccoon]

I too used to think that was all there was to it.

The problem isn't just people in Third World countries having 6 or 8 kids.

The other side of the coin is people consuming too much. People in overdeveloped countries, such as the US, Western European countries, etc., consuming too much.

I can't give you the exact figure--if anybody has one, please chime in--but I bet the average American citizen consumes 25 times as much as the average citizen of a Third World country.

"We have met the enemy and he is us."

[Uben]

1. Too many people?

Did you know that the entire population of the world could be put in Texas alone, and the density would be no greater than that of New York City? However, arable land resorces are quickly diminishing and migrating due to global warming. Soon, Canada will be the largest source of arable land in North America!

We do consume too much as a nation. This "live for today" attitude has to stop, and people need to start conserving use and saving money.

[raccoon]

2. Exactly, it isn't a matter of people per square mile, but the RESOURCES

to support them.


I was responding to some of the posters in this thread,

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=2933979&mesg_id=2933979

[RB TexLa]

3. And yet those of us who chose to live child free are told we are selfish

I've have actually laughed in people's faces when they said that. It's just so funny and ignorant.

[Kali]

4. say what? The only people I can possibly imagine saying something like that are

potential grandparents. And frankly they would be the ones who would actually be behaving in a self-centered way.

[Uben]

5. I don't think you are selfish

You are missing a wonderful experience in raising children, but choosing to not have kids is certainly not selfish, and in some cases I would even say it is wise! Kids are expensive if you are footing the bill yourself. Medical care, food and clothing, and education are skyrocketing. The average Joe cannot afford to have too many kids and raise them out of poverty.

[leeroysphitz]

6. What's the problem with how much Americans consume?

(Don't flame me. I'm not making fun of this poor kid just using the pic to make a point.)

[eppur_se_muova]

7. Four times the average (Independent), ~10x "developing world"

"On a global scale the average US citizen uses far more than his or her fair share of the planet's resources - consuming more than four times the worldwide average of energy, almost three times as much water and producing more than twice the average amount of rubbish and five times the amount of carbon dioxide, a major contributor to global warming. The US - with five per cent of the world's population - uses 23 per cent of its energy, 15 per cent of its meat and 28 per cent of its paper. Additional population will mean more people seeking a share of those often-limited resources."

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-population-hits-300-million-but-is-it-sustainable-419542.html

"7,921 US energy consumption per capita, 2001, expressed in kilograms of oil

1,631 World's energy consumption per capita, in kilograms of oil

828 Corresponding figure for the developing world"

" 19.8 US carbon dioxide emissions per capita, in metric tonnes

3.9 World's carbon dioxide emissions per head, in tonnes

1.8 Developing world's carbon dioxide emissions per head, in tonnes"

ON EDIT: link worth a read; lots of info

[blues90]

8. It may be only part of the problem right now , but it is

a problem and will soon be the main problem . Certainly people must learn to consume far less in all areas of consumption . People seem to feel this is some sort of entitlement because they are american .

Look at how bad it's become compared to years ago , just the 60's alone had a few fast food dumps , now they are at every corner and set up to work well with the automobile with drive up windows . need to walk and don't , bicycles are a thing of the past .

everything is geared around cars and oil . We buy crap made that is soon outdated and not designed to be repaired so it's all land fill and buy new .

We did have TV repair and shoe repair and most everything repair shops , this is all but gone forever .

I am so glad I am older now , I can not take much more of this insanity . I saw it coming along time ago and it has accelerated each year .

When it takes little effort to do anything then the entire heart dies . Everything becomes pointless and meaningless when it's too easy like access to fast food in a car and no exercise in working but on a machine in a Gym .

Everything is so very screwed up and to the point where the youth don't see it at all because to them this seems completely normal and why shouldn't it , this is what people have allowed over the years .

I would never make it as a child today , never , it's harder now than people think . People think that machines have saved time and money when in fact it is the opposite effect .