Is California overpopulated? (Stockton, San Joaquin: low income, bankruptcy, school district)

[dcashley]

Originally Posted by jbunniii

Japan's annual rainfall averages around 70 inches versus 17 inches in California. Granted, there's a lot of fluctuation around that "average" as you travel around the state, but without either a monumental water transportation system from the northwest/Canada or a removal of most/all of California's agriculture, there is no way, no how, that this state can house 125 million people or anything close to it.

We have enough water for all 125 million--we just need to outlaw baths and showers...afterall we just outlawed big tv sets---so outlawing baths and showers ought to be easy.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by dcashley

We have enough water for all 125 million--we just need to outlaw baths and showers...afterall we just outlawed big tv sets---so outlawing baths and showers ought to be easy.

Ah, the French Plan.

[NewToCA]

Originally Posted by jbunniii

Japan's annual rainfall averages around 70 inches versus 17 inches in California. Granted, there's a lot of fluctuation around that "average" as you travel around the state, but without either a monumental water transportation system from the northwest/Canada or a removal of most/all of California's agriculture, there is no way, no how, that this state can house 125 million people or anything close to it.

And the part bolded above should be our #1 project, not high speed rail.

[Screw Sacramento]

Originally Posted by EscapeCalifornia

Yeah, what California needs is another 100M people all sharing the existing roads, university system, and electricity grid. Then it would really be great here.

I can't even imagine.

[Screw Sacramento]

Originally Posted by SeanAaron

Cougars may be increasing but is the habitat there for them? That may be why attacks are increasing (sprawl fueled by insane growth, destroying their habitat) so they resort to hunting (easy prey) people.

People aren't actually easy prey, unless they're children. It's counterintuitive to a cougar to go for a loud creature that walks upright, with only a small bulbous head and no long neck (like deer) for it to grasp onto...that's what it's wired to do.

I thought cougar attacks were on the rise only because of the expansion of neighborhoods into their natural territory. When you get into places like new development in the El Dorado hills and such, that's always a concern.

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Originally Posted by jbunniii

What is the basis for this prediction of yours? Are you referring to California's population or the world's?

Wikipedia, citing a 2004 UN report, predicts global population will be 8.9 billion in 2050 and 9.7 billion in 2150, against 6.7 billion in 2008. By "long term" do you mean longer than 140 years?

More recent UN reports predict the peak to be in this century. By 2150 it will be in decline. However, the UN were quite surprised by the fall in fecundity in developing countries (the basis of their current prediction of the peak in the 2040 to 2050 time frame) and the peak may come even earlier. It may already be upon us now.

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Originally Posted by mysticaltyger

There's no freakin' way they can accurately predict what the population will be in 2050!!!! Too many variables involved.

Besides, I don't think 9.7 billion is that many when you really think of it. We have the technology to be more efficient with our resources right now, but those methods are often not employed.

I'd be amazed if it even tops 9B. We may already be very near the peak. Fecundity is in the doldrums in the developed world and crashing in the developing world.

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by EscapeCalifornia

Really? Does Japan also stubbornly refuse to build out its infrastructure to accommodate the population increases like California does?

They don't build out. They build up. It makes the infrastructure more efficient.

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by EscapeCalifornia

Well I don't have much space and I can tell you it sucks as does being surrounded by constant, unrelenting crowds everywhere I go. Why would I want less personal space and more people within 100' of me at all times? And I would dispute that higher density makes for shorter commutes. Instead of spending time driving, you'd spend more time getting from the 50th floor apartment down to the ground, to the train, waiting for the train, pushing your way onto the train, stopping at every station, possibly changing trains, walking to your building, then getting up to the 40th floor office. You'd just trade one form of transit and distance for another.

In your mind you went from suburban detached houses to 40 floor high rises.....As if there's nothing in between those extemes?????

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by jbunniii

Japan's annual rainfall averages around 70 inches versus 17 inches in California. Granted, there's a lot of fluctuation around that "average" as you travel around the state, but without either a monumental water transportation system from the northwest/Canada or a removal of most/all of California's agriculture, there is no way, no how, that this state can house 125 million people or anything close to it.

Reduce beef and poultry consumption by 20% (beef & poultry consume huge amounts of water). Replace grass in front yards with low water using plants. Desalinate ocean water. More R&D for crops that use less water (there is a lot of research on this already). Reuse 100% of wastewater. Problem solved.

Now, I agree with you, we couldn't go from 40 million to 125 million in a year or two. That would be a problem. But if it happened over 50 or 75 years, we could adjust to this.