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you don't need to worry about there being more resources per person. there are enough resources for many times our population.
im not suggesting we have children that we cant afford. people shouldn't have kids if they cant take care of them. but if they can take care of them, then it is a good thing for them to have kids.
I agree with that -- but most people really don't want many kids. If someone loves and wants kids, it's fine, they can have as many as they can both afford and want but very very people actually want more than 0-2 kids even if they can afford more.
It's also wrong to have kids if you aren't capable of supporting them. No one should feel entitled to the money of others just because they think having kids should get them that.
I read a little bit on demographics when I can find something. Its interesting that the natural assumption is that declines in population are always bad. I don't think governments like them because it means fewer taxpayers. I don't think business likes it because it means fewer customers. But I guess there are some advantages to a declining population. Less need to use up natural resources. No need to build a lot more schools, homes, roads etc. I know Japan is going through this, and certain intellectuals are upset about it, but I'm not sure the common folks are. The more I think about it though, I don't see a problem with a shrinking population. Anyone want to set me straight.
Why don't we start from the extreme case where everybody is old. Do you see a problem with that?
Now, let's say a realistic country has 20% of the population being old. So it has that problem but to a lesser degree.
Then the next country has 30% of the population being old. The problem gets worse.
Then the next country has 40% of the population being old. The problem gets even worse.
Conserving land instead of developing it is a conservative principle, lost on most people who identify as a Republican voter these days. I give a good amount of money to local conservation groups to purchase land so that it will never be developed or subdivided...
How true. It seems that most Republicans these days just think that "conservative" is synonymous with "anti-government".
Quote:
Originally Posted by GraniteStater
I give a good amount of money to local conservation groups to purchase land so that it will never be developed or subdivided...
Good for you! More people should. Conserving land is very pro-people, too (as is population control). There are so many long-term benefits derived from protecting farmland, forests and even just natural areas. It's a shame that some people simply equate "open space" to areas that can be developed. There is a real disconnect to our natural world when people believe that food comes from a grocery store or clean water from a tap.
You miss the point as well. Most of the population in the world already lives in the places most habitable for human civilization with LIMITED water resources that are getting worse in many areas of the world right now.
im not missing any of your genius points. its funny to see that im disagreeing with people and they want to believe im missing their brilliant points. i stopped quoting above with your line on "LIMITED water." the surface of the earth is 70% or so covered in water. we could expand our capacity to desalinate water and our LIMITED water supply becomes UNLIMITED. the resources aren't so limited, they may require certain shifts in how we acquire them but we can do it. the failures of certain people to be able to meet the needs of their people is their failure; not a lack of resources.
Last edited by CaptainNJ; 11-26-2013 at 06:53 PM..
im not missing any of your genius points. its funny to see that im disagreeing with people and they want to believe im missing their brilliant points. i stopped quoting above with your line on "LIMITED water." the surface of the earth is 70% or so covered in water. we could expand our capacity to desalinate water and our LIMITED water supply becomes UNLIMITED. the resources aren't so limited, they may require certain shifts in how we acquire them but we can do it. the failures of certain people to be able to meet the needs of their people is their failure; not a lack of resources.
China is already experiencing severe water shortages and that is where a huge percentage of the world population resides. Agriculture also needs an adequate water supply. Desalination is not feasible for any areas inland.
You miss the point as well. Most of the population in the world already lives in the places most habitable for human civilization with LIMITED water resources that are getting worse in many areas of the world right now. Low population densities are common where agriculture is not possible or very limited in desert areas, wooded areas, cold areas, etc. Yes, we can develop more land expensively for inefficient sprawl, but developers and wealthy should pay the full cost of such developments and not ask the taxpayers to subsidize their lifestyles. Conserving land instead of developing it is a conservative principle, lost on most people who identify as a Republican voter these days. I give a good amount of money to local conservation groups to purchase land so that it will never be developed or subdivided, or private landowners can place a conservation easement on land they already own. This means all rural activities can continue as the land remains a working farm or a wooded homestead with a conservatively managed woodlot. This is a solid way forward, particularly in many areas that are rural yet have growth pressures from developers.
China is already experiencing severe water shortages and that is where a huge percentage of the world population resides. Agriculture also needs an adequate water supply. Desalination is not feasible for any areas inland.
you are missing the point. the resources are there and we do have the ability to tap into them. we also have the ability to come up with innovative ways to be able to better develop and utilize resources. some countries will be better than others, but if you have a severe water shortage in America i have a feeling we will find a way to make utilizing the ocean's water more feasible.
why would you agree with that? he is suggesting that because he doesn't think other people's lives have meaning; that we should just conserve land. so his life is so wonderful but more people don't deserve life, their lives are less important than empty land.
its another extremely elitist and selfish attitude that someone can have because they are in the fortunate position of already having life and opportunity to enjoy it. that chance wasn't withheld from him, but he would hold it from others.
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