Posted by Video Interview of Garrett Hardin – Author of the “Tragedy of the Commons”
Overview:
Increased population makes things worse. There are various ways to influence population growth: tax incentives and government policies. More people mean more congestion and demands upon arable land.
Discussion of energy, solar power, desalinization. Aesthetics and standard of living. Ecology, wilderness. Carrying capacity versus cultural carrying capacity and quality of life tradeoff.
Garrett closes with: “If I’ve upset you… fine!”
[Technorati: HXR5U9GYP3SA]
The biggest obstacle we face in changing attitudes toward overpopulation is economists. Since the field of economics was branded “the dismal science” after Malthus’ theory, economists have been adamant that they would never again consider the subject of overpopulation and continue to insist that man is ingenious enough to overcome any obstacle to further growth. Even worse, economists insist that population growth is vital to economic growth. This is why world leaders continue to ignore population growth in the face of mounting challenges like peak oil, global warming and a whole host of other environmental and resource issues.
But because they are blind to population growth, there’s one obstacle they haven’t considered: the finiteness of space available on earth. The very act of using space more efficiently creates a problem for which there is no solution: it inevitably begins to drive down per capita consumption and, consequently, per capita employment, leading to rising unemployment and poverty.
If you‘re interested in learning more about this important new economic theory, then I invite you to visit my web site at http://PeteMurphy.wordpress.com.
Pete Murphy
Author, “Five Short Blasts”
“Title: Parenthood: right or privilege?
Author: Hardin G
Source: Science. July 31, 1970;169(3944):1.
Abstract: If parenthood is considered a right, population control is impossible. Since the use of voluntary methods cannot in the long run succeed, other methods are needed. Sterilization is a presently available method that could be used to achieve population control. If women were sterilized after their nth child, the size of the population could be limited. Only when parenthood is considered a privilege, and therefore amenable to restrictions, can there be hope for mankind.
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I categorically deny this line of thinking regardless of even those who may have nothing but the best intentions at heart. Be you free or slave? Embrace these types of policies at your own peril, for it is the corrupt elite who will run (already run??? Planned Parenthood founding research anyone?) these programs as they have broken down, and sold out the United States with things like the TARP bailout, “Too Big To Fail” and the police state atrocities of the G20 in PA.
I do my best to see as many sides of “life” in this world as possible. In most cases it isn’t possible to truly understand and relate to situations of which I am not living through myself. However, until we can expose and somehow topple the corrupt ruling class of this world so that humanity can pursue what our founding fathers knew to be self evident, there is no more important topic/problem to be solved. We are most likely doomed, but I will continue to focus on exposing the corruption that runs this world, first and foremost. Also I freely admit I cannot count the number of times I’ve seen/met people who I so wish had not bred, or would never do so in their lives.