3.24.2009

World Depopulation

Those not content to turn over the relevant crises of the day can find solace in the speculative concern of tomorrow: World Depopulation. Phillip Longman wrote a book on this "coming crisis" and how you can solve it. Um. Phil, I support "Legs Across America" as much as the next guy, but can't you get a woman to sleep with you based on something less than, "The future of the human race depends on it?" Indeed, I'd imagine we turned to "flowers," then "chocolate," then "feelings" when that argument didn't work.

I do mean to make light of this idea. I think there is a grain of truth to the notion that we need the young to provide resources to assist the old in society, but to suggest that a declining population rate will go "out of control" ignores the most basic human desire. We want to do it anyway. If we feel there is a "higher-calling" for a baser instincts, trust me, we'll rise to the occassion.

Can I get an "Amen"?

1 comment:

David said...

I haven't read the book, so I don't know where the author goes with the idea.

However, there is the idea of a "population crash" in a region, and there are a few regions which look pretty succeptible (e.g. Japan, Russia). If a region/country has a birthrate of 1 per woman, than its population halves in a generation.

Check out Jared Diamond's book Collapse for more on the subject - he goes through some interesting historical scenarios which are sort-of-related.

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