Except in no part of the world of the modern world has human population increase continued unchecked.
Most western countries populations grow only because of immigration - fertility is below the replacement rate.
Overpopulation is the "problem" people trot out so they don't have to talk about things they might actually have to do something about, like switching to renewable energy sources, or improving women's education in developing countries.
Re:China to begin two-child policy
by LoSboccacc on Thursday October 29, 2015 @09:01AM
(#10470617)
Yes and that's why I included culling in the options. Doesn't need to be voluntary. Diseases, war, famine all are under the same umbrella.
No, you've still failed to comprehend the point: people, in general, do not have more then 2 children on average, as they increase their lifestyle.
Which highlights the other reason people talking about overpopulation are unsettling: suddenly everyone's playing psychopath.
So we have to increase the lifestyle of 2/3 of the world. The West is free to have 2 or less children on average. Africa doesn't give a shit, they're too poor to afford it - so their population grows.
Re:China to begin two-child policy
by bryanlarsen on Thursday October 29, 2015 @08:24AM
(#10470448)
We can't feed infinite humans, but if we covered the earth with greenhouses, we could feed trillions of people.
Overpopulation causes many problems, being able to feed them is not one of them.
Re:China to begin two-child policy
by LoSboccacc on Thursday October 29, 2015 @09:00AM
(#10470609)
True it can feed and house many more people, but eventually we'll reach the cap.
world won't be able to feed infinite humans so a restriction policy will eventually be needed (or systematic culling, depending on whichever comes first between enlightenment and desperation)
an interesting resulting problem of which is that population will keep aging. solutions will need to take into account non productive member in their older age, either balancing with equal amount of younger or culling from the top instead of the bottom of the age bracket
we won't likely see that in our lifespan, with some luck.