3rd July 2008, 1:40 PM
Having read the rest, here's my thoughts on it. The article goes on and on about what certain nations are doing to address the population decline "crisis", and the end finally actually introduces scientists who have the only opinions that actually matter. What do they have to say? The same thing most scientists who have chimed in have to say, population decline is a GOOD thing, and these financial woes only matter because the previous generation was so frickin' large relative to the declined one. The idea that someone would guilt trip someone else for deciding they'd rather not have kids is rather disturbing.
I'm with the scientists on this one. Population reduction in Europe and Asia, well certain parts, is a good thing. The article also points out that America doesn't actually have this going on. Yes if population growth decreases, it'll eventually result in population decline, but it isn't quite there yet and really I'm not sure we can expect a continued trend in the US.
However, world wide it is still on a massive rise, and we will likely pay the price for other nation's silly levels of reproduction.
Yeah, I was wrong about Italy though. Sorry there. I read wrong. China's forced reduction of reproduction rates seems to have done a good job but I'm against legal requirements where a social engineering and financial bettering could do a better job.
I'm with the scientists on this one. Population reduction in Europe and Asia, well certain parts, is a good thing. The article also points out that America doesn't actually have this going on. Yes if population growth decreases, it'll eventually result in population decline, but it isn't quite there yet and really I'm not sure we can expect a continued trend in the US.
However, world wide it is still on a massive rise, and we will likely pay the price for other nation's silly levels of reproduction.
Yeah, I was wrong about Italy though. Sorry there. I read wrong. China's forced reduction of reproduction rates seems to have done a good job but I'm against legal requirements where a social engineering and financial bettering could do a better job.
"On two occasions, I have been asked [by members of Parliament], 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question." ~ Charles Babbage (1791-1871)