Who you gonna call? "Growth Busters"!

[hillsidedigger]

http://www.growthbusters.com/

[tigerlily78]

I can't wait to hear the rebranded theme song. Seems like something I am destined to get stuck in my head.

[AnEducatedForester]

Growth-obsessed economies are our only current "solution" to the problem of overpopulation. It's basically passing the buck from morality to economy. As you continue to over-breed as a species, you must continuously find more ways to exploit the resources around you for the use of your species above all other species. The economic translation of this concept is in fact, growth-based economies. Some might argue that countries like Japan with aging/shrinking populations should have the opposite type of economy, but then who's going to pay all those retired people's pensions and social security checks?

What is the carrying capacity of this planet for humanity? This continent? This country? If we knew, it would be helpful but we really don't and it would be a floating target, constantly changing. And even if we did know, how do we stop ourselves from overpopulating anyway? All living creatures reproduce, it is the nature of life...and to deny anyone that right seems "immoral". Maybe, as I have suggested in the past, it's just as immoral to live to be 100 years old and use resources that the young and vigorous need more. Maybe it's immoral to have half of your country's population be 45-65 yrs old, instead of a more even spread of age groups/populations?

But we don't have to think about these questions as long as we continue to pursue growth-based economies...we can just blame the capitalists and overall economy for our inability to control our reproductive urges.

[SgtMaj]

All living creatures reproduce, it is the nature of life...and to deny anyone that right seems "immoral".

Yet we don't have to. We can limit the number of children a woman can have to just one, or maybe even two, then simply tie the tubes as a standard part of the birthing process. We may not even have to go that far... we could even simply offer free tube tieing to both men and women and let those who wish to have it done, get it done without having to worry about the costs. That, offered worldwide, might be enough to completely cure the overpopulation problem without trampling on anyone's rights.

[growthbuster]

Thanks for the thoughtful comments. In our non-profit documentary, Hooked on Growth, we'll be examining all these issues, particularly the relationship between economic growth and population growth. We believe providing good education about these issues is the first step.

Hadn't considered simply offering free tube-tying. That seems like a good idea! That is now likely to make it into the film!

Dave Gardner
Producing the documentary
Hooked on Growth: Our Misguided Quest for Prosperity
Join the cause at http://www.growthbusters.com