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twitterLETTER TO THE EDITOR:
Tracing world’s ills to overpopulation
Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009 | 2:02 a.m.
Roger Witcher, in his Wednesday letter to the editor in the Las Vegas Sun, could not have said it any better when he wrote:
“Humans are overrunning the planet ... polluting the land, water and air ... It should be no surprise that we have, or will have, a global food crisis ... It is an unfortunate reality that world leaders, for moral, political and economic reasons, don’t want to address — or even mention — overpopulation.”
Everything comes down to too many people, which leads to money issues. Who pays? Taxpayers. All of us.
Furthermore, there is a TV show “18 Kids and Counting.” And, yes, she’s pregnant again.
The bottom line of everything is people. People’s needs, wants and expectations equal money. Have one or two kids, if you must. My husband and I have one kid, if you’re wondering.
Thanks to Mr. Witcher for having the moxie to write his letter. Let’s hope people take note.
Discussion: 19 comments so far…
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"Humans are overrunning the planet..."
Corinne Johnson failed to say "Who should go first."
Who is she willing say can not have children and pets, eat meat, drive a car, take a vacation.
This is from the eco-terrorist handbook.
What's the problem? We have it on good authority that the human race will never overpopulate the planet as our resources are endless. No one will go hungry or thirsty or lack for the basics. If only governments would get out of the way and quit trying socialism. Capitalism will take care of us all. For ever and ever. Don't believe me? Ask Patrick.
My neighbor across the street just had his third child. Was a "complete surprise". He's a good Italian Catholic boy. But he also said "Ain't having any more". I don't know what he's doing to prevent any future surprises, but he sure isn't relying on the rhythm method. I asked a former Nun I know why the Church does not allow priests to marry. Her answer-"The Church in no way wants to have to support wives and children as well as the priests". Nice. Hypocritical, but nice.
Remember, it's real easy-and fun-to make 'em. A lot harder in this world to raise 'em.
China was on the wrong track with forced abortions but they also refused to provide government services for additional children and made the parents pay for them. That makes sense.
Don't worry the world's or N. America or US population will achieve zero growth. So we will solve our own problem! The question is how will we do it. Will it be with rational and logical decisions by individuals or will we leave it to chance. For the most part it looks like we'll be leaving it to chance. So how will death rates increase to match birth rates (that is zero growth)? War (plenty of ex.), disease (H1N1, AIDS other), pestilence (unsanitary water- Africa and Asia) and famine (poor countries). 4 horseman of the apocalypse - that's all we humans understand. This is mainly affecting the 3rd world but its creeping into the 2nd and 1st worlds as well.
We need to start with our own country - stop immigration (legal and illegal)and just educate. Immigration is only going to increase as those people try to escape the 4 horsemen of the apocalypse. When women get education and are in the workforce with access to birth control then the birth rates decline. But when we have a huge immigrant pop. that has uneducated women then birth rates increase. Organized religion is a part of the problem - I wonder if they can have/get/make a revelation to just replenish ourselves instead of go forth and multiply?
It's been great to see this major issue in the letters section daily. Lots of great comments, as well. Our schools should make sure every kid sees a population graph and understand what it means. I'd love to see the Sun feature this issue in articles, not just letters - do a series.
Beefski:
Appreciate your letter. Not sure I agree with everything you propose, but I do agree with the zero growth concept.
As to immigration, legal is easy to handle. The only problem there is many denied legal enterance turn to illegal entrance. When it comes to illegal, the American taxpayer is an enormous part of the problem: They just don't want to pay the taxes to curb those coming across the broaders. They also don't want to pay the money it would take to rid ourselves of those already here.
You mentioned organized religion. These people fight sex education at every drop of the hat. I understand their desire to educate their children about sex themselves, but they are not the ones causing overpopulation. That problem belongs mainly to the kids that receive no sex education at home.
While I'm a liberal, I do believe society does have, not only a right but a responsibility to say we will support on X number of children on welfare, the rest you must support yourself.
gunowners.......
Schools should show more than just a population graph, if they want to slow the population growth down, Show the children just how things are done between a boy and a girl, and how babies are made, right from the 1st year at school.
uddeboda, Maybe not the first year. But when they start nearing puberty, they should definitely get a thorough education on how NOT to get teen pregnant.
I remember in high school some of the myths that people believed. I remember sitting near a girl who adamantly believed that a girl could not get pregnant until after having had intercourse three time. This girl was around 14, but luckily either a councilor or a teacher set her straight and explained how things really worked. For every few girls that get a proper education, a handful never learn the facts and end up having kids when they are kids themselves.
TePee-We do not have to spend taxpayer money to stop the illegal problem. We could start with Congress passing a law that persons born here are not citizens if their parents were not legal residents. Then make life sheer Hell for any employer who hires any person who is not here legally. Say $1000 dollars a day fine for every day the illegal worked for the employer. This would not be hard to enforce. The fine should be leveed against the owner of a business as a person not the business and could not be discharged in bankruptcy just like taxes are. The illegals would then pack up and go home and it would cost the government very little money.
(J)lb101:
First Congress can not just pass a law relating to citizenship by birth. That would take an amendment to the Constitution.
As to hitting the empoyers, I agree with the concept. The problem is how do we get the manpower to monitor employment in the country? Are you willing to have your taxes raised in order to hire those needed? I would say I am willing but since I'm retired and living on Social Security such a declaration would ring hollow.
The 14th Amendment does not give the right to citizenship to anyone born here. It says that citizenship will go to those who are here and subject to the jurisduction of government of the United States. Illegals are not subject to the jurisdiction of the United State as they are Mexican (or any number of other countries) and are subject to the jurisdiction of those countries.
I think if INS started raiding a number of high profile companies, fined the hell out of them and maybe put some executives in jail the rest would get the word. It would certainly be cheaper than paying the medical bills of the illegals who are infesting our hospitals now. Oh yes, if someone goes to a hospital, if they don't have proof of citizenship, they should be given emergency treatment and then put on an airplane to where they came from. No questions asked.
Anyone on American soil is under American jurisdiction. You may want to remember that should you ever travel outside the US or its protectorates. If you visit Tijuana and end up in jail, the rights you think you have (from watching Law and Order) are gone. You are now under Mexican jurisdiction.
(J)lb101:
I need to do further research on citizenship. I'm not sure it is regulated just to the 14th Amendment. And I'm not sure I interpret the Amendment the same as you. However, at this point I concede that to you.
As to examples being made, what's a company to do if presented with papers indicating citizenship? Should a company be fined if they hold some sort of document indicating citizenship? Who should be responsible for weeding out bogus papers, the company or ICE, the new name of the INS. This brings us back to manpower. And what about border crossings?
As to the hospitals, are you willing to show proof of your citizenship in order to recieve treatment? If not then once again the 14th Amendment's equal protection clause comes into play.
Illegal immigrant workers at large companies have phony id's which allow them to be hired. These illegals have federal taxes, medicare, and social security funds deducted from their paychecks. It's an unspoken fact that this money goes into the treasury of the US and the illegals get no benefits other than the lowest level of health care when necessary.
Policing illegal immigration is expensive and the INS is probably doing all it can. Companies that unknowingly hire illegals cannot be faulted if the person has identification, phony or not, for fear of being prosecuted for discrimination or profiling.
Paying higher taxes to reduce illegal immigration would not be high on my priority list especially if it resulted in an $8.00 head of lettuce.
Americans must accept higher costs for goods if these jobs filled by illegals are to be elevated to a rate of pay that will attract american workers, which would probably amount to a 4 to 5 times higher rate of pay when you figure in healthcare and retirement benefits.
Complaining doesn't do squat. Come up with some ideas. I fear a $6.00 tomato more that a mexican worker.
I appreciate everyone's comments. Not only does the illegal pay into SS (never to receive) but the employer matches that 6% too. So the gov. has a cash cow - and neither party wants to kill the cash cow. I predict a huge illegal immigration problem in the coming decades from Mexico due to their depleting oil industry. Once they are no longer exporting oil then the people will really start to suffer. Here is a tag from a story in 2007.
www.theoildrum.com/node/2226
These posts went from over population to illegals in 0 to 60 seconds.
(J)lb101
Further research indicates that anyone living in this country, legally or illegally, is subject to its jurisdiction, with the exception of those with diplomatic immunity. For example should someone living here illegally commit a crime, be it capital or not, they are subject to the punishment associated to that crime. Imagine were they not and they killed someone the only thing the United States could do would be to deport them back to their country of origin.
Thus any child born in this country, regardless of the legal status of their parents is automatically a citizen. To alter this would require an amendment to the Constitution.
Krases, Another good one is to tell the girl that she wont get pregnant if she stands against a brick wall during the act, and another one is that a girl should never bath in the same water as her boy friend has used, as she will surely get pregnant