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GliderGuider

(21,088 posts)
Sat Apr 16, 2016, 10:00 AM Apr 2016

“The right of the people to keep and bear children shall not be infringed.”

Children can easily be viewed as assault weapons in the mankind's war against nature. Biological weapons of mass destruction, even. After all, people and their actions are what is destroying the planetary biosphere.

Children aren’t simply weapons of course, even when they are used in armies. But they are certainly wanton destructive agents, especially as they age and buy SUVs and houses.

I don’t have any of the pernicious little things, so luckily I have avoided the biologically and culturally programmed sentimentality about them.

I’m half kidding, but only half. In my assessment the planet contains about 1000 times too many people, and 140 million new children each year are obviously the source of our growing population overload.

Those of us who love life have a responsibility not to create too much of it

21 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
“The right of the people to keep and bear children shall not be infringed.” (Original Post) GliderGuider Apr 2016 OP
It's a very touch subject.... CompanyFirstSergeant Apr 2016 #1
I'm all in for "sensible child control measures"! Kip Humphrey Apr 2016 #2
Or, as the bumper sticker notes, "Six Billion Miracles Is Enough" hatrack Apr 2016 #3
I dont think having children is bad Travis_0004 Apr 2016 #4
I do. GliderGuider Apr 2016 #5
And how do you plan to enforce that? Travis_0004 Apr 2016 #6
Why on earth would I want to enforce it? It's just my opinion. GliderGuider Apr 2016 #7
We don't just need to stop population growth; we need to reduce our population NickB79 Apr 2016 #8
That is the point that is so conveniently easy to ignore. GliderGuider Apr 2016 #9
The solution is easy... Binkie The Clown Apr 2016 #10
What a fantastic idea! You're going to make billions! GliderGuider Apr 2016 #11
"Get 'Em Out By Friday" muriel_volestrangler Apr 2016 #13
This message was self-deleted by its author guyton Apr 2016 #12
two per couple seems fair Mary Mac Apr 2016 #14
See post 8. 2 per couple still keeps us billions over carrying capacity. nt NickB79 Apr 2016 #15
this is why I think the pope is evil incarnate Mary Mac Apr 2016 #17
This problem will solve itself pscot Apr 2016 #16
Yeah, that's why I don't worry about it any more. GliderGuider Apr 2016 #18
Stirring has a calming effect pscot Apr 2016 #21
Perhaps a new virus that causes infertility? Binkie The Clown Apr 2016 #19
The trouble has always been the eugenicists, racists, nationalists, and other scum... hunter Apr 2016 #20
 

CompanyFirstSergeant

(1,558 posts)
1. It's a very touch subject....
Sat Apr 16, 2016, 10:03 AM
Apr 2016

...but I always thought it was immoral to attempt to raise more children than was appropriate for...

1) The 'replacement rate' - at statistically somewhere between 2 and 3 children per couple, and...

2) A family to raise within their economic means.

 

Travis_0004

(5,417 posts)
4. I dont think having children is bad
Sat Apr 16, 2016, 10:33 AM
Apr 2016

If everybody had 2, we would stop growing.

The US could even change the tax code, so beginning in 2018, the tax break for children is capped at 2.(for any children born after 2018)

If you want more, you are free, but taypayers wont subsidize them.

 

GliderGuider

(21,088 posts)
5. I do.
Sat Apr 16, 2016, 10:41 AM
Apr 2016

I think child-bearing should be subject to a waiting period, just like buying a gun. I suggest starting with a cooling-off period of about 30 years.

 

GliderGuider

(21,088 posts)
7. Why on earth would I want to enforce it? It's just my opinion.
Sat Apr 16, 2016, 10:59 AM
Apr 2016

The resolution of the world's humanity problem isn't going to be "enforced" by anyone except Mother Nature. Again, in my opinion.

NickB79

(19,113 posts)
8. We don't just need to stop population growth; we need to reduce our population
Sat Apr 16, 2016, 11:44 AM
Apr 2016

We're several billion humans beyond carrying capacity right now. Just look at the damage 7 billion humans is doing. Stabilizing at current numbers guarantees our destruction.

 

GliderGuider

(21,088 posts)
9. That is the point that is so conveniently easy to ignore.
Sat Apr 16, 2016, 11:53 AM
Apr 2016

Just blanket yourself in the minutiae of population growth reduction, and you'll be insulated from the roar of the world collapsing under our weight.

Binkie The Clown

(7,911 posts)
10. The solution is easy...
Sat Apr 16, 2016, 12:59 PM
Apr 2016

Miniaturize people. Hell, we went from computers that filled a warehouse-sized room to computers that fit in your pocket. Surely we can genetically engineer people to be about the size of a bumble bee. Then we'll have so much more room for tiny little cities, and we'd use up so much less in the way of resources. And wouldn't a world full of tiny little people just be soooo cute?

 

GliderGuider

(21,088 posts)
11. What a fantastic idea! You're going to make billions!
Sat Apr 16, 2016, 04:12 PM
Apr 2016

Billions of tiny people, that is! Sometimes the most brilliant ideas are so simple that their genius looks like ... well, something else.

muriel_volestrangler

(101,150 posts)
13. "Get 'Em Out By Friday"
Sun Apr 17, 2016, 07:16 AM
Apr 2016
This is an announcement from Genetic Control:
"It is my sad duty to inform you of a four foot restriction on humanoid height."

(Extract from conversation of Joe Ordinary in Local Puborama)

"I hear the directors of Genetic Control have been buying all the
properties that have recently been sold, taking risks oh so bold.
It's said now that people will be shorter in height,
they can fit twice as many in the same building site.
(they say it's alright),
Beginning with the tenants of the town of Harlow,
in the interest of humanity, they've been told they must go,
told they must go-go-go-go."

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/genesis/getemoutbyfriday.html

That was written about 1972, and that section of the song is set in the distant future of 2012!

Response to GliderGuider (Original post)

Mary Mac

(323 posts)
17. this is why I think the pope is evil incarnate
Sun Apr 17, 2016, 11:50 AM
Apr 2016

Nice if him to take refugees, however. To digress I don't think secular Christian Europe is a good fit for Muslim refugees. Mexco more sensible. But back to topic. Religions are the worst offenders for overpopulation.

 

GliderGuider

(21,088 posts)
18. Yeah, that's why I don't worry about it any more.
Sun Apr 17, 2016, 11:53 AM
Apr 2016

Even posts like this OP are mostly to remind people about the scope and scale of the predicament. And to keep the shit stirred so it doesn't burn.

My new motto is "We can't get there from here."

Binkie The Clown

(7,911 posts)
19. Perhaps a new virus that causes infertility?
Sun Apr 17, 2016, 01:01 PM
Apr 2016

Then our problem would be trying to keep the population from crashing. Kind of like the movie Children of Men.

hunter

(38,264 posts)
20. The trouble has always been the eugenicists, racists, nationalists, and other scum...
Sun Apr 17, 2016, 01:11 PM
Apr 2016

...who only think it's those other people who should stop having kids.

Sadly, the motives of anyone pushing birth control and negative population growth are suspect.

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