RELIGION and past genocides make this a very "touchy topic".

well said, whitemanitou

who are we to decide who lives and dies and which countries should "control" their population?

It is in our genes to make babies but it is not in our best interests to make too many of them. Humans have the capacity to make judgments as well as babies which keeps things from going overboard.

The world can support many more humans but it will be at the cost of the environment and other species who live in places that we will take (and pave) over. We can produce 10 times the food we produce. We can increase the amount of space we require to live.

How that life would look is another story, however. I do not look forward to a world without space for all the other creatures to enjoy their lives as well. I would not like to see cities like Mexico City and Sao Paulo proliferate (each has between 13 and 15 million residents squeezed into a relatively small space) and the crush of humanity does not lead to a healthy life.

I won't be here much longer so I choose not to get myself all overworked about it. Life will be what it will be. I can vote for candidates who at least propose to work toward solutions to alleviate the pressure to grow population to extremes.

Maybe China has the right idea by rewarding and punishing those who would prevent population growth and those who would see it explode. I think there oughtta be a law that the third baby gets bronzed and made into a lawn ornament! That way, you could keep having them, but after two, they would contribute to a commercial enterprise that has some socially redeeming value.

I understand China has a problem with too many boys. Aborting girl babies (boys are the preferred sex) has really shifted the "natural balance" and there are anticipated problems looming in the future--not enough females to reproduce, shortage of wives?

On the China issue: perhaps the girls could be sent here instead of aborted. The US could use a higher female to male ratio (like Russia) to equalize some of the unrealistic expectations placed upon US men. If the Chinese want more boys, we could "exploit" that need. I'm for 2 kids is enough anyway! But, that's another issue.

Hey Chief.

10th WOC flight B-1 class 69-49

Welcome back and thanks for your service.

Milt:

Try expressing that to a religious zealot! :-)