Population growth is largely self-limiting in developed ("1st world") countries. Unchecked population growth only ultimately leads to the saturation of Earth as a habitable space, regardless of its cause. So clearly growth without limit is untenable, and any system that relies on it as a fundamental principle is not sustainable long-term. One can make the argument that it might make sense as a short-term strategy for various reasons, but pretending it can achieve sustainable long-term viability is not only foolish but dangerous. The physical laws of the universe itself are ultimately standing in the way, but much sooner than they will rear their head the limitations of our own comparatively tiny world and resources will do so. Not acknowledging that eventual reality and *planning for it* is irresponsible in the extreme. Our current economic models have no answer or solution to that "end game".
-JavaJones
That still doesn't address the fact that there is no limit on population growth. It's all well and good to say that population growth is limited in 1st world countries, but if you go to extremely rural or extremely urban areas of the U.S., it would quickly become evident that this is not true. And I wasn't saying that there shouldn't be a limit on economic growth- only that limiting it without limiting population growth takes the ability of any limited economic system to support the (still) growing population.
-wraith808
I was listening to a Coca-Cola marketing rep say how they plan to double their business. The term she was talking about wasn't clear, but it wasn't in sync with population growth. There's a disparity there. And I think they're pretty representative of the general sentiment of infinite growth.
As for population growth, it's not what you'd actually think.
Here's a mind blowing video:
http://www.ted.com/t...pulation_growth.htmlhttp://education.ted...es-4-years-4-minuteshttp://www.gapminder...anged-the-world-bbc/A 1 hour documentary:
http://www.gapminder...os/the-joy-of-stats/And stats on the topic of
Wealth & Health of NationsIn that stat map, you can set it to find out the number of children per woman. The results are not what you'd think. The videos also go through that and explain it in detail.
Sure, food supply, water supply, and population growth are issues to be conscious of, but the numbers just don't support the infinite growth expectancy of "modern" economics. Birth rates worldwide have declined with some countries experiencing negative population growth that is only off-set by immigration, legal or otherwise.
Poll
