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Overpopulation Myth Challenged
(FNIF) A new book argues the world is actually headed toward a population shortage.
Common wisdom has it that there are already too many people in the world and that mankind is headed toward overpopulation of cataclysmic proportions.
A new book, however, makes the case that such a view is as wrong as wrong can be.
Specifically, the book "Fewer" says this century will mark the start of a decline in population, and that the loss will eventually be in the billions.
"Never have birth and fertility rates fallen so far, so fast, so low, for so long, in so many places, so surprisingly," explained Ben Wattenberg, the book's author.
Using statistics compiled by the United Nations, Wattenberg concludes the imbalance between births and deaths predicts a shrinking world population. That can cause serious problems for governments, including labor shortages and the inability to sustain government programs that assumed a steadily increasing tax-base.
Technology, Wattenberg notes, is partly to blame for the decline.
"What's happening is around the world almost every human being has access to a television set and is becoming aware of the fact that you can do better in life with fewer children," he said.
While that's not a "fact," Dr. Randall O'Bannon of the National Right to Life Committee acknowledged it's something of a global perception.
"The critical part here is seeing whether people are seen as problems," he said, "or whether they're seen as innovators, as answers, as producers, as positives."
That "people are problems" concept is at the heart not only of abortion, but the surprising specter of a declining world population.
"Had someone gone into a demographic meeting 15 years ago, or even 10 years ago, and said, 'Here's where it's going to be,' they would have been laughed out of the room," he said.
(c) 2004 Focus on the Family
By: Terry Phillips
Source: Family News in Focus
Publish Date: October 18, 2004
Online at: http://ifrl.org/IFRLDailyNews/041019/5
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