If you think you have it bad...

[NWB]

Wow. Many people would benefit significantly from listening to Professor Albert Bartlett's lectures.

Please explain.

Bartlett of peak oil fame?

 

[NWB]

However, since people are also dying everyday, the goal would be to achieve population stability (i.e: one birth=one death). Ideally it would be to go into negative numbers for a couple of decades, then achieve stability.

This would allow us to make the most out of our current resources, without additional movement from the metro areas. Thus keeping the metro areas nicer due to the tax base staying in the area, and being able to support local infrastructure.

There is really the clincher. Resources.

The Sahara has loads of open space. Put in a spread out multi-million population city there and see what happens....

Food and water are limiting factors to consider.

 

[Chebass88]

Please explain.

Bartlett of peak oil fame?

Bartlett is a professor (emeritus) of physics at University of Colorado (Boulder). He has lectured many times on growth vs. sustainability particularly with respect to population and the resources it requires.

Here is the wiki link.

Controlling overpopulation is a start.

 

[EBodious]

people clumping up near resources and (perceived) economic opportunity makes sense. over population is, IMHO, a big source of world problems. unfortunately, trying to control people's procreation is currently viewed as particularly evil. i don't know if china still has official policies about it, but things went very badly for baby girls when they first tried it.

 

[nortonrider]

I don't want to sound cruel or oversimplifying, but why do they proliferate so much, then?

maybe...... it's because there is not a whole lot else you can do in a 6' X 2' box other than the horizontal mambo.

 

[Kaa]

maybe...... it's because there is not a whole lot else you can do in a 6' X 2' box other than the horizontal mambo.

Well, in a roundabout way, you've hit the nail on the head. If a person is in a low-to-no employment area, with people just hanging out, that's a very pleasant way of spending the time. And free, to boot.

 

[Kaa]

Not saying anything bad about the people in that situation.

 

[automaton]

My grandfather lives in a caged bed. Despite our most determined efforts, he stays . He likes it there... I could only compare it with a frat house.