[dolanbaker]

You are right. Better educated people are less likely to have more kids...that's a general rule of thumb.

True, and the uneducated ones soon learn that the more kids you have the more the state will support you.

[DesuMaiden]

You are right. Better educated people are less likely to have more kids...that's a general rule of thumb.

True, and the uneducated ones soon learn that the more kids you have the more the state will support you.

Most of the population growth in the USA is from the poor Hispanic and African American populations.

[ralfy]

It's possible that better education, among other things, leads to increased prosperity, and thus more resource consumption.

[vtsnowedin]

It's possible that better education, among other things, leads to increased prosperity, and thus more resource consumption.

That is probably only true as long as the resources are available in adequate supplies.Once shortages appear the better educated will use their education to seek out alternatives and methods of conservation. Failing that they will turn to military and other means of coercion to secure a lions share of the resources remaining.

[ennui2]

Once shortages appear the better educated will use their education to seek out alternatives and methods of conservation. Failing that they will turn to military and other means of coercion to secure a lions share of the resources remaining.

IMHO, the main battle over resources is economic. If you have more economic muscle you can outbid poor nations without ever needing to start a hot resource-war. The first shot is likely to be fired by the poor than the rich and of course both sides will feel indignant towards the other.

[vtsnowedin]

IMHO, the main battle over resources is economic. If you have more economic muscle you can outbid poor nations without ever needing to start a hot resource-war. The first shot is likely to be fired by the poor than the rich and of course both sides will feel indignant towards the other.

Much of China's moves in Africa over the last ten years can be seen in that light.

[ralfy]

That is probably only true as long as the resources are available in adequate supplies.Once shortages appear the better educated will use their education to seek out alternatives and methods of conservation. Failing that they will turn to military and other means of coercion to secure a lions share of the resources remaining.

This might be connected to the type of education received and what is learned. If the education received is specialized and connected to industrial civilization (e.g., education and training for white collar jobs that offer higher pay), then it will not be as helpful given shortage of supplies as what is needed for localization, etc.

And although it's nice to imagine that the military will save citizens and secure resources for them, it is more likely that the military will secure resources for themselves, and probably give whatever scraps are available to citizens.

Finally, if any coercion take place, it will probably involve the military preying on the civilian population as the situation worsens, if not armed groups.

[vtsnowedin]

And although it's nice to imagine that the military will save citizens and secure resources for them, it is more likely that the military will secure resources for themselves, and probably give whatever scraps are available to citizens.

Finally, if any coercion take place, it will probably involve the military preying on the civilian population as the situation worsens, if not armed groups.

Sadly I think the military will be used to wipe out entire populations in other countries that either have needed resources or compete with us for them. The military sacking it's own country will be a final act and many bad things will happen before that.

[ralfy]

Sadly I think the military will be used to wipe out entire populations in other countries that either have needed resources or compete with us for them. The military sacking it's own country will be a final act and many bad things will happen before that.

There is no "us" in this issue, just the military working for a financial elite and citizens saddled with either war costs or facing collateral damage. If there is anything trickled down to the citizenry, it's "freedom" as part of a consumer society where goods and services are purchased with extended debt. In exchange for that, citizens imagine that the military serves them and will continue voting for one pro-business government after another.

Once a lack of adequate supplies take place, then the extended credit together with consumer goods diminish, and the middle class falls part. While the government uses the police plus surveillance and prison systems to control people, what is an already expensive military will attack other countries to feed itself. The financial elite will attempt to gather whatever physical assets it can as its paper assets vaporize, and hope to use that shield itself from increasing conflict.

[DesuMaiden]

In the 20th century, the population exploded. We started with only 1.6 billion people in 1900. Now, in 2025, 115 years later, we have 7.25 billion people. Where did those nearly 6 billion people come from?

I heard many of those people exist because of oil and natural gas. But there must be other reasons for this population explosion since 1900. Or we can go back as far as 1800. Why did the population start to rapidly grow around 1800?

http://www.historyfuturenow.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/populationgrowthhistory2.jpg

It took us several hundred thousand years to reach 1 billion people in 1804. But then, our population only took 123 years to reach 2 billion in 1927. Only 33 years to reach 3 billion in 1960. Only 14 years to reach 4 billion in 1974. Only 13 years to reach 5 billion in 1987. Only 12 years to reach 6 billion in 1999. And another 12 years to reach 7 billion. We are expected to hit 8 billion in another 9 years (in 2024).

How come the population is growing at such a rapid pace during the last two hundred years? Before 1804, the population was relatively stagnant. And after 1804, the population starts to rapidly grow. I never understood why the population grew so rapidly during the past two hundred years. Especially since 1900. What's the cause of this rapid growth in population?

[DesuMaiden]

In the 20th century, the population exploded. We started with only 1.6 billion people in 1900. Now, in 2025, 115 years later, we have 7.25 billion people. Where did those nearly 6 billion people come from?

I heard many of those people exist because of oil and natural gas. But there must be other reasons for this population explosion since 1900. Or we can go back as far as 1800. Why did the population start to rapidly grow around 1800?

http://www.historyfuturenow.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/populationgrowthhistory2.jpg

It took us several hundred thousand years to reach 1 billion people in 1804. But then, our population only took 123 years to reach 2 billion in 1927. Only 33 years to reach 3 billion in 1960. Only 14 years to reach 4 billion in 1974. Only 13 years to reach 5 billion in 1987. Only 12 years to reach 6 billion in 1999. And another 12 years to reach 7 billion. We are expected to hit 8 billion in another 9 years (in 2024).

How come the population is growing at such a rapid pace during the last two hundred years? Before 1804, the population was relatively stagnant. And after 1804, the population starts to rapidly grow. I never understood why the population grew so rapidly during the past two hundred years. Especially since 1900. What's the cause of this rapid growth in population?

[Fishman]

Some possibilities, epidemiology, clean water and vaccines. Smallpox vaccine late 1700s saved millions. Pasteur's work with microbiology saved even more lives that would have been lost in childhood disease. Lister's work with hygiene and sterile procedure saved many women who would have died in childbirth

[DesuMaiden]

Some possibilities, epidemiology, clean water and vaccines. Smallpox vaccine late 1700s saved millions. Pasteur's work with microbiology saved even more lives that would have been lost in childhood disease. Lister's work with hygiene and sterile procedure saved many women who would have died in childbirth

Saving lives is a good thing, but this has left us with an excess in population. This excess in population will eventually destroy the biosphere and humanity, I believe.

7. 25 billion humans have a huge impact on the environment. We are the cause of the 6th great extinction. The fact that there is 7.25 billion Homo Sapiens on this planet is the cause of the 6th great extinction. All of these people are crowding all of the other species to extinction. We are using all of the resources and land, that would otherwise be used for other species, for our exclusive use. We are robbing all of the other species of resources they need for survival. This is why 150 species a day (over 50,000 a year!) are becoming extinct.

Humans are, in essence, sucking up all of the life force of this planet for their exclusive use, taking everything from every other species. We are, in essence, a cancer killing this planet. We have spread across the world, and now use up over 40% of all of the land based photosynthesis. Human beings and our domesticated animals comprise of 97% of all of the land-based biomass for vertebrates. Yes, 97% of all of the land-based biomass for vertebrates are humans and human's domesticated animals! We are, by far, the most dominant land-based vertebrate on this planet. Only 3% belongs to the other land-based vertebrates on this planet.

As for humanity being a cancer, we really are a cancer. We are killing the host, which is the biosphere of the Earth. And once the host dies, we die along with it.

[Scrub Puller]

Yair . . . DesuMaiden. I think it works like compound interest.

Cheers.

[DesuMaiden]

Yair . . . DesuMaiden. I think it works like compound interest.

Cheers.

It is called exponential growth. Even at a 1% growth rate, we double in 70 years. We are currently growing population at "only" a 1% growth rate. But the population doubles in only 70 years. So in 70 years, we will have 15 billion people on this planet. I cannot imagine what it would be like having 15 billion people on this planet. Luckily, I would probably not be around to see 15 billion people, but for my children and grandchildren, that would be a truly terrible time to be alive.

15 billion people would make this planet a hell-hole, because even with "only" 7.25 billion people, this planet's biosphere is already collapsing. A "mere" 7.25 billion people are already causing a 6th great mass extinction. With 15 billion people, it is unlikely we can sustain the population for very long before a major collapse in population happens. Even at "only" 7.25 billion people, it is likely we will experience a major collapse in population soon, and even our present population is probably not sustainable in the long term on this planet.

A collapse in population means a major die-off event. This is where hundreds of millions and perhaps even billions of people die off within a relatively short span of time (give or take a few decades).

This population roller-coaster was one hell-of a ride, but it has to soon end. And it is about to end soon, given the signals for the Earth's biosphere and etc.

And I have no idea how to survive this collapse in population, which is probably happening sooner or later. People have been denying this for far too long. The collapse is coming closer and closer.

[vtsnowedin]

And I have no idea how to survive this collapse in population, which is probably happening sooner or later. People have been denying this for far too long. The collapse is coming closer and closer.

Neither you or I will survive the collapse. We will both die in our own time. Survival rests in the fate of our children and grand children. If you successfully raise two children, your replacement for you and your spouse and they also manage to replace themselves your family line will have survived.
If you or yours choose to not reproduce at least at replacement level you will have committed genetic suicide.

[G dubya]

http://www.stuartmcmillen.com/comics_en ... ew-island/

[DesuMaiden]

And I have no idea how to survive this collapse in population, which is probably happening sooner or later. People have been denying this for far too long. The collapse is coming closer and closer.

Neither you or I will survive the collapse. We will both die in our own time. Survival rests in the fate of our children and grand children. If you successfully raise two children, your replacement for you and your spouse and they also manage to replace themselves your family line will have survived.
If you or yours choose to not reproduce at least at replacement level you will have committed genetic suicide.

Reproducing is a part of the human species. But humans have lost all control over how many people are created. This has caused a huge explosion in population. And this huge explosion in population is likely to doom our entire species.

[DesuMaiden]

I think you are having a bad day, Desu. Some will die, others will live. Your job is to make sure you, your family and friends are among the living. Despair and rigid thinking will not help you accomplish that task.

Try to build as many lifeboats as possible so that as many people as possible will survive this collapse.