University of Virginia Library

Population Explosion Not Over

In his numerous articles on the
population explosion, Dr. Paul
Ehrlich has disputed many of the
myths surrounding this vital issue:

- 1. The population explosion is
over, at least in the United States,
because the birth rate is at an
all-time low. This is simply not
true, because even at the present
low rate, the population of this
country will double in 100 years.
However, this low birth rate will
not persist, because the women of
the post World War II "baby
boom" are now beginning to reach
the child-bearing age.

- 2. The population problem
only concerns the underdeveloped
nations. "Considering the problems
of air and water pollution, poverty,
clogged highways, overcrowded
schools, inadequate courts and jails,
urban blight, and so on, it is clear
that the United States has more
people than it can adequately
maintain." However, even if we had
no such problems at home, we
could not stand aloof from the rest
of the world, such is our dependence
upon raw materials produced
elsewhere.

- 3. Food for an expanding
population will be obtained by
greater cultivation of now-barren
lands such as deserts or the Arctic
regions, and from the oceans.
Almost all of the world's arable
land is now in use, and in light of
present technology there is little
hope for turning vast deserts into
gardens. The productive capacities
of the ocean floors have been
greatly overestimated. Nor is there
any present hope of manufacturing
synthetic foods on a grand scale.

It should be clear that the only
plausible solution to the impending
crisis of food shortages is to
drastically limit the population.
The earth is a huge space ship,
according to Dr. Ehrlich, and can
only support a certain size of crew.
Beyond that number of inhabitants,
the planet faces ecological disaster.

Problem: Overpopulation

"Let no one make the mistake
of thinking we can save ourselves
by 'cleaning up the environment.'
We cannot survive by planning to
treat the symptoms such as air
pollution, water pollution, soil
erosion, etc." The problem is
overpopulation. Plain and simple.
And yet to curb our expanding
numbers, drastic social and political
reforms must be undertaken
immediately.

A first major step that this
country should take is to create a
Federal Population Commission
with a large enough budget to
disseminate effective propaganda -
to encourage "reproductive responsibility,"
and to make clear the
connection between the rising
population and the lowering of the
quality of life.

Tax laws must be revised so that
it is economically unfeasible to
have large families. The income tax
laws should eliminate deductions
for children, and baby foods,
diapers, and bottles should be taxed
as luxuries. "It must be made clear
to the American people that it is
socially irresponsible to have large
families."

Yes On Abortion

Laws should be passed making
birth control instruction required in
all public schools, and state laws
forbidding abortion should be
repealed.

If these steps can be taken,
unpopular as they would be, then
there is hope for averting the crisis
in population which we now face.
The United States must set an
example for the rest of the world in
controlling its own population
growth. Otherwise we face certain
disaster.