Editorial

Overpopulation in America and Around the World: Temporal Blindness

Published

10 years ago

January 28, 2015

Each year, the United States adds another 3.1 million people to its population, net gain. Current demographic projections show America adding 138 million people by 2050 to reach 438 million—a scant 35 years from now.

Additionally, the world population grows by 80 million annually, net gain, mostly in “developing countries” also known as the Third World. Humanity adds 1 billion more people to this planet every 12 years. Projections show world population growing from 7.3 billion in 2015 to as high as 10.1 billion in 2050. Population momentum may continue past 2050 to exceed 14 billion. The devastation to the planet’s ecosystems accelerates as to species extinctions, water shortages, floods, hurricanes, warming oceans, acidification of oceans and climate destabilization.

Let’s look at a population graph of where we’re headed:

Graph showing US population growing from 300 million in 2006 to 438 million by 2050 and on to 625 million by 2095.

Unfortunately, if you asked the average American citizen about overpopulation, you would received a “dumb look” of “Here? In America? Can’t be! I thought overpopulation meant China or India….” You would also receive the same response from U.S. Senators, House Reps, governors and mayors of cities across the country. It’s “temporal blindness”, which means:

Temporal blindness is a limitation in cognitive process. People with temporal blindness cannot gather and process available information into predictions of future conditions. Their processes cannot connect future conditions to a causing behavior. When their processes do create unpleasant predictions, and identify the causal behavior, they fail to create enough present meaning for the future conditions to motivate a change in that behavior. Dr. Jack Alpert

What keeps this game going? Oil, coal and natural gas. Each fills the category of “non-renewable resources”, which means, at some point, all face exhaustion.

As we go from this happy hydrocarbon bubble we have reached now to a renewable energy resource economy, which we do this century, will the “civil” part of civilization survive? As we both know there is no way that alternative energy sources can supply the amount of per capita energy we enjoy now, much less for the 9 billion expected by 2050. And energy is what keeps this game going. We are involved in a Faustian bargain—selling our economic souls for the luxurious life of the moment, but sooner or later the price has to be paid. Walter Youngquist, energy

To make our population predicament clearer, enjoy this nine-minute video that shows you graphically and clearly what our civilization faces within the next 35 years. You may find this video at www.skil.org Dr. Jack Alpert created it to give you a clear picture of what humanity faces in the 21^st century, i.e., your children.

Fantasy Busting Video series

Losing Our Energy Slaves (October. 2014) (pfutp)

Once you watch the video, you cannot return to “temporal blindness” because you understand the collision of human numbers with limited energy sources. Once the human race exhausts those energy sources, we humans face feeding 7.3 billion to as high as 10.1 billion without any ability to supply those tractors with gas or electrical power plants to create electricity.

In America, we face the same “overshoot” of human overpopulation that faces most other overpopulated countries in the world like India, Bangladesh, Mexico, China, Indochina, all of Africa and into South America. No one escapes overshoot in the 21^st century.

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Therefore, as you read this series and watch the videos, it’s time to become a part of America’s discussion-debate on our overpopulation predicament. Share these videos. Push for discussion at all levels. Join these organizations to empower your voice:

In a five minute astoundingly simple yet brilliant video, “Immigration, Poverty, and Gum Balls”, Roy Beck, director of www.numbersusa.ORG, graphically illustrates the impact of overpopulation. Take five minutes to see for yourself:

“Immigration by the numbers—off the chart” by Roy Beck

This 10 minute demonstration shows Americans the results of unending mass immigration on the quality of life and sustainability for future generations: in a few words, “Mind boggling!” www.NumbersUSA.org

Most Americans, Canadians, Europeans or Australians along with their elected leaders—fail to understand their predicament: a self-inflected victimization-date with destiny.

What you can do to start a national discussion:

Write the following media programs to interview speakers on what we face if we add another 138 million people: Many experts can speak on this demographic nightmare: Dave Gardner at www.Growthbusters.org ; Dr. Jack Alpert at www.skil.org ; Bromwell Ault at bromwellault@gmail.com ; Former Governor Richard D. Lamm of Colorado; Roy Beck director a www.NumbersUSA.org , Mr. K.C. McAlpin at www.TheSocialContract.com ; Joanne Wideman www.CapsWeb.org ; Dan Stein www.Fairus.org ; David Paxson www.worldpopulationbalance.org ; Edward C. Hartman info@thepopulationfix.com . Dr. Diana Hull, www.TheSocialContract.com

Additionally, I will speak on any TV or radio show in the country with excellent articulation and acumen. If not now, then who and when?

Charlie Rose: charlierose@pbs.org

Leslie Stahl or Steve Croft: 60m@cbsnews.com

Robert Siegel at Talk of the Nation: talk@NPR.org

Matt Lauer at NBC Today Show: todaystoryideas@nbc.com

Letters@time.com

Letters@Newsweek.com

Terri Gross at NPR

Radio: dennisprager@dennisprager.com

Megyn Kelley at Fox News

O’Reilly at Fox News

Steve Inskeep at NPR