General Discussion

Captain Stern

(2,253 posts)

144. Your friend is wrong.

Sat Sep 15, 2018, 06:10 AM

Sep 2018

If each and every one of us replaces ourselves with one, and only one, child in our lifetimes, then the population has to stay the same over the long-term. That's just math.

If there are surges in life-expectancy, you could have short-term increases because some folks that were expected die sooner, didn't. However, over the long-term, every person being born, would be replacing someone that died.

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A Modest Purposal - No more children [View all] packman Sep 2018 OP

Nah Loki Liesmith Sep 2018 #1

Sure, but an even more immediate step we can take is stop eating animals. lagomorph777 Sep 2018 #2

As a 45 year vegetarian... I say hell yes. Zoonart Sep 2018 #4

And even those of us past child rearing age can participate lagomorph777 Sep 2018 #6

+1 demmiblue Sep 2018 #17

More immediate (and carrying the "logic" another step) would be mass suicide. LakeSuperiorView Sep 2018 #32

Yikes. Welcome to DU; say hi to St. Petersburg for me. lagomorph777 Sep 2018 #34

They do if they don't do it right... LakeSuperiorView Sep 2018 #35

I've been vegan for about a year; my health has dramatically improved. lagomorph777 Sep 2018 #38

Ah, what a delightful way of accusing me to be a troll... LakeSuperiorView Sep 2018 #39

we should agree handmade34 Sep 2018 #59

Sorry, not seeing that as something that could happen quickly or easily. LakeSuperiorView Sep 2018 #61

it COULD handmade34 Sep 2018 #63

We could also discover Cold Fusion, Faster Than Light Travel or be bailed out by LakeSuperiorView Sep 2018 #64

Florida or Russia? KayF Sep 2018 #83

Interesting concept. H2O Man Sep 2018 #51

Maybe I should have made it clearer... LakeSuperiorView Sep 2018 #60

That's "Absurdum" without the "Reductio" lagomorph777 Sep 2018 #70

Hmm... Still not getting it? LakeSuperiorView Sep 2018 #75

This message was self-deleted by its author lagomorph777 Sep 2018 #77

So how does that work? Blue_true Sep 2018 #53

Domestic animal populations will not explode. lagomorph777 Sep 2018 #73

I grew up in the country. Blue_true Sep 2018 #134

Minimize eating meat to one meal a week at140 Sep 2018 #55

You said it all. I am with you. Thanks. MLAA Sep 2018 #69

Any oldsters here remember, ZPG? Zoonart Sep 2018 #3

Oh yeah. Seeing it as enforced policy kinda changed opinions. lagomorph777 Sep 2018 #7

Sure did. Zoonart Sep 2018 #9

I was a member: it was all supposed to be voluntary via education. China's brutal policy... Hekate Sep 2018 #89

A person should not be allowed to have any more than 2 children democratisphere Sep 2018 #5

Unenforceable and cruel Nonhlanhla Sep 2018 #10

The alternative is mass extinction. democratisphere Sep 2018 #15

I will inform my cousin Nonhlanhla Sep 2018 #46

It is about the collective sum. democratisphere Sep 2018 #48

People having one child are not the problem Nonhlanhla Sep 2018 #128

pretty sure the alternative to her having a child qazplm135 Sep 2018 #98

She's a ticking time bomb, man!! Codeine Sep 2018 #105

well I mean maybe if her baby is the Antichrist? qazplm135 Sep 2018 #107

One cannot be too careful. nt Codeine Sep 2018 #109

all babies do have the vomiting what looks like green pea soup down qazplm135 Sep 2018 #112

Humans are destined for extinction no matter what we do. Kaleva Sep 2018 #146

Agreed. But there is no reason to hasten the inevitable. democratisphere Sep 2018 #149

Adoption is an option. Garrett78 Sep 2018 #49

She desperately wanted "a child of her own." CrispyQ Sep 2018 #152

I agree completely. smirkymonkey Sep 2018 #12

No way to enforce this... however. Zoonart Sep 2018 #16

We already pay for sports ChazII Sep 2018 #21

What would be the penalty for conceiving a third child? What would happen to the third child? Marengo Sep 2018 #18

Penalties severe enough so no one would want to do it. democratisphere Sep 2018 #20

Can you give some examples of what you think would be appropriate penalties? Marengo Sep 2018 #22

Lifelong annually reoccurring financial penalties on both partners, for example. democratisphere Sep 2018 #27

The financial penalty for having a child is self-executing jberryhill Sep 2018 #72

so you'd have the third child raised in poverty then yes? qazplm135 Sep 2018 #100

But it worked exquisitely well in China. Codeine Sep 2018 #106

I'm not sure a law is the answer, however BannonsLiver Sep 2018 #24

There must be enforced compliance with penalties or this issue will not be taken seriously. democratisphere Sep 2018 #30

A very uncomfortable truth BannonsLiver Sep 2018 #33

Bingo! dumbcat Sep 2018 #111

That is the problem. democratisphere Sep 2018 #135

So a woman's body is her own Codeine Sep 2018 #40

A woman's body is her own. She and her partner(s) must take responsibility not to democratisphere Sep 2018 #42

A woman's body is her own. Codeine Sep 2018 #71

how is that any different from qazplm135 Sep 2018 #101

I can think of some groups that would support this in a big way. Captain Stern Sep 2018 #54

This applies to all people throughout the world. democratisphere Sep 2018 #66

Sure it would Captain Stern Sep 2018 #124

You're missing the point ... imho ... mr_lebowski Sep 2018 #84

I don't think I am Captain Stern Sep 2018 #145

2 children per couple will double the population at140 Sep 2018 #58

Agreed with the one child policy from China. democratisphere Sep 2018 #65

Agreed...no chance in USA for 1 child policy at140 Sep 2018 #79

Why should the young subsidize the old? Codeine Sep 2018 #91

Aha...but those are different issues at140 Sep 2018 #99

You sound like a Freeper Codeine Sep 2018 #104

Read my post again, I like the safety net for the needy at140 Sep 2018 #141

The policy was likely at the very least unnecessary, and has created an unprecedented demographic... Marengo Sep 2018 #123

No. Two children per couple keep the population the same. Captain Stern Sep 2018 #125

Not according to my PhD friend at140 Sep 2018 #140

Your friend is wrong. Captain Stern Sep 2018 #144

So many errors in your post, I don't know where to begin at140 Sep 2018 #157

Lifespan doesn't matter... Captain Stern Sep 2018 #159

Forcible sterilization for anyone on any type of .... MicaelS Sep 2018 #95

No reproductive rights? David__77 Sep 2018 #114

Our crack team of Sardukar Terror Marines Codeine Sep 2018 #116

I was a ZPGer back in the day, and an anti-natalist ever since. The_jackalope Sep 2018 #8

Are you also Vegan? masmdu Sep 2018 #36

Actually, not having a child far outweighs going vegan. The_jackalope Sep 2018 #43

Going vegan would further decrease the environmental impact of your existence. Seems to me... Marengo Sep 2018 #115

If I cared as much as I claim, I'd suicide, right? The_jackalope Sep 2018 #117

Ineffective dodge. Let's try again. What's holding you back from adopting veganism? Marengo Sep 2018 #121

Good question. It's my health, actually. The_jackalope Sep 2018 #122

How convenient, or is what you wrote complete nonsense? If you have metabolic syndrome, I find... Marengo Sep 2018 #127

Read Gary Taubes. nt The_jackalope Sep 2018 #129

Vegan vs vegetarian? masmdu Sep 2018 #147

Hear Hear!!! (nt) mr_lebowski Sep 2018 #85

Message auto-removed Name removed Sep 2018 #11

It would have to be across the board and apply to everyone. smirkymonkey Sep 2018 #13

So, are men going to keep it in their pants? Croney Sep 2018 #14

I think all men should be forced to have vasectomies... llmart Sep 2018 #26

Agreed, I did! nt at140 Sep 2018 #80

so your solution to not controlling women's bodies qazplm135 Sep 2018 #102

This message was self-deleted by its author DoBotherMe Sep 2018 #151

I'm pretty sure most women qazplm135 Sep 2018 #161

We ARE having fewer children, at least in the US and 20 other countries Revanchist Sep 2018 #19

Western countries already have low birthrates Tardislass Sep 2018 #23

My son did his senior HS project on a similar subject woodsprite Sep 2018 #41

This. Nt Nonhlanhla Sep 2018 #47

Economic development. Adrahil Sep 2018 #67

And the planet doesn't just 'tend to be' destroyed ... it IS DESTROYED ... mr_lebowski Sep 2018 #90

This message was self-deleted by its author handmade34 Sep 2018 #132

I made that decision when I was only 19 years old. MineralMan Sep 2018 #25

For me, it was the decision to have only two children, not four like Mom.... Hekate Sep 2018 #93

That's a good, rational decision. MineralMan Sep 2018 #96

I'm glad I'm a man. The_jackalope Sep 2018 #113

Children make people more humane kimbutgar Sep 2018 #28

The core of the problem is that they grow into productive adults. The_jackalope Sep 2018 #44

Had a long conversation about that with daughter last night. She's reading Angela's Ashes onecaliberal Sep 2018 #29

By that same argument.... Adrahil Sep 2018 #31

Read a lot of Swift, do ya? pecosbob Sep 2018 #37

... Cal Carpenter Sep 2018 #45

What an awful idea. redwitch Sep 2018 #50

My wife and I made a conscious choice to not have kids. Garrett78 Sep 2018 #52

That doesn't seem very modest. It seems extremely radical. MrsCoffee Sep 2018 #56

So you want to control reproductive rights too? Do tell. nolabear Sep 2018 #57

The level of suppport I'm seeing for this notion Codeine Sep 2018 #74

I've actually been astonished how LITTLE support there is on a progressive discussion board mr_lebowski Sep 2018 #87

I agree with the basic idea Codeine Sep 2018 #92

Voluntarily is one thing. But let's say it did become a danger. nolabear Sep 2018 #103

I just heard an NPR story about China now trying to enforce larger families. nolabear Sep 2018 #108

It's created a demographic crises, the "4-2-1" phenomenon. Marengo Sep 2018 #120

This thread is why they think we're crazy Alea Sep 2018 #62

Exactly. Codeine Sep 2018 #76

Yep. GulfCoast66 Sep 2018 #131

Just as long as it's an idea, not policy JCMach1 Sep 2018 #68

The OP has already declared his support Codeine Sep 2018 #78

I try to be consistent with my beliefs and yeah JCMach1 Sep 2018 #136

Sure. Yet you want social programs. So for you and your generation only? EllieBC Sep 2018 #81

The only way to prevent human extinction is to cause human extinction inwiththenew Sep 2018 #82

half of the OP is from the article KayF Sep 2018 #86

Same. Duppers Sep 2018 #142

Would rather see this in voluntary planned communities MarcA Sep 2018 #88

Yeah, no more nurses, doctors, therapists, athletes, phylny Sep 2018 #94

In one of my favorite SF novels.... MicaelS Sep 2018 #97

This thread is a perfect illustration of why I have abandoned the debate. The_jackalope Sep 2018 #110

Well, honestly, people do have rights. Codeine Sep 2018 #118

They do? Where do those rights come from? The_jackalope Sep 2018 #119

If your position rests on the idea Codeine Sep 2018 #126

Of course it would be fruitless and unsatisfying. The_jackalope Sep 2018 #130

People have rights AND I find this type of negative world view JCMach1 Sep 2018 #137

I give up. nt The_jackalope Sep 2018 #139

This message was self-deleted by its author Duppers Sep 2018 #143

We had one NickB79 Sep 2018 #133

Message auto-removed Name removed Sep 2018 #138

One big caveat - children in developed countries are the ones at issue ehrnst Sep 2018 #148

Like Michael Jackson said, " If you can't feed the baby, don't have the baby". jalan48 Sep 2018 #150

I suspect that most people saying "Stop having children. It kills the planet" LuvLoogie Sep 2018 #153

of course, here is the rub DonCoquixote Sep 2018 #154

Seven billion miracles is enough. I had that bumper sticker back when it was six billion. CrispyQ Sep 2018 #155

Do you define yourself as "Pro-Choice?" alphafemale Sep 2018 #156

Why are women Skidmore Sep 2018 #158

IDIOCRACY explains the problem with this idea: yurbud Sep 2018 #160