Reversing Population Growth Swiftly and Painlessly (eBook)

Preface to the First Edition. xi
Preface to the Second Edition. xiii
Permissions. xv
Introduction . xix
Part 1: The Problem of Overpopulation. 1
Defining Overpopulation. 3
The Arithmetic of Growth . 8
Recent Unprecedented Population
Growth and Its Implications . 11
Why the Silence?. 16
Factors that Govern Birth Rates . 24
On Abortion . 32
Immigration’s Role in Fueling Population Growth. 37
Tragedy of the Unregulated Commons . 52
Nature’s Harsh Checks . 54
Sobering Example of Easter Island. 60
Reproductive Rights and Responsibilities. 63
Why a Voluntary Approach to Population Reduction
Cannot Succeed in the Long Run. 65
Implications of Major Lifespan Extension . 70
Harnessing Natural Selection: A Revolution in Evolution . 72
When It Makes Sense to Have Children. 76Part 2: The Two-Credit System. 79
Population Credits. 81
Three Ways to Pay Two Credits . 87
Inviolability of Population Credits . 87
• Procedures for Legal Immigration. 126
• Immigrants Who Bring Children. 127
• Elimination of Legal Residency Status
(“Green Cards”). 127
• No More Filial “Anchors”. 128
• Entry of Foreign Visitors . 128
• Marriage to Foreigners. 128
• Adoption of Foreign Children . 129
• Refugees and Asylum Seekers . 130
• Downsizing the Immigration Bureaucracy. 133
Summary of the Government’s
Implementation Responsibilities. 134Part 3: Demographic and Genetic
Consequences of the Two-Credit Plan. 137
Variables Controlling the Rate of Population Decrease . 139
Elimination of Population Momentum. 141
How the Two-Credit System Would
Cut the US Population in Half in 70 Years. 143
Immigration during the Period of Population Reduction. 150
Impact on Population Genetics. 150Part 4: As the Population Shrinks. 155
Moving Toward a Stable (Steady-State) Economy . 157
A Shift to Smaller Communities . 161
Adjusting to a Larger Proportion of Old People. 164
National Defense with a Smaller Population. 167
Reversing Global Climate Change . 177
Restoring Ecosystems. 183
Making Agriculture Sustainable . 187
Creating Efficient Transportation. 190Part 5: Political and Economic Reforms. 195
Creating Genuine Democracy. 197
Reforming the Trade System. 207
Reforming Charity. 209
Eliminating Poverty. 212
Reducing Crime. 228
Sensible Alternatives to Prison. 241Part 6: Health Care Reforms. 245
Preventing Disease and Providing Health Care . 247
Reforming the Pharmaceutical Industry. 257
Making Hospitals More Conducive to Healing. 262Part 7: Ethical Reforms. 265
Developing Worthwhile Values and Pursuits. 267
Reconciliation with Other Animals. 275
Protection of Pets. 283Part 8: Religion and Overpopulation. 289
What Adam and Eve Did Wrong . 291
Humanae Vitae Examined . 293
Why the World’s Major Religions
Have Ignored Overpopulation . 296Part 9: Wrapping It Up. 305
No Despair. 307
Prospects for Implementation. 311
Conclusion. 317
Some Websites . 319
Annotated Bibliography . 323