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From: corwin@hope.UUCP (John Kempf)
Newsgroups: net.sci
Subject: Re: Re: Population control
Message-ID: <576@hope.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 20-Aug-86 21:47:20 EDT
Article-I.D.: hope.576
Posted: Wed Aug 20 21:47:20 1986
Date-Received: Thu, 28-Aug-86 03:26:04 EDT
References: <3053@teddy.UUCP>
Organization: University of California, Riverside
Lines: 75

[previous arguements deleted.  If you want them, look 'em up. -cory]
>
> But most responsible people do not consider meddling with other peoples'
> lives as a reasonable alternative.  It *is* abhorrent to interfere with
> such a personal choice because the individual's right to lead his own
> life is inalienable and self-justifying; it does not belong to the
> state.

WRONG!!!
First, there are no RIGHTS.  Nobody has any RIGHT to lead his own life,
and it certainly is NOT "inalianable".  The word means that they [the
rights] cannot be taken away.  With even the briefest glance at history,
it is quite obvious that these "inalienable" rights are alienable, and
that this has happened.  This act of alienation is usualy performed by
the state, frequently by a state that was originaly supported by the
people whose "rights" have been alienated.

>         And unless you can point out solid reasons why some peoples'
> having children directly and forcibly harms other people, you don't have
> a moral case.
>
Ok, I'll bite.
Given: an island with a limited food producing potential, and no outside
        contact
       a tribe of natives who have noticed that they have a limited
        ammount of resources (food production), and therefore control
        their population accordingly
       a tribe of natives who believe in large families

Assuming that the first tribe does nothing to prevent this, the result
will be the second tribe multiplying until they can no longer support
themselves.  At this point, they will declaire war upon the first tribe
for their food resources.  It is highly probable that the second tribe
with it's larger population resources will wipe out the first tribe,
(who has had a stable population level).
QED.

> Well, how do you propose to enforce coercive population control?

How about sterilization?  There is even precident - various countries
used to decapitate the hands of convicted thieves.  How is this any
worse?

>                           the Earth still has plenty of resources and
> can feed its inhabitants,
yes, but for how long?  If I remember correctly, the world population
can double every 44 years.

>                           and that this is not the only place to live in
> the universe.
Oh realy?  Could you please give specifics?  Also the procedures
required for outward migration?

-cory

"No matter how subtle the wizard, a knife between the shoulder blades
will seriously cramp his style."

VOICE:  (714) 788 0709
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-- 
-cory

"No matter how subtle the wizard, a knife between the shoulder blades
will seriously cramp his style."

VOICE:  (714) 788 0709
UUCP:   {ucbvax!ucdavis,sdcsvax,ucivax}!ucrmath!hope!corwin
ARPA:   ucrmath!hope!corwin@sdcsvax.ucsd.edu  
USNAIL: 3637 Canyon Crest apt G302
        Riverside Ca.  92507