Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!yale!husc6!seismo!gatech!akgua!lcuxlm!whuxl!whuts!orb
From: orb@whuts.UUCP (SEVENER)
Newsgroups: talk.politics.misc
Subject: Re: Population control
Message-ID: <975@whuts.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 10-Sep-86 15:06:34 EDT
Article-I.D.: whuts.975
Posted: Wed Sep 10 15:06:34 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 13-Sep-86 06:55:52 EDT
References: <543@gargoyle.UUCP> <7802181@inmet> <2644@burdvax.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 57

> kan@ihlpg.UUCP (Casali) writes:
> ...
> >California (and there is numerous other speices where the same
> >can be said). Much of this could or would is happening in Africa
> >and Asia where there is large increases in population. The African
> >famines is direct related to over population. 
> 
> Can we straighten out one thing?  Overpopulation does not CAUSE famine.
> Famine comes about when natural causes or government ineptness reduces the
> amount of food available to a given population.  No reputable scientist has
> ever suggested (as far as I know) that the world is so limited in natural
> resources that it cannot support the current population of humans.  Most of
> what the ZPG people and other fanatical groups put out is simply
> statistics-twisting propaganda.
>  
> Tom Albrecht

Most scientists who are knowledgeable about the ecology of the Sahel
in Africa blame the increasing advance of the Sahara Desert on
*precisely* the effects of overpopulation with the established
social system and production patterns which have led to deforestation,
overgrazing and ultimately desertification.

Ever take the time to look at a path trodden by hundreds of people
across a college campus, a park, or anywhere else?
You won't see much grass growing there, and certainly it would
be ludicrous to plant a garden.  The reason is simple : the effects
of the daily traversal of the path by hundreds of people.
*Without* those hundreds of people taking the path grass might do fine.
But with it, nothing will ever grow.
Are you going to deny not only the findings of reputable scientists and
ecologists but also what is obvious in sheer common sense??

How do YOU explain the Dust Bowl, Mr. Albrecht?
State mismanagement of agriculture?
Of course, you would be absolutely right.  The government did
very little if anything to teach the private farmers of our
country about the potentially devastating effects of erosion.
After the tragedy of the Dust Bowl the Agriculture Dept. made
sure to stress to farmers the importance of preventing erosion
using the Agricultural Extension Service agents.
Why don't you talk to one and see what they say about excessive loads
on the land?

Speaking of Agricultural Extension agents, one of the reasons given
for Zimbabwe's success as the most agriculturally productive nation
in Africa is their emulation of the American extension agent idea
coupled with an agricultural system dominated by many independent
producers.  Of course, Ronald Reagan proposed firing all agriculture
extension agents to cut the budget.

I prefer to avoid personal insults but postings like the above
really make me wonder if some of the Propertarians on this net
are sheer idiots.
(please accept my apology for this insult but I am becoming
exasperated with repeated ignorant diatribes like the above!)
                 tim sevener  whuxn!orb