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From: devonst@burdvax.UUCP (Tom Albrecht)
Newsgroups: talk.politics.misc
Subject: Re: Population control (to sevener)
Message-ID: <2706@burdvax.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 25-Sep-86 12:58:38 EDT
Article-I.D.: burdvax.2706
Posted: Thu Sep 25 12:58:38 1986
Date-Received: Mon, 29-Sep-86 00:36:58 EDT
References: <543@gargoyle.UUCP> <7802181@inmet> <2644@burdvax.UUCP>
Sender: devonst@burdvax.UUCP
Reply-To: devonst@burdvax.UUCP (Tom Albrecht)
Organization: Burroughs Corp. - SDG/Devon
Lines: 46

orb@whuts.UUCP (SEVENER) writes:
>> [I said]
>> 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.
>
>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.
...
>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?
...

I can only infer from your posting that you agree with me that
large populations, per se, do not cause famine.  Famine, as you have noted,
is usually cause by mismanagement of natural resources.  I would argue that
most arable land could support a larger population if properly managed.

Am I misinterpreting what you said?

>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

Apology accepted.  What's a Propertarian?

--
Tom Albrecht