06-04-2009, 10:08 AM
Quote:Here is an example of the the cultural assumptions that can change, religion notwithstanding.
Italy. Once a great Catholic spawning pool. The Pope was most pleased, no doubt. I am, since it gave us Pete, and some of my neighbors in Italy. :)
My landlord came from a large, Italian family. He had six brothers and sisters. His wife likewise.
The two of them had two kids, Valeria and Alfredo. The weren't gonna have no more. Why? Cost too much, too much desire to set them up for their future.
WIll this generational change tend to happen as more places get "moderinzed?"
I don't know. But if it doesn't, then the Malthusian prediction will merely come to pass a century or so later than predicted, it all being a matter of when rather than if.
Occhi
This was the point that I was making before. However I think there are not enough resources on this planet to make everybody so prosperous in say a western style society that they will start considering getting less children. If all of India and China are as rich as western europe, US, Australia etc. and have the same consumption rate global warming can't be reversed anymore and the rest of the world will have 0 food. In other words, impossible.
I liked Pete's idea about propaganda but also this seems unpractical....propaganda does not work too well if every day you need to fight for getting enough food and water for you and your family.
As a socialist I have to admit that we probably should completely change our way of dealing with 3rd world countries. No more food and money, and no more taking in refugees. I know, it sound really harsh but it is the only way to prevent even bigger disasters. Of course this has to go hand to hand with technical support to raise the prosperity of these countries.....but still....it is not easy to convince people to have only 1 child instead of 5.