Overpopulation root of problems

Something clicked with the March 2 guest commentary, “Blast the sirens: We have an emergency,” regarding county growth planning for 300,000 additional residents in 20 years. At every level — city, county, state, national and worldwide — we are facing current or pending crises. Overcrowding and traffic congestion. Shortages and rising costs for oil and energy, building materials and housing, and food. Pollution. Global warming. The rise of drug resistant and previously eradicated diseases. Rising cultural conflict — illegal immigration, religious fanaticism (both internal and external to the U.S.).

Growing up in the ’70s, and continuing into the mid-’80s, the international alarm sounding was world overpopulation. Then it just disappeared from the mainstream media. Why?

Apparently, the collective wisdom arose that science and technology will cope with our ever-growing population (e.g., the “green revolution” from 1950-1984 which increased world grain production by 250 percent). And above all else, the grail of our economic model — it must continuously grow, largely fueled by … population growth. So the overpopulation alarmists were debunked and ignored (just as attempted against global warming alarmists now).

Science and technology can provide stopgaps, but can’t resolve limited resources and consequences of their over-consumption. I believe overpopulation is the root of all of our crises. Why is Snohomish County growth and traffic a crisis? Why is pollution/deforestation/global warming a crisis when our industries and cars pollute far less than 40 years ago? Shortages and rising prices? Disease? Cultural conflict? Too many people! Why has this dropped out of our collective consciousness? Is the connection not apparent enough?

I fear I will see an apocalypse in my lifetime, or worse, it will be the end of my life. Just as global warming will likely bring a worldwide climate correction, so too will nature bring a world population correction.

Jim Anderson

Everett