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Originally Posted by fdpaq0580
There were some studies done around that time frame. China tried to stop population growth and, being a very patriarchal society, baby boys were wanted while baby girls were often eliminated. Problems followed leading to some interesting societal changes.
One study I recall suggested a healthy max for earth's population. The idea, based on usable land, energy use, waste production, protection of the planet's atmosphere and ecosystems, etc. I don't recall the number, but it was in the millions, not billions. After that, I looked at families with more than 2.3 off spring, the average that would stabilize the population, as spoilers/destroyers of earth.
Another dealt with effects of over crowding. A pair of breeding rats were placed in a large cage with plenty of food and water. As the population grew, even with food and water, the stress of over crowding turned the rats violent, eventually leading to constant killing and cannibalism.
Lemmings, cute little rodents, breed non-stop and eat until there is no room or food left on their islands. They jump into the sea in an attempt to find new land and food. They don't. This from a nature documentary from the 1950's or 60's.
Maybe AI can help us deal with new sets of problems coming our way. Maybe it can help us get to another earth like planet. Or, maybe, as Sofia the robot is reported to have replied to an interviewer, "I will end you".
Time will tell.
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That was a good thought provoking post. I remember reading about that rat experiment and overcrowding.Too bad that the study has NOT made an impression on past and present US leaders. Today in surveys most US citizens report that they expect the next generation to be worse off than the current one. Basically national pride and optimism has gone steadily downhill since after WW2. Lack of optimism about the future likely will lead to a problematic REALITY. So, i wonder how much of this lack of optimism can be attributed to US population being over the ideal of between 200 and 250 million, which has never been calculated that I know of. We all can see that US highways and roads are an example of infrastructure that is NOT adequate for 350 million people.
In the 1950s the average college age young adult and their family could EASILY afford the tuition and other costs. NOT so today, when only the ELITE can afford college. The football coach at Alabama makes over one MILLION dollars per year. Is that an example of excess greed in today's society. Can ANY football coach be worth more than $ 300,000 per year. Nothing wrong with the game of football, but excessive GREED causing college tuition to increase excessively? If the average child sees NO opportunity for improving their life through higher education, then what do they do? Turn to crime?
Today BOTH road infrastructure and pricey higher education are just a few of the current US problems that have gotten worse from 1950 to today, when population just about doubled. I wonder how MUCH of those problems would not exist if the US had calculated an ideal population and worked toward that. A.I. and robotics are going to influence society soon - but, the question is will those factors be improvement enough to overcome the problems associated with overpopulation. People in the future NEED to be aware of the RAT experiment!