Why do we have such overpopulation and over consumption?

Question

Assuming you accept the truth in the above statement, who is responsible? Who is to blame, Governments or the people who they serve?

Answer 1

Cheap oil is what provided all modern technology, and without it we would be still be living life as if we were in the 1700's.

And despite what you think, oil is not "depleting." No yet. Unless you consider "depleting" what happened as soon as we started oil extraction, then yes, oil is still being depleted.

And overpopulation/over-consumption is not something that can be blamed on any one thing--it is the natural progression of human existence. Governments do promote over-consumption, but it is still the will of the people that must make it happen.

And finally, you say:

"but people have been led to expect they can have as many children as they want."

I suppose that is because we are animals with the free-will and ability to have as many children as we want. You could say the same thing about rabbits, mosquitos, fish, cats, dogs, birds, essentially nearly every animal, plant, fungus, bacteria, etc. The tone of your sentence here is somewhat frightening--as if we should be regulated in the number of offspring. That type of thinking will lead one down a dark road of overregulation and excessive control.

Edit:

Heralda says:

"bob326 - The population of all living things is usually determined by natural forces, but we have overshot our natural limits with the use of fossil fuel fertilisers and pesticides."

My reply: Is what we create not natural? This is a common fallacy--that we are not a part of nature. If given the chance, every animal would do whatever that is in its power to prolong its species survival. It just so happens that we are the only ones that have gotten that chance.

Then Heralda says:

"Without them, we will not be able to sustain the current crop yeilds we have enjoyed for so long. If we do not voluntarily reduce population, it will be forced on us by famine. How scary is that? Nature will win, and population will fall into it's natural boundries."

My reply: This is natural. You said above that all living things are kept in check by natural forces--if we cannot feed ourselves, then famine will take over. So really it is a choice: We use massive government control the world around to enforce population controls that may or may not be in our best interest, OR we let the people decide their fate and try to fight poverty (which helps to stabilize population), disease, sanitation issues, etc. I have no problem if you and others wish to voluntarily give up procreation, but do not expect everyone to feel the same way you do.

Don't get me wrong, I believe that people have this nasty habit of over-consumption and are becoming somewhat of an unruly mob with regards to population size, but there are other ways to get around this than using mass government control to force our population down.

Then Heralda says:

"Oil IS depleting, that is why there is this damaging rush to biofuels. We can't replace oil energy with agrofuels, and if we try we will bring on the depopulation required by starving other nations to death."

My reply: Again, if you mean "depleting" in the sense that the usable levels are being lowered, then yes you are correct. However, if you mean "depleting" as to say that stocks are almost gone, then you are misinformed. We are nowhere near using up all the oil, and this rush to biofuels has little to do with actual crude oil levels, despite what some might have you think. The real reason is that people do not like oil, oil companies, and oil from foreign countries--they think that oil "controls our lives" (and this is partially correct, but oil has done much good as well). And they use the erroneous excuse of saying that we are almost out of oil. it is essentially part of this "green movement" (even though biofuels will end up doing much more harm than good).

Edit2:

Heralda says: "Bob 326 - Read the link below, the whole thing, All the way through, and then tell me we can be complacent about this. Is it not more responsible to try and prevent a disaster than let wars and famines do the job for us?"

My reply: What exactly are you proposing? Worldwide government restrictions on the number of children? That worked wonders in China.... Personally, I think such a "solution" would be worse than the problem. That is why, as I said above, that we should fight the problem of over-consumption with a more friendly and effective solution: fighting disease and poverty, solving sanitation issues (clean water), improve sustainability (better farming practices and better technology), etc. By solving those issues, not only can we improve life for our lives and the lives of future generations, but for the planet as well.

Again, as I said above, I have no problem if you and others wish to voluntarily give up procreation, but do not force others to do the same.

Answer 2

overpopulation is caused by doctors and scientisit constantly making less people die and people live longer. Over consumption is down to us.  All this nanny state stuff is just stupid, we alll decide how much we consume, how much we eat and how much we buy, its nothing to do with the government, or anyone else.

Answer 3

We don't have overpopulation (yet), we have people who live in the wrong areas.  We do have overconsumption, led by Americans, and of course all other countries' consumers would like to emulate us.  Frankly, everyone is to blame and some of the overpopulated areas are due to hyperurbanization, which is a pressing problem in most of the developing world.  Governments in those countries have neither the finances nor the political will to address these problems.

Answer 4

Overpopulation is a personal choice:

1.  A lot of people think their purpose in life is to biologically reproduce.  This is especially sad with so many orphans waiting for adoption.

2.  A lot of people don't believe in birth control for religious or other reasons.

3.  A lot of people look at vast stretches of land and think it's proof that there's nearly infinite room for people.

4.  In poor countries, people don't even know what birth control is.

Answer 5

http://www.vhemt.org/biobreed.htm#babies

check out the 2nd comic strip lol!

Answer 6

Governments of course

Answer 7

well overpopulation must be do do with the fact that the UK government has opened its borders to everyone in most of Europe so of course they are going to come here for a better life so government i say!!!

Answer 8

..YOU ARE  sweetheart,its a human greed thing.