Lexi, if we all lived in one of those little paradise in the sun, it might cure the population problem, they are not healthy places to live, & many are getting worse. There are very few second heart attacks in these places, victims do not survive the first.

I recently took a Google earth trip around some of my old stamping grounds, & what I saw was not good for those living there. It was pleasing to see most of the jetties I built still looked OK, but one was about 30 meters off shore, the island had moved as atolls do, & one was a similar distance in land.

The worrying things were at least a dozen airstrips had simply disappeared, & many coconut plantations were returning to scrub.

This means the European that ran the plantation is gone, the air strip is not maintained so no emergency service or evacuation. The power house is probably out if the airstrip has gone. No power means no refrigeration, so many medicines, especially antibiotics are gone too.

With diminishing copra output, the little cargo ships will come only once or twice a year, not monthly to pick up copra, & with supplies ordered by radio, as before. There is probably no longer radio contact, so no supplies ordered. Maintaining radios was one of my regular tasks up there.

It really made me sad to see how the kids of people, who were friends of mine, are now living in reduced circumstances.

They were not quite ready for independence. Another generation was all they needed, but they did not get it.

It was only in the palm oil growing areas that conditions looked improved. Road networks had grown, where none existed before, villages were larger, & townships had appeared. This all means better communications & services for locals, as well as schools & income opportunities.

So no Lexi, in general it's better stay in civilisation, it's not only more comfortable, it is also healthier.

Nature and war will take its course sooner than you think. Then all the useless ones can begin again screaming for more people to do all the work.

Every post was both of interest and had points I agree with except individual, and in truth he has no point.
Hasbeen! come on bloke are you pulling my leg?
Do you think workers can control economy's?
And Unions are not evil!
If they are so too are every bosses union, every chamber of commerce every group that is involved in the welfare of its members.
Lexi good to see you again.
I share those dreams,but they are dreams.
Truth is there is more satisfaction in giving than taking.
In helping rather than hurting.
But some hurt for fun.
Some take and never give.
Real control is not about us, middle income workers voters.
Growth in what?
If it is GDP then it is also workers/ population, do not overlook the double roll they have , production, and consumers.
Wages, increasingly, are not growing above inflation rates.
And without consumers less growth.
Complex Hasbeen I am unlikely as you say you are to find answers.
But love to look.
Shame,yes it is, other ways have failed, Capitalism, in my view is the only path but again in my view can and Will be modified.

OK thread got a flat tyer.
You can tell by this time if its a flyer or not.
Still think the subject has merit, still question endless growth.
And I still think all growth is linked.
Employment Productivity Economy Population.
A balloon can only take in as certain amount before exploding.
Are we to think if world population stopped growing the economy would in time too.
After a time it would.
Wait for the explosion, or is change an option.

Lexi,
Good to see that we do not disagree on everything. What you have said here, on population growth, makes complete sense to me and I suspect, to our old friend Ludwig, whom I have not heard of for a while.

I sometimes get concerned for our future generations because I know that practical carrying capacity is limited. All farmers know that and some gamble on continueing good seasons and find themselves in trouble when Mother nature changes course a bit.

We are gambling now with world population and there does not seem to be a concern to world leaders. The great famine in China killed 40-50 million and I suspect that will be minor in some future famine.

I keep mentioning Iran and how they reduced their birthrate by education and provision of the means (just google Iran birthrate) with the hope that others will take note and some action will begin. However I suspect that will not happen.

Probably better to talk about other things.

Banjo and Lexi have just about got it right.
But my concerns are honest ones.
Right now the western world begs for growth.
To get out of debt and put people back to work.
We have growth, but also shrinking manufacturing and spending.
I too fear the answer may be war, or starvation, even a depression.
So growth can be free after, in a brand new paddock to start the cycle over again.
And my increasing concern that a world in so much trouble, may bring a form of one government.