Big Think

Andrew Clunn on May 13, 2008, 7:34 PM

You point out that the population of the United States is increasing due to immigration. You also say that nations need to achieve some aspect of modern society in order to stabilize population. However, if large groups of people immigrate from a less industrialized nation with values encouraging large families to more modern nations, this would upset that balance. You even mention that the United States%u2019 population is not declining due to immigration. Add in that these new families now consume the resources associated with citizens of modern nations (substantially higher) and you’ve added much more to the problem. Saying it will sort itself out ignores the pervasive problem of immigrants having large families both in the form of Turkish and other middle-eastern immigrants in Europe and Mexican immigrants in the United States. This problem may “work itself out” but it will be in the form of densely populated slums forming in the coastal regions, resulting in much more massive losses of life from natural disasters, as well as increased starvation in poorer countries as the demand and price of food continuously climbs.