US Population: 300,000,000 come October

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the projected population growth of the United States, specifically the anticipation of reaching 300 million people by October of a given year. Participants explore various aspects of population dynamics, including comparisons with other countries, resource consumption, and implications of population density.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants reference a projection by demographer Katrina Wengert regarding the U.S. population reaching 300 million, noting the complexities and uncertainties involved in such estimates.
  • There is a claim that the U.S. population is relatively low compared to other nation-states when considering usable land to population ratio, with Europe cited as an example.
  • Others argue that the rate of population growth in the U.S. is actually declining, suggesting a need for further examination of demographic trends.
  • Concerns about overpopulation are raised, with some participants emphasizing that the issue is not solely about population density but also about the consumption of natural resources by Americans compared to citizens of countries like India and China.
  • One participant challenges the notion that low population relative to land means there should be no population control, expressing concern that ignorance of this could lead to larger problems in the future.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the implications of population growth and resource consumption, with no clear consensus on the necessity or implications of population control. Disagreements arise regarding the interpretation of population density and its significance.

Contextual Notes

Some statements reflect assumptions about resource consumption and population dynamics that may not be universally accepted or verified. The discussion includes references to demographic projections that are subject to change and interpretation.

Pengwuino
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http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/13/n...00&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=all

At that rate, the total is expected to top 300 million late this year. But with those projections adjusted monthly and the number of births typically peaking during the summer, the benchmark is likely to be reached about nine months from now.

"You end up with a number in October," said Katrina Wengert, a demographer and a keeper of the Census Bureau's official Population Clock, getting about as specific as possible this far in advance in a field subject to chronic fudging and revising. The clock is, itself, a contrivance, of course, but no more so than other pretexts for a wintertime sexual encounter. Rest assured that hospital publicists, canny obstetricians, entrepreneurial chambers of commerce, baby food manufacturers, public officials and countless others pursuing some political social or personal agenda, abetted by the media, are already guesstimating the growth rate to anoint any number of unsuspecting newborns as the mythical American who pushed the nation's population to 300 million.

If any of you want to have that baby, you better hurry the heck up.
 
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Thats still relatively low, you know.
 
cyrusabdollahi said:
Thats still relatively low, you know.

Relative to what? Africa?
 
Relative to any other nation state in terms of usable land to population ratio. Europe has our population and much less the land mass. Get urself a good geography book and read it. The rate of population growth on the US is actually on the decline .
 
Last edited:
cyrusabdollahi said:
Relative to any other nation state in terms of usable land to population ratio. Europe has our population and much less the land mass. Get urself a good geography book and read it. The rate of population growth on the US is actually on the decline .

Thanks for correcting me on something I never said.
 
It was my pleasure. :)
 
"You end up with a number in October," said Katrina Wengert, a demographer and a keeper of the Census Bureau's official Population Clock, getting about as specific as possible this far in advance in a field subject to chronic fudging and revising. The clock is, itself, a contrivance, of course, but no more so than other pretexts for a wintertime sexual encounter. Rest assured that hospital publicists, canny obstetricians, entrepreneurial chambers of commerce, baby food manufacturers, public officials and countless others pursuing some political social or personal agenda, abetted by the media, are already guesstimating the growth rate to anoint any number of unsuspecting newborns as the mythical American who pushed the nation's population to 300 million.

I think it's time for Ms. Wengert to sell her thesaurus.

Anyway, yeah, overpopulation is a big concern in the US, not because of population density, but because of our rapid draining of natural resources. Places like India and China have a lot of people, but their average citizen doesn't consume nearly as much as the average American.
 
Over the last 50 years, (I think) americas use of power has increased a lot, while Japan, has remained almost neutral.
 
The big countries like Russia, Canada and the US are underpopulated both in terms of population density and unexploited natural resources.
 
  • #10
Just because it's low relative to land, that doesn't mean which shouldn't control our population. That sort of ignorance will lead us to much bigger problems later.

The population is already clearly out of control.
 
  • #11
SpaceTiger said:
I think it's time for Ms. Wengert to sell her thesaurus.

Anyway, yeah, overpopulation is a big concern in the US, not because of population density, but because of our rapid draining of natural resources. Places like India and China have a lot of people, but their average citizen doesn't consume nearly as much as the average American.

...but they really want to catch up.
 

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