jdeely’s Recent Comments

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  still an overused word

  John Fish said,

  "In my view, it's an oversimplification to state that "Family planning is also one of the keys in helping to relieve poverty, which in turn helps to further reduce fertility rates as people climb the economic ladder." In some cases, improved economic prospects lead to larger families, as was the case during the post-WWII Baby Boom. The USA was riding high as a global superpower, manufacturing and the consumer/suburban economy boomed, and the total fertility rate rose, peaking at 3.5 births per woman in the late 50s before beginning to drop. "

  Not exactly -  the fertility rate for USA was WAY higher in the 1800's and early 1900's ... the 50's were just a post war/depression blip in an otherwise steadily declining fertility rate.
  see - http://eh.net/encyclopedia/article/haines.demography

  I actually feel that overpopulation is still an overused word. We hear plenty of this side of the story and much less  of the good news concerning population, poverty and the environment.
  My example above is one of 1000's that could be cited.On Rethinking 'overpopulation' posted 3 years, 1 month ago 77 Responses

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  Too much cheap oil

  When are people going to get it... there is too MUCH cheap oil and too MUCH cheap coal.

  We need a very large carbon tax so that people will switch off coal and oil faster than they will by so-called peak oil.  CO2 and global warming is the real problem.  Peak oil is a joke.

  As oil prices rise, more oil will be found and produced, more shale oil will come online and substitutes will be found. This is simple economics.

  Two small examples of substitution caused by oil prices rising... from what will be 1000's of examples over the next thirty years.

  Corn based Plastics
  http://www.inc.com/magazine/20060301/priority-costs.html

  Coal Based Jet-Fuel
  http://www.physorg.com/news12146.htmlOn Peak oil, coal, and bizarre optimism posted 3 years, 7 months ago 8 Responses

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  Just imagine

  Just imagine how much cheaper food would be if we eliminated subsidies for farmers in rich countries and poorer farmers were allowed to compete.

  Just imagine how much lower American food bills would be if they didn't eat out for lunch 3-4 times a week and for dinner 2-3 times  a week. Even meals at home are often pre-cooked meals from Whole Foods, Trader Joes, Safeway etc...  What if we acutally purchased fresh vegetables, fruit and cooked our own meals a little more often.

  Although we still have many issues with how the global food supply is distributed we are definitely moving towards, if we haven't already reached, a world where the problem is too MUCH food not too little. Even in many so-called developing countries, obesity is becoming a growing problem. Imagine if we ate a little less.
  On A food-politics writer expresses angst at the obscurity of his topic posted 3 years, 7 months ago 24 Responses

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  Stupid bet but...

  Its good to see that at least one "Peak Oiler" is putting his money where his mouth is...

  Although obviously, this is a really stupid bet and shows that Simmons has no concept whatsoever of basic economics.

  My guess is that it will take $100+ oil prices to get Americans to substantially reduce demand.

  China is already working hard to reduce its demand and $100 barrel oil will accelerate their drive towards more efficiency.

  My bet - Oil prices will rise some more of the next couple of years, demand will slow and prices will fall back to $50 range... maybe lower.On Tierney puts up $5,000 posted 4 years, 2 months ago 8 Responses

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  population growth is slowing

  by the second half of this century... declining populations will be a bigger problem than overpopulation.On How many kids do I have to have to get your attention? posted 4 years, 3 months ago 11 Responses