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By the Numbers
in response to reader comment: lemming rationale

Submitted by John House, Dec 24, 2007 23:05

I think Thomas Malthus and Paul Erlich were fundamentally incorrect, and Western thought is pathetically slow to catch it. I would propose that in many technologies, output increases geometrically as technology changes, at least in certain ranges of the technology's implementation. While Malthus proposed that production increases arithmetically, he was falsely assuming that agricultural technology is constant. His theory does not anticipate introducing artificial nitrogen, no till farming, hybrids, and the genetic engineering that is showing so much promise and anxiety concerning food and fodder supplies. I am not saying that people who fear genetically modified foods are completely irrational. I am saying we need to anticipate our technology rationally and accurately on its merits. It may be well for a professional to formalize such a questioning of Malthus. I would much prefer stabilizing food technology in hungry regions, instead of abandoning people who are living and loving their spouses. (Although this has nothing to do with Mr. Steyn's rant, I thought you might appreciate it.)

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Comment	By	Date
I live in a big city, like most of us probably. Hundreds of city classrooms stand empty but schools remain... [MORE]	Gary Miller	Dec 20, 2007 23:01
John House. Steyn is a very opinionated columnist , and without question infuriating to those who disagree with his viiews,... [MORE]	neil gaffney	Dec 18, 2007 00:26
While I appreciate statistics and consider them within a context. My overwhelming experience is that global warming is real. Mr.... [MORE]	John House	Dec 18, 2007 22:45
I am intrigued by the claims of John 'Green' House to have certain "overwhelming experience" that "global warming is real". Does... [MORE]	Geraint Roberts	Dec 19, 2007 17:38
Cheer up, Mr. Steyn. There may be a purpose behind the mental illness gripping the world's elites. In "Anatomy of Criticism"... [MORE]	Robert Arvanitis	Dec 17, 2007 21:35
I try to read news from around the world. My readings reflect little currency for the opinions Mr. Steyn fears.... [MORE]	John House	Dec 17, 2007 20:35
Mr. House, your argument that global warming must be true based on your personal experience is absolutely absurd. "Obvious, if... [MORE]	Lynn	Dec 19, 2007 10:50
Lynn, I remember when cattle egrets were seldom seen in Central Illinois. I now see many. I remember when trees... [MORE]	John House	Dec 19, 2007 23:46
Mr. House, I would argue that rather than using reason, which would see an individual's personal experience as insigificant in the... [MORE]	Lynn	Dec 20, 2007 10:55
Lynn, thank you for your correction of my typo. Thank you also for the reference. I have book marked it... [MORE]	John House	Dec 20, 2007 22:36
While your story about faith is indeed moving, it is not what I mean when I say that your view... [MORE]	Lynn	Dec 21, 2007 10:20
The real question, of course, is whether global warming is anthropogenic in nature, or just a repeat of the macro-trend... [MORE]	john twinem	Dec 21, 2007 10:58
I think Thomas Malthus and Paul Erlich were fundamentally incorrect, and Western thought is pathetically slow to catch it. I...	John House	Dec 24, 2007 23:05
There are some statistics you can argue over, but the basic numbers tell the story. In 2004, the last year... [MORE]	Neil	Dec 17, 2007 17:09
I believe that we will soon (less than 10 years from now) use solar energy to make fuels in significant... [MORE]	Wilm E. Donath	Dec 17, 2007 12:38
•Emissions from the U.S. increased 6.6%. A plurality of the world's emmissions come from the United States - with 25% of... [MORE]	Ethan	Dec 17, 2007 01:09
Ethan might be more convincing if he could spell emissions. Carbon dioxide emissions are not poison, but fertilizer for the plant... [MORE]	tarkus	Dec 17, 2007 03:08
I think (correct me if I'm wrong) the Kyoto protocol was to reduce emissions by percentage amounts. So by showing... [MORE]	Keith	Dec 17, 2007 10:03
Sirs, Whether Mark Steyn's right or wrong matters not. It's the basic premise of the global ecochondriacs that's erroneous. On page... [MORE]	Boris Bell	Dec 17, 2007 14:53
Regardless of the fact that the US is the leading source of emissions, Steyn's point is simply that the US... [MORE]	jon	Dec 17, 2007 15:20
Regardless of the fact that the US is the leading source of emissions, Steyn's point is simply that the US... [MORE]	Jon	Dec 17, 2007 15:21
Ethan, Your rounding seems to only work in one direction. While it may be nit picking: US pop = 4.57% of world... [MORE]	David	Dec 17, 2007 16:00
According to the World Bank figures for 2006, The US economy accounts for 27.4% of the world economy. siteresources.worldbank.org/DATASTATISTICS/Resources/GDP.pdf So what we... [MORE]	Deluded By Dawkins	Dec 20, 2007 08:13

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in response to reader comment: lemming rationale