POPULATON GROWTH

My mother burst into tears when she discovered that she was pregnant with me. I did not know what was happening, but I would have cried too. Therefore, I was swimming in stress hormones and alcohol that calmed her nerves. Having taught Social Demography, I discovered that when you talk about population there are so many other issues also involved.

We don’t have time to bother with all of them. Right now, you are about ready to close the newspaper. So here goes. From a long time ago to recently children paid for themselves from hunting and gathering societies to now. Kids were not optional , rather they were necessary.

Now kids  may have become a luxury. So as time goes on and we don’t have big bombs and disease, people who have a lot of kids receive stress related financial costs and social stigma. What was a blessing has turned on its head. With my mother, she raised 3 kids of whom all of us got college degrees and all the other issues that could come up at the kitchen table. My father traveled so he was gone most of the time. Further, there was my grandfather to care for. He was demented. Further, the corporation wanted my mom to be active in church and in the community.

When I started teaching , there was about 200 million. Today it is over 340 million. All  three of us had two biological children each. Our grand children have not married and do not have any biological children. Most are in their 30’s-50’s,

 There has been alarmist statements  made about population on both sides of the fence. So? My wife and I made our choice and we sure wish you well on your choices. That’s right, I am not running for anything. Prof. Joel Snell