budgetary purposes.

== We Are All Consumers ==

Every baby grows up to become a consumer. By the very definition of the word, this means that every child will learn to destroy, expend, or devour available resources. This is not a criticism, simply a fact. The amount of consumerism will vary from country to country, but the inescapable truth is that every human being on this planet consumes. It's our nature. Therefore, potential parents should carefully consider major concepts such as noise, stress, education, crime, and pollution.

With Earth hosting 9 billion people, we'll most likely experience the following:

Noise: Public and material transportation systems will become overburdened. Manufacturers will need to create more airplanes, locomotives, and tractor-trailers. You'll also hear more police, fire, and ambulance sirens. You should also expect more personal items such as snow blowers, lawn mowers, chainsaws, and car alarms.

Stress: Commute duration and general traffic congestion will only get worse. Balancing your budget, driving to and from extra-curricular activities, and buying clothing are just a few concepts that may become a big deal. The teen years encompass driving and dating. This all adds up.

Education: A portable classroom outside a school indicates that the school cannot hold all of its students. Also, larger class sizes will guarantee that your child is less likely to get personal attention. Teachers will continue to feel the strain of being overworked, and may not provide as much nurturing/educational environments.

Crime: Violent and non-violent perpetrators will become more frequent and personal safety will become even more of an issue. We'll need more police and other civilian forces to battle the increasing "bad element."

Pollution: Landfills will be chock full of toys, clothes, furniture, toxic substances, and other non-recyclable materials. What happens then? Do we dump our trash in the water, or send it into deep space? Greenhouse gasses will insure a Swiss cheese ozone layer at best, and carbon dioxide will continue to kill.

Resource Depletion: There will be less farmland, less forest, less water, and less energy sources per person if our population keeps growing at its present rate. Urbanization will keep encroaching on arable land. Water, oil, solar energy, fossil fuels, clean air, and other resources will not sustain us without intense conservation or renewal programs.

== You Have A Choice ==

Do the math and ask yourself if it's really in your (and the Earth's) best interest to have more than one child, or any children at all. Only YOU can make that decision, not your government, not your family, not your friends. Just you.

Even if you absolutely cannot live without raising a child, does it have to come from you? Perhaps you could adopt. I know at least six kids whose lives are better because of adoption, thanks to some good people. Think about it. What if we all knew six kids like that?

The really creepy thing is that the human race may not be long for this world, no matter what we do. Even after numerous attempts to battle overpopulation and retain usable resources, perhaps our kind will ultimately and inexorably go the way of the dinosaur.

Learn more about this author, Len Morse.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

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