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kickyguilt, everybody wants to go to Heaven but no one wants to die. I only know that I would not wish to be the only person alive. There would be nothing to live for! If I could swap places with one of my children or grandchildren I would in a heartbeat. I don't have the answers but I know the one who does.

On the thoughts of "survival of the fittest" that would not be so if it kills off the young and the healthy. Older folks like me with health problems may be what is left.
We must find ways to protect our youth.
    

History has always has a way with the checks and balances of population. It doesn't matter whether you feel a Higher power has a hand in it. Throughout time, when the population gets a little to big for its current britches, something comes along and causes a balance.

If global warming is as horrible as some say, there will be extreme food shortages, less desirable places to live, and so on. Of course, if there's a devestating pandemic, balance will be restored.

Not meaning to sound cold. Just the facts.

Since a flu virus is a equal opportunity killer, I think we need to look at that question from the standpoint of, how good would it be, if you or your loved ones, were the ones who were voted off the island. Then, ask yourself if watching your own child, friend, parent, spouce, die such a horrible death would be a "good" thing.

Mother Nature has always been the Great Equalizer and always will be.  Consider the almost too perfect design of the Spanish Flu and the potential of todays H5N1.  Targets the healthy breeders and future breeders during these events and in a way naturally provides checks and balances to population growth.  To take this line of thinking further is where I start to get scared.  Tamiflu and effective vaccines obviously upset this concept of natural balance and will this only serve to make Ma Nature really mad and then what will we have to face??

I believe that everything is God's will - not that He is happy with everything that happens, far from it, but that He could stop it if He chose to. And He has infinite wisdom and understanding to know when to intervene and when to let things take their course. This is the only thing that brings me any comfort in the face of suffering and death.

Throughout human history, there have always been periodic massive numbers of human deaths, whether from pandemics, famine, wars, etc. Is this "good" for anybody involved? Of course not. It's a horrendous, hideous nightmare for all those whose lives are affected. But is it a necessary evil? It must be.

Consider this - what happens to a population of deer in the winter if there are too many of them for the particular area they live in to support? They starve. This is how nature maintains stability.

Of course I'm not saying that people are animals, except in a strict scientific sense. But in the eyes of nature, there's no difference between human and animal. That flu that's out there could care less if we are human or not.

    

According to the Georgia Guidestones the world population should
be about 500 million.    They caution that nature is more important
for human survival.

The current world population is about 6.6 billion.   A reduction
of 25% would only bring the population down to about 5 billion.

Still way to high.    To get down to 500 million (half a billion) the
population would have to be reduced by about 90%.

The currernt population of Europe is about 800 million.

http://www.ibiblio.org/lunarbin/worldpop
http://www.internetworldstats.com/europa2.htm
http://www.radioliberty.com/stones.htm

As to the topic of this thread and the title:  FEWER PEOPLE NOT SO BAD?

I think a constant population of 2 billion would be just right. Assuming I get to choose the 1,999,999,9999 other people I live with.

World Population in 1820, circa one billion
World Population in 1600, circa half billion

Let's gather round and rub two sticks together. How far back do you guys want to take us? The stone age?

4abbie&4maddie wrote: Back to before we had nuclear bombs to worry about. That would be nice. Wars are one thing - horrible and terrible, but the nuclear aspect of a two-bully fight with a consequence of having the power to literally blow up the world is another. I think our "abilities" as a people have far exceeded our wisdom.

I think we were doomed the first time a prehistoric man picked up a stick or rock and used it as a tool, the tools have just gotten bigger and more dangerous as time went on. Unfortunately wisdom hasnt kept pace with the development of tools.
I think the coming plagues, pestilence and famines are natures way of dealing with the greatest virus of all, mankind. Nature is very good at maintaining a balance of one kind or another

 dont know?

mach wrote: I guess it's one way to reduce green house gases.