Babies are the problem. And American babies are the worst. As if liberals weren’t doing enough to limit the number of babies, now a new study is saying that babies may just be the death of us all doe to their calamitous environmental impact…and something must be done!!!!!
This kind of talk is more than just the typical environmental scare-mongering of the left. It’s dangerous. Because in the past, liberals had to limit their hatred of babies to convincing women there was no shame in ripping infants apart limb from limb. But now, liberals are no longer willing to leave up the choice to individuals because quite simply too many of them aren’t doing what the liberals want so the environmental impact argument is advanced to take the argument to a whole new level. (Let’s face it, liberals were never all that crazy about individuals anyway. They like talking about “man” as a concept but not actual people.
The ironic thing is that these so-called champions of “reproductive choice” are pulling a 180 as they reveal more and more that it’s not that they’re all that much into “choice” it’s just that they’re all just not that much into humanity.
When so much of government has taken the role of punishing behavior that is seen as harmful to ourselves and others either economically, financially and environmentally. (See smoking, healthcare and discussions over taxing fatty foods) is there any doubt that as environmental alarmism heightens, the government will take it upon itself to punish behavior they deem will hurt the environment under the guise that they’re protecting people.
Look, companies are being punished for having too large a carbon footprint. Logically, why shouldn’t individuals?
So when studies come out saying that babies are bad for the environment but insists it’s not advocating government intervention I just roll my eyes. Just listen to the professed views of some of the leading lights of liberalism. Obama’s Science Czar John Holdren advocated mass sterilization and population controls. And Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said she thought Roe v. Wade would allow the government to limit “populations” we don’t want too many of. And some are arguing that she didn’t explicitly say she was for it. But the truth is that she thought Roe guaranteed the right of the government to “limit populations” and she didn’t ever speak out against it.
The new study, according to Live Science says:
For people who are looking for ways to reduce their “carbon footprint,” here’s one radical idea that could have a big long-term impact, some scientists say: Have fewer kids.
A study by statisticians at Oregon State University concluded that in the United States, the carbon legacy and greenhouse gas impact of an extra child is almost 20 times more important than some of the other environment-friendly practices people might employ during their entire lives – things like driving a high mileage car, recycling, or using energy-efficient appliances and light bulbs.
“In discussions about climate change, we tend to focus on the carbon emissions of an individual over his or her lifetime,” said study team member Paul Murtaugh. “Those are important issues and it’s essential that they should be considered. But an added challenge facing us is continuing population growth and increasing global consumption of resources.”
Reproductive choices haven’t gained as much attention in the consideration of human impact to the Earth, Murtaugh said. When an individual produces a child – and that child potentially produces more descendants in the future – the effect on the environment can be many times the impact produced by a person during their lifetime.
A child’s impact
Under current conditions in the United States, for instance, each child ultimately adds about 9,441 metric tons of carbon dioxide to the carbon legacy of an average parent – about 5.7 times the lifetime emissions for which, on average, a person is responsible.
The impact doesn’t only come through increased emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases – larger populations also generate more waste and tax water supplies…
The researchers note that they are not advocating government controls or intervention on population issues, but say they simply want to make people aware of the environmental consequences of their reproductive choices.
What is recommended by government today will be required tomorrow. Be assured of that. Be wary of that.
August 5, 2009 at 9:05 pm
Just who are we saving the Earth for and why?
For a very specific, elite, and pre-planned group of intellectuals who reproduce according to a certain set of rules.
Remember that Obama's "science czar" advocated mass sterilization and forced abortions back in the 1970s. Climate alarmism is a great way to make those theoretical policies mandatory.
August 5, 2009 at 9:06 pm
I suddenly have an urge to write a very, very earnest paper on how we need to use the death penalty to shrink the world population, with this as a primary example, and send it to them….
These idiots keep it up and my husband will be wanting more kids than I do! (highly contrarian)
August 5, 2009 at 11:10 pm
No, no, Steve, I see where you're coming from, I'm just curious where you'd go; especially since I'm willing to entertain this worst case scenario myself.
Costa Rica, perhaps? Or maybe Singapore?
August 5, 2009 at 11:55 pm
While I agree with the previous posters that this article and its author is both misguided and just plain loopy as a loon, I absolutely disagree with the blog authors on their persistent gloom and doom end-times scaremongering. The government will NEVER mandate population control as policy. This is just plain stupid. Since about 1972 here are, and have always been economic hinderences and disincentives to have more children. So, if anything we may see a progressive (no pun intended) trend in this direction. But no government requirement to have fewer children.
I've been following this blog for a couple weeks now and it almost seems as though aside from pretty Catholic pictures, this blog is a schill for the Christian right. As Catholics we welcome the kingdom of God and work towards its advent, knowing this will be a GOOD thing. We do not hyperfixiate on the "end times" like a common fundie. A bit of decorum here.
August 5, 2009 at 11:58 pm
On what, exactly, do you base your view that it will "never" happen?
I seem to remember folks saying the same thing about legalizing suicide…. or abortion on demand….
August 6, 2009 at 12:20 am
Foxfier let me qualify: as long as we have the constitution and the bill of rights (i.e. life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness) it will never happen. I suppose the Obama administration could suspend the constitution, instate martial law, break down the door of every household with a child-bearing-age women present and forcibly sterilize them. And if that happens, why, I'll eat my hat. If you want to worry about something productive, let's worry about getting Obama OUT of the white house this coming term. But if you want to worry about some impending government policy/requirement to control the population, then you might want to set up a lawn-chair in front of the yard to UFO-watch while your at it.
August 6, 2009 at 12:33 am
You do know that forced sterilization has *already happened* in the US?
Bill of rights sure didn't stop it last time.
August 6, 2009 at 12:34 am
http://civilliberty.about.com/od/gendersexuality/tp/Forced-Sterilization-History.htm
August 6, 2009 at 3:04 am
William,
Costa Rica is actually what I've been looking toward. Sounds like it's pretty easy to get in. My wife speaks Spanish and I at least have a background in it.
August 6, 2009 at 3:09 am
Byron,
I understand what you are saying about "As long as we still have the constitution." The problem is that many totalitarian regimes don't overtly rip up the existing constitutions. They make end runs around them until they're irrelevant and then easy to discard.
This health bill does exactly that. The Congress is voting to give decision making power to an unelected board of unaccountable bureaucrats. It's a way to ensure that decisions are made without popular support. There are many more examples…and I'm not afraid to trash both parties. W's signing statements are a GOP-driven example.
The point is that very little is settled through the proper legislative process anymore. Anything of substance is done through bill riders, executive orders and judicial fiat.
August 6, 2009 at 3:51 am
There is also this commentary at the blog of the Archdiocese of Washington: http://blog.adw.org/2009/08/wake-up-call-contraception-is-cultural-suicide/
August 6, 2009 at 2:01 pm
This article disgusted me too. I think I'm going to have at least 4 babies just because they think I shouldn't! (Lord willing of course…:) The nerve!
To Byron's point about needless worrying, I agree. However, just as we shouldn't borrow trouble from tomorrow, we should also keep a close eye one what's going on today. As to other peoples' comments on gearing up for a persecution, I believe that would be something to legitimately prepare for. Just as we need to prepare for 2010 and get Obama out of the White House, we also need to prepare for a longer, harder journey to redeem our culture.
Perhaps that's the cross we're supposed to bear in this generation- making reparations for the sins of the previous one?
Just throwing that out there- what does everyone think? Can we make reparation for past mistakes of previous generations (I'm referring to the birth control/ abortion movement)?
August 6, 2009 at 8:05 pm
We carry the sins of all previous generations, Sarah. Outside the Church, man's accomplishments have never been all that great.
Steve, I've been to Costa Rica and it's pretty amazing. I agree with you that if things do get really bad, that's a sensible choice; they seem to have a good head on their shoulders.
Byron, I see where you're coming from, but America is definitely sliding to a tipping point of some nature. Whether violence, peace, rational, or irrational, something in this country is about to break, and the forces at play won't let the Bill of Rights stop them.
August 6, 2009 at 9:44 pm
Kim, by all means, go for #6.
This makes me want to have a tenth, but sadly, I am past that part of my life.
Grew vegetables, used cloth diapers, composted, bought at thrift stores and handed clothes down, even heated with wood for 11 years, even cooked with wood for a year. Raised chickens and pigs, the whole bit.
But even if you are not so situated as to be able to do that suff, still have #6.
Susan Peterson
August 8, 2009 at 7:06 pm
There is a problem I see with all this. America is (at the moment) "Land of the Free" If it is going to remain that way we the People are going to have to make it so. It was the people standing up against the King of England that made us Free in the first place. Undoubtedly there is a price for this Freedom, many have paid it in the past and it is our turn. We can turn tail and run, but that is what they want. With No One stopping or even fighting this, what chance is there America will remain free? Obama is moving America to a socialist State on an Express Train, and at the moment I don't see a way of getting off.
I doubt there will be a much better place to go anyway. As the Global community continues to be more dependent on each other (ie : global economic crisis) and the corrupt grow more powerful where will there be safety from Evil?
It seems we have failed to properly learn from history, we didn't get it after Hitler, we didn't take away the lesson from Stalin. The fact is the only thing needed for Evil to win is for good people to do nothing!!
We will need to take up arms and rebel against the evil in our midst. As the Greatest generation did in their time.
Recently I have been listening to the Chronicles of Narnia, and the resounding theme I have noticed: "We will take the adventure that Aslan has planned for us" In Chronicles of Narnia, Aslan is the character for Christ. In our troubles and world we will need to do the same. Take the adventure that Christ has prepared for us, and if we die an honorable death for the cause of Truth, there is no better way for things to end.