Bogus Baby Bust Brouhaha

I think there's plenty of reason to think that the Earth is already overpopulated, though I won't push that case here. What's clear, however is that it's not underpopulated, nor is underpopulation a serious threat any time in the foreseeable future.

But just about anything seems to be able to conjure up groups of kooks on the right. As Kerry Howley notes at Reason, right-wing groups who counseled calm in the face of concerns about overpopulation are now freaking the @#$% out at the the possibility that populations might level off or--heaven forbid--decline a bit. Or, more specifically, they seem concerned that white, European populations might decline, thus adding more than a hint of racism to their looniness.

Oh, and don't forget the sexism... Apparently many of these folks are keen on rolling back many of the gains women have made. The sexual revolution, contraception, and women having careers--among other things--all seem to be to blame. Well, actually the causes are hazy, but the solutions mostly seem to involve moving women back in the direction of their traditional role. That is, it seems, being barefoot and pregnant.

Isn't it funny how eager certain elements of the right are to push for fewer options for women and less sex for everybody?