Letters to the Editor
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Homowhateverism
Thanks for that elaborate knee-jerk reaction, Silverback. But I don't think that increased population size equals a better standard of living. Quite the opposite, in fact. Until they were forced to give up their traditional lifestyles as hunters and gatherers, the people of central Africa often worked 15 hours a week to provide all their daily needs - a lot less than you and I do. Civilization is a lot of work. Go watch Koyaanisqatsi a few times, eh? And read some Marvin Harris while you're at it. Being commodified and packaged into oblivion might lead to stability but it doesn't do much for our dignity as a race.
However, I understand that some people simply can't look at the label "climate change" without getting all defensive and needing to explain that it's nature's course (which was the point of the article, if I interpreted it correctly). Too bad, really, because this is an elegant explanation for why humans decided to adopt a lifestyle that in most cases was detrimental, required more work, and eroded personal freedom. Even if there are now 7 billion of us living in little concrete boxes eating spaghetti out of aluminum cans. Maybe if we get civilized enough we could get that number up to 50 billion!