[A. Pole]

"Population boom" bump

[DBrow]

Get a handle on immigration now, and the population boom will abate.

[BenLurkin]

Sounds as though we are doomed.

Better send all the illegals home right now.

[lovecraft]

the US population grew by 10.6 percent in that period, or 29 million people, the report noted.

And damn near half of that is from illegal immigration.

[DungeonMaster]

America is sparsely populated.

[unixfox]

Americans consume like no other nation

Is this a great country or what. But of course the Boston Globe doesn't like that, especially when evil republicans are in charge. /s

[Tenacious 1]

[In contrast, the South and the West were booming, creating new pressure on fragile environments and water sources.]

The fragile environment? Here we go again. I would like the author to tell us what America should do to stunt our growth. Should we:

1) Stop all legal and illegal immigration
2) Pass legislation that restricts reproduction via state issued birthing licenses
3) Drown female babies at birth
4) Offer government sponsered sterilization
5) Start deporting illegal immigrants by the millions
6) Move part of the American population to another planet

I will wait for the scientific solution to this funded study.

[b4its2late]

It ain't due to births I'm sure.

[cinives]

Americans consume like no other nation -- using three times the amount of water per capita than the world average

That's because we brush our teeth and take showers at least once daily, unlike the rest of the world.

[yoe]

In contrast, the South and the West were booming, creating new pressure on fragile environments and water sources.

The consummate reason why Arizona should not elect Jim Pederson, a wealthy developer challenging Senator Jon Kyl.

[aruanan]

The United States, now at nearly 300 million people, is the only industrialized country that has experienced strong population growth in the last decade, creating concerns that the boom and Americans' huge appetites for food, water, and land will sharply erode the nation's natural resources in coming years, according to a report released yesterday.

If this is due to an increase in numbers of young and babies, it's a good thing. We're that much farther away from the demise of Europe and other non-reproducing regions.

[Darnright]

Uh-huh, sure. Let me guess, the liberals are going to begin a new round of "we're overpopulated, so concerned Americans should limit their families to 2 children".

I have a better idea. Let's quit dragging in people from all over the planet, and our "population problem" will correct itself.

[50sDad]

Earth First! And when we have mined it to Oblivion, we make Mars our b!+ch!

The more people we have, the more reason to get off this rock. And when we've got off planet colonies, the less chance that some moron like we have in Iran can screw the whole human race.

[kabar]

LOL. I was wondering how long it would take for the environmentalist wackos to realize finally that open borders have an impact on the environment and the consumption of natural resources. We would have a population growth of less than replacement if we didn't have immigration, legal and illegal, which accounts for three-fourths of all U.S. population growth.

[Brilliant]

I've been sounding this alarm for years. No one cares.

[Lonely NY Conservative]

America's competitiveness is derived from its human capital. The fact that the rate of growth in our population has and will continue to exceed that of Europe is the precise reason why we have regularly outpaced them economically over the past 25 years.

I am convinced that we need a population approaching 500 million by 2050 if we hope to remain the global economic superpower given the expected growth of China and India. I'm also convinced we will reach that mark through a mix of our higher fertility rates (vis-a-vis Europe) and, like it or not, immigration.

[RexBeach]

Actually, as I recall, 20 years ago the US still had only 5-percent of the world's population, but was consuming more than 30% of the world's energy. So, we're making some progress in energy use.

I think this is a made up story, but then it appears in "The Boston Globe." A newspaper not known for its affection for America.

I am so glad that I left Massachusetts 28 years ago. It's chock full of whiners and moaners and crooks and tax raisers.

For you Freepers still residing in the Commonwealth, I admire your pluck and you have my sympathy.

[samson1097]

[The U.S. is] using three times the amount of water per capita than the world average

I assume that the per capita is brought down by the majority of Africa that doesn't have enough drinking water. That fact that we have and use drinking water and can water the lawn doesn't mean we are wasteful. It just means we are fortune enough (because of our amazing country and the people in it) to be able to do that.

Also, the worlds water usage per capita is brought down by the French who conserve water by showering very rarely.

[Atlas Sneezed]

For example, the four fastest-growing states -- Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah -- all have areas of acute water shortages.

---

In some areas, they don't even meter water. In most others, the rates are well below real market value for some major users.

There is NO water shortage, there is a non-market pricing problem.

(You price ice cream at 5 cents a gallon, and there will be a "shortage," too.)

[Cloverfarm]

DH the farmer would say "They all gotta eat ..." :-)