Poll | 05/27/2008 3:53 pm

What concerns you more?

Read more about: China, Environment, Population

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I set up my Youku blogspot in Chinese. I used a translator to do it (widows gadget). My spot gets tons of hits. Mostly young Chinese. They want to talk about American TV and music. The Chinese young people are so bright and good at heart. I am most concerned about China. I noticed that when I ask questions about The Party they jump off my spot like rats jumping off a sinking barge. China has me very worried. The Dalai Lama thing, the muzzles on the children and the one child policy are only some of the things that have me deeply concerned.

By Liza D 08 .... beta on 05/28/2008 12:07 am

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Birth Conrol Certificate - At BIRTH everyone should receive a Certificate for 1/2 of a child to be used if THAT person wants to have a child later in their life. They could Use it or SELL it. If a person wanted More than one child they could BUY a certificate from 2 others. LVKen7 at gmail dot com

By Ken Jarvis on 05/28/2008 7:34 am

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Ken: Whoa! that’s just a tad draconian. People need to use common sense and be educated about birth control methods. Because the answer is in birth control, it always has—and not your type of control by any means.

By Frank Peterson on 05/28/2008 1:44 pm

Both really concern me. Not to mention the state of our environment, global economy and the global deterioration of human rights. But then again, worrying seems to be an intrinsic part of my nature. Now, if you may excuse me I must run this reply through spell check.

By Sam M on 05/28/2008 12:19 am

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Oh, you’re much too young Lovely Lily, to be worrying about such things. On the other hand my friend Nancy and I used to have a Traveling Worry Trophy that went to the best worry of the month. However, we retired it when she called to say she was worrying about what to do about the cats in case of nuclear attack. I mean, should she just open all of the cans of catfood in the house, or should she try to take them to the shelter with her, and if she took them to the shelter, what if people brought their dogs, and what if there were people there who had allergies and…

By Mugsy Peabody on 05/28/2008 2:45 am

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Mugsy—great story, your comrade in concern. My parents were expert conspiracy theorists. Nothing important, just the kind that develop free-floating anxiety in children. “Just look at how those people have parked their car. They do that just to make others’ lives unpleasant. And those shopping carts are all over the place. That’s an accident waiting to happen.” I sure do miss those two. Peace and grace

By beth willis on 05/28/2008 9:46 am

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oh my. You mean that’s not a reasonable worry?

By rocky rocky on 05/28/2008 10:49 am

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there are too many people on the earth. i say this lovingly, realizing that bella or others would think i wanted the rest dead if they knew. what i mean is the earth cannot support as many citizens as it has now. hopefully, the fertile people on earth will willingly have fewer children through birth conrol or simply realizing that it is not right to reproduce more than yourselves as you strive to give life to your grandchildren’s hopes. the only way we can have rights for those living is to have enough resources for them to use.

By mary lou s on 05/28/2008 12:33 am

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I agree with mary lou s. Maybe if there were fewer of us we would have less things to fight about.

By Maggi D on 05/28/2008 12:41 am

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I agree with Mary Lou and Maggie. Also get a bit perturbed when people say the Chinese are dreadful for their one child policy. VAT IN THE HECK is they supposed to do?????? We are getting too many people for Earth to sustain them all as of now. Nobody noplace talks about this. Drives me nuts. Heard the other day that here in Marin County where I live, that having a third child was a status symbol because it commented on your wealth — in other words, you could afford a third child. YIKES! Hope that isn’t true, but not so sure. Saw a couple jogging with their babies the other day. Dad had two baby stroller; Mom had one baby stroller — each with appropriate number of babies. ?????? Barack Obama said the other day: “That if China became the top economic nation in the near future, the military would be right behind. And they have a lotaz Chinese military people with all the ‘one child families’ wanting a boy. All that young male testosterone running around????? YO DER!

By Jenny Oops on 05/28/2008 4:52 am

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Maggi, Oh my yes; that ‘s for damn sure.. :-)

By Frank Peterson on 05/28/2008 1:47 pm

Mary Lou and Maggi, Have you read or heard about the theory of abundance vs. scarcity? I know it’s kind of “out there,” but its one I reflect on a lot lately. For example, isn’t it funny how a group of women can sit around a table at McDonalds with their little ones and talk about how tragic it is that children are starving in third world nations then get up , smooth their shirt and toss all of the food their kids just nibbled at into the trash (without a thought!) I could offer up endless other scenarios of this kind (including campaign budgets for candidates that will talk about the poverty we need to address - does not compute to me!) Is it possible that we aren’t “running out, overcrowded, too populated”,etc but that in fact “there’s enough.” Is it possible that all we are really lacking is consciousness? Being awake to how and why we do what we do? Go easy on me in your response…it’s just a thought…:)

By T S on 05/28/2008 1:58 pm

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TS— I many ways I think you’re right but Australia for the last 5 years has been in a serious drought and they produce 20% of the world’s rice—not now they don’t-and Asian countries are scared and they should be. And yes I’ve seen the waste, in packaging, in food tossed away, in people not recycling. Did you know, that from this year I think it is, 90% of all parts in autos built in France have to have recyclable parts. How many of ours do? There are countries where a family will survive for nearly a week on what one average American throws away daily in food? And yes, budgets for political campaigns need to be reduced by 50%—that’s just too damn much money being thrown away that should be used on medical benefits for everyone. I’m afraid I disagree with you on population—this planet is way too overcrowded—unless it starts using birth control 100% and that children in families are reduced to two we’re in big trouble—Hell we knew that 40 years ago. I know many here will totally disagree with me on the amount of children a couple ought to have but..that’s the way it is as I see it and I’m not alone by any means. So either we control our consumption the next 50 years will tell the tale and it is not going to be pretty. Yes, we won’t be around, but our children and grandchildren will be and they will pay the piper and pay dearly.

By Frank Peterson on 05/28/2008 9:38 pm

Frank, Poignant post…are you referring to countries that don’t have abundant education about birth control or easy access to it? I am in agreement with others that have posted that education is key. I don’t think that capping the number of children a family can have is the way. There are so many young women I speak with that adamantly express no desire to have kids. I have come to realize that not everyone is cut out to be a parent. I’m wondering if people chose consciously and were selecting from a vast array of informed choices of what to do with their lives (kids/no kids) if a natural balance would be restored. Some people were designed to have and love 5 children and raise them well. Others have different gifts and lack the skills to parent. Is it possible that if each group had self-awareness and could connect with what is their true path that we would have the “appropriate” numbers. Again, education is the key. What do you think? I’m sleepy…hope that made sense. :)

By T S on 05/28/2008 10:27 pm

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t s, there may be enough right now. but what about in ten years? and the distribution system is lousy! better to make birth control available to those who will use it so that overpopulation does not decimate our planet.

By mary lou s on 05/29/2008 9:42 pm