Re: JHK's Memorial Day Essay

One thing I rarely see JHK talk about (though I don't read him every week) is population. "World Made by Hand" sounds like a good idea and all, but the planet isn't going to support 6.5e9 people that way. As we have discussed here, the biggest edible bang for the buck (or barrel) is still industrial agriculture. If we can't feed the residents of those suburbs, the last thing anyone will care about is poor taste in architecture. And all the rapid transit, high-rise condos, low-rise condos, or 19th century-esque farmhouses etc that you care to build, will not really help that much.

JHK is the ultimate cynic. In World Made By Hand the world has far less people due to starvation and pandemics. Also human life has little value.

Sounds like a probable future then. Maybe I'll get his book, there might be just time enough to read it before TSHTF.

One thing I rarely see JHK talk about (though I don't read him every week) is population.

The Peak Oil gurus and talking heads have taken a page from the Environmentalist and Global Warming talking heads and gurus - they avoid the population growth issue like it was the Black Plague.

And yet...

"talking about energy solutions without talking about the population problems is just like mopping the floor with the faucets running on. So that is #1 problem."
Tad Patzek