People are our hope, not the disease

By John Rozycki

In his October 12 diatribe, Bill Leonard recycles the discredited 19th century “Malthusian Doom” scenario: population is growing; we’re running out of resources; woe is us.  His solution: population control to defuse the “population bomb.”

He claims that we are failing to recognize and cope with population growth.  Really?  How else are we feeding over 7 billion people?  Population growth is clear evidence of our victory over hunger and disease.  His Malthusian assertion is an insult to Iowa farmers, to fine companies like DuPont Pioneer, and to economic reasoning.

As long as people are free, we will not run out of food and natural resources, including renewables.  Only a pessimist sees such limits to human creativity and ingenuity.

The true causes of poverty and hunger are: war, violence, ignorance, corruption, family instability, absence of the rule of law, and lack of economic freedom.  The Heritage Foundation’s Index of Economic Freedom clearly reveals the strong correlation between economic freedom and prosperity.

Finally, he ignores our most valuable resource: people.  Human beings have always been problem solvers; our worldwide standard of living has never been higher.  People are net assets, not net liabilities.

Don’t be fooled by this Malthusian Doom nonsense.

[Thanks to John Rozycki for permission to publish his letter sent to the Des Moines Register.]