loving art, science and creative kids

What Wasn't Said!

The conventions are over, and neither party mentioned an issue that could solve many of the earth's problems: population control and management. Numbering 8,172,041,975 as of this writing, the world's population, according to Worldomer, is expected to exceed 10 billion by 2050. Of that, 345,694,376 reside in the U.S., with 383 million anticipated by 2054. 

Since the population is unevenly distributed, it puts pressure on city governments to manage so many people and on rural farmers to produce enough food for them. And, though the crime rate per thousand hasn't escalated since the 1960s, people in cities feel like there is more crime because there are more people. Advanced weaponry adds to more people killed or maimed during any one incident. The leading cause of death for children to the age of nineteen is due to gun violence, surpassing traffic accidents. 

Death from drug overdoses between 2002 and 2022 escalated from 8.2 per 100,000 to 32.6 per thousand. Surprisingly, alcohol and methamphetamine use is higher in rural areas, but since cities have more people, the problems it causes multiply, making cities more dangerous.

Supplying food, energy, transportation, and water to urban areas is challenging. The water crisis in Mexico City is a precursor of what could happen in metropolitan areas worldwide. Keeping urban communities safe and healthy is a tremendous task. City managers are challenged to provide clean water, maintain safe roads, dispose of trash, and cope with nature's surprises and the idiosyncracies of the human population they serve. They have to deal with economically and socially stressed residents daily. 

Unless an urban area has a homogenous culture with enforced laws, there are bound to be abundant conflicts. The war between Israel and Hamas could be seen as a dispute over land. Nearly 15 million people with different religious beliefs live on 10,6000 square miles. Without compromise over land management, the area will always be a situational disaster.

Tokyo is one of the most densely populated cities in the world, with 37.5 million people on 846 square miles, and they're not killing each other. Singapore has 5.8 million presidents on 461.6 miles and it too has a civil society. They are among the two safest cities in the world. You might wonder how they manage. They are fortunate because their cultures are homogeneous, making for fewer conflicts. 

Singapore has an authoritarian regime residents accept. If they chew gum, they get fined up to $7,437 or imprisoned for up to two years. A ticket for not flushing the toilet is $742. A first-offense fine for littering will require a $1,480 payment. Connecting to someone else's Wi-Fi risks imprisonment for up to three years. They would never consider complaining about COVID-19 restrictions. Residents put up with the government because Singapore is safe, clean, and convenient to world travel. People are polite and helpful, and their children are well-educated. 

I doubt Americans would be open to a Singapore-type system even if it improved the quality of their lives. High-density living without stringent controls fosters resentment and frustration, especially during economic downturns. The disparities between wealth and poverty create fertile ground for social unrest and conflict in a multicultural country like the United States.

There was a time when Americans were proud to be a nation of immigrants, a melting pot for ideas and cultures that strengthened the country. As a child, I bought into this belief. I was taught to treat my neighbors as I wanted to be treated, even if I didn't understand them. We were all Americans, and success would come to those who worked hard and were willing to compromise for the good of the whole. Caring and compassion were the foundation values that made our democracy thrive. Perhaps I was naive, but I still share this dream. 

If we want a clean and safe society, we must learn to respect differences and look out for our fellow citizens. When I imagine this, I think of starting from scratch with new urban centers using clean technology. They would be limited to 250,000 to 500,000 people and spread across the land. (China is doing this now) Electric, high-speed trains would connect cities rather than rely on airplanes that spew carbon into the air. Sub-divisions, condos, apartments, and co-housing units would recycle water and limit residents to 150 people, which researchers say makes for happy, healthy communities. Industry would work on clean energy, and arts, sports, and cultural activities would provide activities that elevate souls. The rule of thumb would be that people's actions have to consider the comfort of their neighbors. 

In my dream, ethics and the principles of democracy would be taught in school and discussed over family dinners. Children would act respectfully to their elders and learn to appreciate differences. A campaign focused on polite discourse and caring for the environment is possible. Lady Bird Johnson did it by convincing the nation not to litter. Legislating one day a week to be free from the noise of leaf blowers or a contractor's hammering would add a smile to my dream and reduce stress. 

Somehow, somewhere, someday, I believe we will join together in peace to solve the world's problems.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts about the population and your dream for society. Please comment on my blog site at www.eichingfineart.com/blog

Art is always for sale. Contact me for information at [email protected]

Taos Pueblo - 15" x 20" deep canvas/acrylic on canvas/available for $395 shipped free in the continental U.S.

City Life - 20" by 20" framed acrylic painting/available for $450 sipped free in the continental U.S.

References: 

Ibrahim, N (2023) Are Guns the Leading Cause of Deaths of Children in the US? Snopes. Retrieved from https://www.congress.gov/118/meeting/house/115787/documents/HMKP-118-JU00-20230419-SD018.pdf

Website (2024) Overpopulated areas often face social, educational, and employment challenges. Population Media Center. Retrieved from https://www.populationmedia.org/the-latest/understanding-the-overpopulation-crisis-in-kenya#:~:text

Wick, D. (2023). Is the Ideal Community Size A Happiness Indicator? Positioning Systems. Retrieved from https://strategicdiscipline.positioningsystems.com/blog-0/the-ideal-community-size#

Website. (2024) Safest Cities in the world 2024.World Population Reviews. Retrieved from https://worldpopulationreview.com/world-city-rankings/safest-cities-in-the-world

website (2024) Laws You Need to Know Before You Visit Singapore . Fodor’s Travel Guide. Retrieved from https://www.fodors.com/world/asia/singapore/experiences/news/photos/laws