Too many of us

The arguments of demographer Joel Kotkin in his speech at Zions Bank's trade and business conference are utterly absurd ("Author: World will feel crunch of fewer marriages and children," Tribune, May 30).

Kotkin mentioned potential catastrophes that might arise from the declining birthrate. He needs to spend time in the present, where the negative effects of overpopulation abound.

In Utah alone, suburban sprawl, dirty air, traffic jams, overcrowded classrooms, high gas prices, water shortages and deleterious climate change are arising directly or indirectly from overpopulation.

The world's most dynamic, rapidly expanding economy is China, which for decades has been suppressing its birthrate.

The threats to the planet and its peoples are already manifold, and they stem, almost entirely, from the fact that there's too darn many of us.

David Lancy

Hyde Park