By Dave Lindorff

I don't normally bother commenting on the writings of columnists like David Brooks, but today I can't help myself.

Brooks earlier this week wrote an opinion piece for the New York Times elaborating on a blog on the site Marginal Revolution, in which that site's two economists speculated on what would happen if a solar event instantly sterilized everyone, male and female, on the side of the earth that was facing the sun at that moment, and if that side happened to include both the US and Europe.

Brooks fretted that if the people of these regions (and off course South America and Africa, which are on the same half of the globe, but which Brooks conveniently ignores) were suddenly to realize they would have no descendants, it would be the end of all "grand designs." There would, he said, be no more justice, no sacrificing for the future, no more building of great buildings.

Brooks and the authors of this nightmare fantasy took the view that if the citizens of what Brooks perceives as "Western Civilization" were to have no hope of offspring, there would within weeks be an end to all striving.

After I finished laughing, I started to think seriously about the idea...

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DAVE LINDORFF is a Philadelphia-based journalist and columnist. His latest book is "The Case for Impeachment" (St. Martin's Press, 2006). His work is available at www.thiscantbehappening.net