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Back in 1860, one of my favorite authors, Mark Twain said, “Almost all lies are acts, and speech has no part in them. I am speaking of the lie of silent assertion; we can tell it without saying a word. For example: It would not be possible for a humane and intelligent person to invent a rational excuse for slavery; yet you will remember that in the early days of emancipation agitation in the North, the agitators got but small help or countenance from anyone. Argue, plead and pray as they might, they could not break the universal stillness that reigned, from the pulpit and press all the way down to the bottom of society--the clammy stillness created and maintained by the lie of silent assertion; the silent assertion that there wasn’t anything going on in which humane and intelligent people were interested. “The universal conspiracy of the silent assertion lie is hard at work always and everywhere, and always in the interest of a stupidity or sham, never in the interest of a thing fine or respectable. It is the most timid and shabbiest of all lies…the silent assertion that nothing is going on which fair and intelligent men and women are aware of and are engaged by their duty to try to stop.” Today, in 2007-2008, silent assertion continues its ugly, perverse reign in the United States of America when it comes to overpopulation. Nobody wants to talk about it or deal with it. Not one single leader in this country speaks a single sentence about it. All 50 governors ignore it while it rips at the foundations of our already unsustainable society that surpassed its ‘carrying capacity’ several decades ago. The majority of Americans deal with it daily in gridlock traffic, toxic air pollution, water shortages, higher living costs, gas prices, overcrowded national parks, insanely compacted cities, food costs and everything that degrades their quality of life. Yet no one talks about it. Whether you deal with reality or not, reality deals with you. In the New York Times: Census Bureau Projects Population of 303.1 Million “As our nation prepares to ring in the New Year, the U.S. Census Bureau today projected the Jan. 1, 2008; population will be 303,146,284 -- up 2,842,103 or 0.9 percent from New Year's Day 2007. In January, the United States is expected to register one birth every eight seconds and one death every 11 seconds.” The United States adds 8,200 people daily. California, already exploding at the seams, grows by 1,600 people daily on their way from 37 million to 79.1 million by 2050. The USA adds 3.1 million people annually. The U.S. Census bureau predicts an added 100 million by 2040 and 120 million by 2050. Total: From 303 million to 420 million people in the USA in 42 years. And no one wants to talk about it! Amazingly enough, the American female averages 2.03 fertility. Two kids! Therefore, Americans maintain a stable population that would have leveled off at 255 million people by 1990. So what forced our population to top 303 million in 2007 from 194 million in 1963? And what’s forcing us to reach 306 million by the end of 2008? What’s driving us to add 100 million in 35 years? Everybody knows it, but let’s not talk about it. Let’s pretend we can keep growing ourselves into further consequences. Let’s continue ‘silent assertion’ as if our population problems might vanish by magic. Would you like a hint? Opps! Can’t do that or I would break ‘silent assertion’. Notice the rest of the world leaders and countries refuse to deal with it as the world population grows by 77 million annually. Why would they engender continued suffering and misery at such horrific numbers? You can find the answers in culture, religion and illiteracy. My prediction? Overpopulation will become the “Plague of the 21st Century” in the United States of America. For a reminder, passengers on the Titanic did not know their fate. We do! We know we cannot and must not allow this country to continue in the same direction—heading toward the population iceberg. We must make our voices heard all the way up to the captain and crew. This country is our ship. It’s the future of our families and children. We demand this president and Congress change course. We face a ‘human dilemma’ on a world wide stage. It grows worse by the minute. It appears daunting. Nonetheless, like the founders of this republic, we must move forward with purpose, passion and goals. We start with ourselves--form groups, work in our communities, expand to the state level, connect with those in other states, push toward national exposure and work our way into the highest political arenas.
www.frostywooldridge.com Frosty Wooldridge Bio: Frosty Wooldridge possesses a unique view of the world, cultures and families in that he has bicycled around the globe 100,000 miles, on six continents and six times across the United States in the past 30 years. His books include, "HANDBOOK FOR TOURING BICYCLISTS"; "STRIKE THREE! TAKE YOUR BASE"; "BICYCLING AROUND THE WORLD"; "MOTORCYCLE ADVENTURE TO ALASKA: INTO THE WIND-A TEEN NOVEL"; "AN EXTREME ENCOUNTER: ANTARCTICA"; "IMMIGRATION'S UNARMED INVASION: DEADLY CONSEQUENCES." www.frostywooldridge.com
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