Demographic Winter

[drgs]

The first of the two movies from the american distribution company SRB Documentary. Financed and produced by a coalition of catholic, mormon and evangelical societies in the USA. Together they explore every aspect of demographic decline [in Europe] based on interviews with scholars, researchers, economists, demographers, government representatives, civil and religious leaders from 33 countries.

Check the trailer:
Relocate

[Monolith]

Excellent trailer. From what I've seen, I can say that they have presented some solid points, especially when speaking about the connection of demographics and economics. There is one paricular thesis that I can only agree with, and that is the fact that mainstream media's promotion of 'liberal' lifestyles results in disastrous birth rates. That is why I subscribe to writings of New Right theorists, who see the family as the cornerstone of society.

[Menydh]

The final argument should have been whether we actually need to grow beyond our own resources and possibilities, adjusting ourselves demographically to the economy, or if we need to make the economy adjust itself to fit not-so-large populations.

[Savorgnan]

Some ideas of this trailer: "Too many old peole, not enough young people to sustain the economy... economic and societal collapse."

Why do you think that the Japanese are investing so much on robotic research?

[Menydh]

Or why do you think that in some countries where it is illegal, the debate over euthanasia is being brought up?

[Savorgnan]

Originally Posted by Savorgnan

Why do you think that the Japanese are investing so much on robotic research?

Originally Posted by Menydh

Or why do you think that in some countries where it is illegal, the debate over euthanasia is being brought up?

This proves that the Japanese, though being non devouted to the "Human Rights" religion, are acting more positively than us, "Humanistic" Westerners, who only propose a nihilist grey-genocidal answer.

[Susi]

To be honest I don't see it as necessarily a bad thing. I think that populations will eventually stabilise to the replacement rate. The problem is really how we look at children. Yes, TFR is falling worldwide, but why? I think it's mostly prevailing attitudes. In the "West" children are looked at as an economic burden because they are dependent far beyond what the dependency ratio states (under 15/over 65-- those over 15 still are dependant) due to the urbanisation of society (fewer children are required to work) and the rise of the education "industry" (everyone needs an education to work properly in jobs that did not require such an education before, like nursing). In other, more agrarian societies, more children are had because a) they are needed to work and b) many of them will die before reaching adulthood due to lack of healthcare access...

What we really must ask ourselves is this:

Is economic growth and development more important than preserving our resource base for future generations-- does it necessarily need population growth? What is bad about stability?

I think what is necessary is to increase the TFR to replacement and leave it there or have low, controlled growth of native populations.

[Monolith]

Originally Posted by Susi

Is economic growth and development more important than preserving our resource base for future generations-- does it necessarily need population growth? What is bad about stability?

I just watched the documentary yesterday, and from what I've seen, the theorists see the idea of population stability as an ideal one. However, they say that it is nearly impossible to stabilize populations, because of massive decline that is to occur during the next 50 years, as a result of current disastrous birth rates. The effects of decline will only be amplified further as populations continue to age rapidly, with working people being forced to pay immense extra funds for health care and pensions, which in turn leaves them with even less space and funds to raise children.

Personally, I liked the documentary, even though it is a bit Amerocentric in my opinion (immigrants are mentioned as those who come to 'bail us out' from our economic problems that are caused by our current demographic situation). Nevertheless, there are numerous valid points throughout it, especially those concerning the correlation between the economics and demographics, as well as the main point that (traditional) family is a cornerstone of every society, as an institution of a sort which is responsible for creation and healthy upbringing of children.
There is a statement in the documentary, that I'm completely in agreement with:

Originally Posted by Phil Longman

If suddenly we live in a world in which people understand that the future is one of depopulation than all of those "progressive" causes will have to find a new way of arguing.

[Pirate]

Originally Posted by Menydh

The final argument should have been whether we actually need to grow beyond our own resources and possibilities, adjusting ourselves demographically to the economy, or if we need to make the economy adjust itself to fit not-so-large populations.

Indeed, I can speak for my country, which is already slightly overpopulated, and there are more than enough Slovenians here already. The only solution is to adjust the economy to a smaller population and stop the madness.