why outer space?

--- Al Globus wrote:
>
> Al Globus wrote:
>
> Best estimates are that the world's population will
> stabilize at about 10
> billion -- only 60-70% more than we have now.

Who is estimating that the world's population will
stabalize at 10 billion? I mean, that's great news if
it turns out to be true but is there any convincing
evidence? You say that population growth is falling
in most parts of the globe: is this true of India,
Brazil, Central America, Africa, and most of Asia?
Another thing to keep in mind is the consumption
factor. Many of the problems associated with
overpopulation (ie consumption of nonrenewable
resources, waste production, loss of natural habitats
due to urban sprawl and "agricultural" sprawl,
decreased biodiversity, etc.) are also closely linked
with consumption. Many third world countries have (at
least historcally) had very rapidly growing
populations, but they're so poor that they consume
much less, per capita, than their AMerican and
European couterparts.
Americans and Europeans may have stabilizing or
declining populations, but their consumption habits
qualify them for a significant ammount of the credit
that is given for the ailments assoiciated with
overpopulation.

Also, you mentioned AIDS as a population check and,
just to reiterate what I said before, I hate to see
any increase in mortality be considered a solution to
the overpopulation problem. Once you start down that
path you end up encountering all kinds of moral
dillemas and you can end up trying to justify things
that are completely unethical. So it's much easier to
justify approaches that focuses on decreasing
natality (particularly when it comes to avoiding
unwanted pregnancies and - this makes some people
angry - allowing people to die when they want to die).

When it comes to your suggestions regarding the space
program; what do you think about privatizing NASA as a
means for reaching their cost cutting goals? They
have produced a lot of marketable technology in the
past, maybe they could become self-supporting.