It makes a bunch of people feel uncomfortable. Those who've had children, those who want children, and those hoping for grandchildren. That and government, and most of the economic order, is interested in increasing GDP, available productivity, and consumer spending. I've seen more principled environmentalists raise the issue, only to be shot down by their peers for their 'abhorrent' views.
Edit: Oh, and there's a conspiracy theory that floats around white supremacy groups:
I hardly think white people will go extinct, but that might be a concern for some people in the western world.
The best way I've encountered to reduce population growth is actually to empower women, particularly in the developing world or for poorer populations. Having better education and employment opportunities for women strongly correlates with fewer children (and of course those children will be vastly better off, as will national GDP with a better skilled labour pool)... but even this idea could be seen as 'imperialist' or 'colonialist' if such an agenda is driven by the western world, even if it's feminist and environmentalist at heart.
Well, it should make them uncomfortable, but more for the fact that those children and grandchildren need a fucking world to live in.
I actually posted the same thing about empowering women in another comment here. Call me imperialist if you want while I help save the planet. I don't mind.
> Call me imperialist if you want while I help save the planet. I don't mind.
Not sure why you're projecting your resentment towards me given them I'm sympathetic to your viewpoint. <rant>But moreover, such a tone can be hurtful to your message. Even if their interlocutor is right, people loathe condescension, and it can often galvanize them into their cherished bad ideas. Not everyone is acting in bad faith. Understand peoples' motivations and fears, and then you might have a path to persuade them you have the better idea. But also learn where you might be wrong, or where the subject is more complicated and nuanced than you've conceived it to be.</rant>
Oh, that wasn't intended as a personal jab. It was a response to what you said about these ideas being considered imperialist and such.
If anyone else comes up with a better and more workable idea to save the planet and stave off global societal collapse, I'm all ears. No arrogance here, and no condescension intended.
Edit: Oh, and there's a conspiracy theory that floats around white supremacy groups:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_genocide_conspiracy_theo...
I hardly think white people will go extinct, but that might be a concern for some people in the western world.
The best way I've encountered to reduce population growth is actually to empower women, particularly in the developing world or for poorer populations. Having better education and employment opportunities for women strongly correlates with fewer children (and of course those children will be vastly better off, as will national GDP with a better skilled labour pool)... but even this idea could be seen as 'imperialist' or 'colonialist' if such an agenda is driven by the western world, even if it's feminist and environmentalist at heart.