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Empty Planet, eBookThe Shock of Global Population Decline

by Bricker, Darrell Jay
eBook - 2019
All copies in use
Holds: 0 on 3 copies
SeattleSaul's rating:
4 out of 5 stars
Added May 10, 2019

Comment:

Using real statistics, the authors demonstrate how globally the birth rate, that is babies per woman (only women count, not men), has gone from 5 or 6 to the replacement rate (2.1 babies per woman) and even less. In the U.S. and most developed countries, the rate is in the 1.5 range; in other words, we are becoming less and less. What is more interesting is that in countries that everybody “knows” are reproducing prodigiously, they are not, not even in China, India, South America or Africa. Attributed to urbanization, increasing wealth, and education, especially for formerly uneducated girls and women, these numbers are not going to turn around in the foreseeable future. Immigration may be a stop-gap for countries willing to open their borders, but of course cannot last forever. The authors (both Canadians) give outsiders’ views of the U.S., as well as feet-on-the-ground research in other countries. They do present a Canadian “solution,” of opening the gates wider and think other countries should do the same (while they still can). Racism and bigotry hold back other diminishing countries. The ideas and numbers (with copious references) are presented well and help to remind us not to get stuck in misconceptions from the past. A little more discussion on possible inventions that may help the young take care of the old as the former decrease and the latter increase would be appreciated. This book may be and eye opener for you if you thought that growing population and all its negative consequences were a straight-line increase.

Fine Mess, eBook

by Reid, T. R.
eBook - 2017
Available
SeattleSaul's rating:
3 out of 5 stars
Added Mar 10, 2019

Comment:

Gives a good description of the taxation systems we and others have and have had around the world. Reid was optimistic about our having an overhaul of the U.S. code by 2018, and indeed, there were changes, but nothing as sweeping as he had hoped. I am less sanguine about getting the changes that he says are needed in this highly polarized political environment. After reading, I am less hopeful that a better system can be developed, barring a major economic crisis. However, this is a worth-while book to read to understand the comparative taxation systems in the world, the ways we ourselves are different, and why so many individuals and corporations seek shelters outside the U.S. Almost everybody has heard about the “one percent” of the U.S. that owns most of the wealth, but he points out that 47 percent pay no taxes at all. To reduce hiding wealth and to make the system more equitable, the rates for the former would have to be lower and the latter would have to start paying some taxes.
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