More People = More Traffic as Population Crisis Grows

A recent story in The Denver Post – “Think traffic is bad around the Denver area? Just wait a decade or two” – could just as easily apply to Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco, along with 30 other overpopulated cities in America.

While reading the column, I cringed at future traffic congestion facing Denver via population growth that will add more than 3 million people to the state in the next 35 years. I had contacted the journalist numerous times to gain an interview about Colorado’s population crisis and how to stop it. He refused a conversation.

Over the years, I have contacted journalists from top newspapers across America with proposals to write about solutions to growing air pollution and traffic gridlock rather than “downstream reporting” after the fact. One would think reporters would want to talk with individuals offering solutions, rather than the same tired excuses, i.e., “We need to conserve more water…we need to build more traffic lanes to relieve traffic…we need to recycle cans, bottles and plastic…we need to stay inside on high air pollution days.”

None of those “solutions” serves anyone, because the core problem is not addressed: overpopulation galloping like a racehorse at the Kentucky Derby in America.

As a Michigan farm boy, I grew up with an understanding given to me by my grandfather. “You can’t put too many horses in a one-acre fenced pasture.” He added that two horses with a water tank would enjoy all the grass and water for their existence. If, however, you added 100 horses to the same pasture, they would overrun the grass, create too much waste and everyone would fight over the limited water.

Photo: Stone heads of Easter Island Photograph by Christian Wilkinson, My Shot

Years later, during my world travels, I visited Easter Island, 2,300 miles off the coast of Chile, known for the many 40-ton facial monoliths. At first, the bountiful tree-covered island was home to just a few people who had managed to navigate an immense ocean to find the remote island. But with exponential growth, the island population reached perhaps as high as 15,000 people who cut down every tree until they exhausted the island resources, as the cautionary tale is generally told.

But like 100 horses in a one-acre pasture, researchers believe the islanders resorted to conflict against each other and ended up, as the history books estimate, with 100 people that survived the violence for food.

Historians tell us: humans forget the lessons of history, thus repeat the same tragedies.

While the horses can’t help themselves, we Americans need to understand the cautionary tale of the Eastern Islanders.

My long-time friend, the late Dr. Al Bartlett, who taught at the University of Colorado, made this statement that stands the test of time:

“Unlimited population growth cannot be sustained; you cannot sustain growth in the rates of consumption of resources. No species can overrun the carrying capacity of a finite land mass. This Law cannot be repealed and is not negotiable.”

Right now, in America, endless immigration threatens to add 138 million more people to America by 2050. We continue importing more than 1 million legal immigrants annually and somewhere around 500,000 illegal alien immigrants. That won’t stop unless you take action.

As you read this post, know that you possess a choice to help change course toward a viable and sustainable future for you and your offspring – should you have any, or choose to have any. You can raise your voice of reason. You can take action to alert others. You can create a national discussion.

Spread the information you read at www.CAPSWeb.org. Encourage your friends in your social media network to write letters, engage your U.S senators and representatives, as well as local and state officials. Engage your local TV and newspapers. Take action!