Deputy Director's Corner

Deputy Director’s Corner

NPG
September 8, 2015
NPG
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Deputy Director’s Corner

NPG Deputy Director Tracy Canada can be reached by email at tcanada@npg.org.

As I return to work today after the long Labor Day weekend, reality sets in – the holiday always marks the official end of summer in the U.S.

State and local governments are preparing for the onset of winter, dusting off their snow plows and stocking up on road salt. Children are beginning to count the days until the Holiday Season. And millions of families are beginning the dance of morning routines – which always accompany a new school year.

As students file into schools across the country this fall, they may be faced with a new reality. As U.S. population tops 321.6 million (and continues to grow by 1 person every 12 seconds), our children have more classmates than they’ve had in the past. From coast to coast, they’re crammed into classrooms with more students than their schools were designed to accommodate.

Maryland Public Schools released a statement that they will accept “a record number of students” this school year. Twin Falls, Idaho is packing students into portable classrooms and scrambling to find furniture. In South Carolina Lowcountry, children are forced to ride on overcrowded school buses in poor condition – buses so crowded, parents feel they’ve become dangerous. To accommodate overcrowding, the Napa Valley California school district needs $447 million by 2025.

After reading these disturbing reports, another statistic caught my eye. According to the U.S. Treasury Department, as of September 1, 2015 the total outstanding U.S. public debt was $18,151,139,449,629.01 (that’s $18.1 TRILLION). That same day, the Census Bureau estimated our population at 321,649,644. And as we continue to grow, we continue to build more schools, roads, and hospitals. We spend more tax dollars on public services and entitlement programs. As we grow in numbers, we add to our debt. Yet every man, woman, and child in America is already saddled with huge public debt.

As our children grab their bookbags and head off to overcrowded schools, each of them is also carrying a crippling national debt share of $56,431.40

Yet – despite all of the evidence of overpopulation, and the serious consequences we face because of it – America’s elected officials and the national media still continue to ignore our population growth.

Thankfully, the issue was at the center of discussion during the recent 100^th Anniversary Ecological Society of America (ESA) annual conference. I was pleased to attend a special one-day conference track on Thursday, August 13^th which focused on population growth and its harmful impacts. Centered on the theme “Making Up for Lost Time,” each session covered an important element of the population discussion – and presentations were given by a star-studded cast of today’s leading experts.

My special thanks go out to NPG Special Advisor Leon Kolankiewicz, who invited me to attend – he gave a powerful and informative presentation at this important event. I also wish to extend my thanks to Stuart Hurlbert of Scientists and Environmentalists for Population Stabilization (SEPS), who thoughtfully provided me with the day’s list of presentations and speakers. (As you can see, it was an impressive line-up!) Throughout the ESA conference, the popular SEPS booth was filled with informative literature on population growth – including an excerpt from NPG’s classic compilation volume The Case for Fewer People.

Regardless of the resistance we face – whether on Capitol Hill or in the national media – NPG will continue our work to educate Americans regarding the true consequences of U.S. population growth. As we work towards a smaller, truly sustainable population, NPG greatly appreciates the work of those who stand beside us in the fight for America’s future. We extend our thanks to the ESA, SEPS, and all of the organizations who share our mission.

We also thank all of our supporters like you. Remember – NPG receives absolutely no government funding of any kind. We rely entirely on you – your loyal dedication and generous financial support – to continue our critical mission. Your contributions go directly towards our vital educational and outreach programs, getting our valuable materials into the hands of America’s students, teachers, elected officials, journalists, and the public. We appreciate your activism, and your continued support of NPG.

NPG

Deputy Director’s Corner

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