Eugenics -- some preliminary problems

Is there doubt in any one's mind that the number of human beings on Earth already exceeds, or very soon will exceed, (a) its comfortable physical carrying capacity and (b) our human ability to humanely manage our civilizations?

It is almost impossible to talk about it. Powerful churches continue to insist that every act of intercourse embrace the opportunity for another human being. Their political henchmen/exploiters carry the concept over into the civil arena. The word itself, eugenics, automatically recalls the horror of Hitler's mad philosophies made manifest.

The demonization of the term Eugenics parallels the term "liberal" which classically describes today's libertarian but in current usage denotes his statist opposite.

As a start might we begin to soften the word and entertain the notion that human happiness and the chance for human survival will be enhanced if we can discover an acceptable way of reducing population?

Loopholing in the rain

The stars line up nicely today. Welcome rain gives me an excuse to ignore outside work, and the folks over in Worthington have organized a c. 70-table loophole assembly. Two fellow conspirators are joining me, and I have cleaned the detritus from the van to allow plenty of room in case we find ourselves in a mood to loophole on large scale.

This is the one that tends to draw a high proportion of hobbyists with boxes of interesting stuff. I think it's the place where I scored a big handful of GI 1911 parts a year ago.

The essential lunacy of what we have done to our economic system is illustrated well enough by the simple lede in a Reuter's market story:

"U.S. stock index futures rose slightly on Friday as Greece asked the European Union and International Monetary Fund to trigger an aid package in what could be the largest state bailout ever attempted."

Translation: Greece borrowed until its creditors had no more chance of repayment that you do of ever seeing that $500 you loaned you brother-in-law back in 1984. So the world will loan Greece some more money in hopes that a miracle will occur before anyone notices the (a) resultant inflation of currencies and (b) irony of adding to debt to retire debt.

You say it makes you uncomfortable to have the value of your hundred shares of SWHC dependant on things like what Greek pols decide to spend to support the crucial grape leaf industry? Me too, except I own, Thank God, no SWHC. I have others that the Greeks and Tim G. are fubaring, however.

Encore

Some reader comments just demand reprinting above the fold. TJP writes:

Congress isn't so much exercising a power to tax to the ends of its constitutional duties as it is extorting an allowance to use at its sole discretion.