Demographic America in 2010: 312 million people. Result: accelerating energy, water and resource shortages. Yet, America remains on course to add 100 million people by 2035 — a scant 25 years from now. Further, demographic projections show us adding another 38 million more by 2050 to equal 438 million Americans. (Source: PEW Report, “U.S. Population Projections” by Fogel/Martin, U.S. Census Bureau)

While on my bicycle travels across six continents and through the most densely populated countries of the world, I witnessed the misery, suffering, and debasement of human living conditions caused by human population overload. I observed that once human numbers exceeded carrying capacity, all life degrades. Examine China, India, Africa and Bangladesh for starters. They grow worse by the day. They cannot solve their problems once human numbers manifest.

Several readers ask if I follow Thomas Malthus` “Essay on the Principle of Population,” or, they don`t agree with me based on the size of the United States. Many who pursue a religious course, saying, “God will provide.” What they neglect to realize is, according to the March 14, 2005, issue of Time Magazine, 18 million people starve to death around the planet annually. (Source: World Health Organization) Therefore, it is not an issue of Malthus or God; it is an issue of a growing reality that humanity continues outstripping the planet`s ability to feed, water and clothe the growing “human storm” on this planet.

When I talk about the crisis of overpopulation in America, plenty of already manifested realities sober any rational mind. The quality of our lives deteriorates daily as we add three million people annually to our shores. The standard of living drops like a brick with millions of added people. But let me quote those who know more and are the leaders from the past and present.

“We must prevent human tragedy rather than run around trying to save ourselves after an event has already occurred. Unfortunately, history clearly shows that we arrive at catastrophe by failing to meet the situation, by failing to act when we should have acted. The opportunity passes us by and the next disaster is always more difficult and compounded than the last one.” Eleanor Roosevelt.

And:

“We must alert and organize the world`s people to pressure world leaders to take specific steps to solve the two root causes of our environmental crises — exploding population growth and wasteful consumption of irreplaceable resources. Over-consumption and overpopulation underlie every environmental problem we face today.” Jacques-Yves Cousteau, Oceanographer.

Anyone want to move to the beautiful Los Angeles area? I would need my head examined if I wanted to move into that grinding traffic, crush of people and toxic air. From 17 million in 1965 to over 38 million today — and on to 58 million within 30 years!

As you read this column, are the lights turning on? Are you connecting the dots? Do you see the growing calamity about to visit, possibly not you, but definitely your children here in the once limitless United States? Exploding gas prices present harbingers of our future. Air pollution grows thicker with every added person. Farmland diminishes as asphalt and concrete cover it.

If you think the gridlock, air pollution, acid rain, diminishing cropland, congestion, failing health systems, climate change, species extinction prove terrible today, you ain`t seen nothing yet! This Population Katrina will hit all 50 states in 2035. But even before that date, it will degrade all our lives with too many people, shrinking freedoms, diminished resources, water conflicts, diseases, maddening traffic and degraded quality of life.

The more extreme our numbers the more extreme our children`s consequences. Unless, of course, you decide to get involved in your children`s future.

Frosty Wooldridge lives in Louisville.