Over the Falls

Mark Steyn is in Australia, and he’s writing about doomsday. Here’s a sample:

Much of western civilization does not have any future. That’s to say, we’re not just speaking philosophically, but literally. In a very short time, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and other countries we regard as part of the western tradition will cease to exist in any meaningful sense. They don’t have a future because they’ve given up breeding. Spain’s population is halving with every generation: Two grown-ups have a total of one baby. So there are half as many children as parents. And a quarter as many grandchildren as grandparents. And an eighth as many great-grandchildren as great-grandparents. And, after that there’s no point extrapolating, because you’re over the falls and it’s too late to start paddling back.

I know there are lots of people who still don’t believe that the declining birth rate is a problem, but most of us won’t be around to see the worst results of our lack of responsibility and generosity as a generation.

Read Steyn’s essay; maybe he’ll convince you.

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