GUEST POST from Don: Planning for Shrink (Solution Found, part 2)

PLANNING for SHRINK (Part 2 of “Solution Found”)

The ONLY solution to the Global Warming Theory is population reduction.  As long as we keep adding people to the planet (and each person adds greenhouse gas to the atmosphere through heating/cooling/transportation, etc) we are only playing at the edges.  It is like we are trying to empty a swimming pool through technology while still adding water to the pool with a garden hose.  (That’s plain stupid!)  First stop adding water, then remove the scummy water.

To give you one more mental image:  The best way to put out a fire is to first stop adding fuel to it …

However, we can’t just reduce the number of people and call it good.  There are CONSEQUENCES to depopulation.  For example, we have to plan for fewer workers, less money for social programs, more efficiency with road systems, walkable housing, fewer houses and smaller schools.  This is just a small sampling of the issues.

However, it must be done IF Global Warming theorists are correct.  If they are right, we have NO OTHER VIABLE OPTION.  I can prove it with simple math.  For instance, say EVs reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 5%.  If world populations grow by 1% per year buying EVs only gets us 5 years before we have to eliminate something else.  So, we move to solar and wind which saves 5%.  Five years later we are where we started all over again.  Mathematically technology can never save us.  It is a continually losing strategy.  Even if we required two families per house (cutting heating and cooling by 50%), it would only grant us a few years reprieve before we are back to greenhouse gas growth again.

As long as world population is growing NOTHING ELSE we do will save the planet from the theory of Global Warming.  At best (if at all) we merely delay the inevitable collapse by a few measly decades.  That works for me, I’m old.  But it doesn’t help your grandchildren or great grandchildren.

So, let’s face reality for REAL.  We need a smaller global population.  The smaller population needs some cost-saving moves to reduce the need for supply of energy, houses which use less energy than current models.  They also need mass transit that works, and walkable communities so personal transportation is less of an issue.  Fewer roads to maintain, fewer miles of electric line, fewer miles of gas line, etc. because there will be fewer workers available to maintain them.  Refrigerators and other devices need to be made better and last longer, there will be fewer workers to repair, build or install.  We will need to find re-usable products more common.  This is not for comfort or convenience, but because the replacement of equipment uses too many man-hours.

There are hundreds of other significant changes we will face with a declining world population.  Forget travel, for one.  You will live close to work, shopping, and those you want to see.  No more will people move away from family in New York for a job in California if they ever wish to see them in person again.  Flights will not be commonplace.  Vacations to Jamaica won’t be happening.  

The problem is workforce.  It takes lots of people to keep an airline humming.  Lots of man-hours.  Man-hours will be sorely lacking.  Forget inexpensive fast food.

Don’t imagine there will be much of a financial safety net either.  Fewer workers = fewer tax revenues.

All of the problems can be overcome with intense planning and implementation.  For example, the value of an education will rise.  Since there will be fewer social programs the school system will have to get VERY serious about teaching the three Rs to EVERY student (finally).  We won’t have the luxury any more of allowing greater than 20% of students to reach age 19 and still not able to do 3rd grade math.  (For the last 30 years we have allowed that … and as a result we have needed incredible social programs and prisons to care for all of them.)

SMALL RELATED ISSUE…  PENNIES

I am totally opposed to a cashless society (like China), but I wouldn’t mind a coinless one.

The feds need to find ways to save money since revenue will be dropping.  End the penny.  In fact, end small denomination coins altogether  ($1, $5, and $10 coins might be nice).  They are a financial drain on federal government.  They are expensive to produce and very heavy!  Businesses dislike dealing with them.  The biggest issue is the number of man-hours they rob from businesses, banks, and the US Mint.

What to do instead?  Sell “change” cards.  The card costs $1 and the store you buy it at will load it up with 90 cents.  Every time you buy something with cash the store will either add change to the card or subtract change from it.  A “change” card will never have more than 99 cents on it.  Let’s make this real fun …  It won’t matter how many “change” cards you have … you won’t be allowed to use more than 1 card per purchase.

This makes it of no value to throw them in a drawer like you do with your dimes and nickels.  It also makes them unlikely to be stolen, or mass counterfeited (really?  For 99 cents or less?)  How many buyers does one need to make a serious profit (unless you’re like 12)?

Always plan to carry a few more dollars than the cost of your purchases (maybe tuck 2 bucks in some hidden area of your wallet) along with your all-important, but not so valuable, card.

Phase in of the “change” card would take almost no time, because the day they come out everyone will be hoarding coins.  I think people will complain (I always do).

Copyright 2025 Donald Whelpley

[PLEASE NOTE that Don is always open to discussing the thoughts and opinions he shares here and welcomes comments as shared in the comment section. He doesn’t use other social media platforms and won’t see whatever you’d like to share with him if you post it elsewhere.
ALSO, Don is always open to offer his thoughts on various topics. If you have a specific request, you can let him know in a comment; he reads – and replies to – them all. ~ Sherry]

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