The Debate in Thomas Jefferson’s Home County
Climate Change and African Fisheries

 

COMMENTARY: by NPG President Donald Mann

            After Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC) heckled President Obama during his speech to a joint session of Congress by calling out “You lie!” when the President told lawmakers that his health care bill does not cover illegal immigrants, he apologized by stating that his emotions got the best of him.
            Certainly, voter emotions have been at the heart of the controversial effort to rebuild one-sixth of the nation’s economy with a massive, all-inclusive health care bill. The subject of coverage for illegal immigrants only adds to the confusion.
            There is presently a section of the bill that denies health coverage to “anyone not lawfully present in the country.”  However, there is nothing in the bill to enforce this provision.  And critics point to the fact that the Democrats went out of their way to make sure such provisions never made it into the final draft legislation. 
            Back in July, Congressman Nathan Deal (R-GA) offered an amendment in the House Energy and Commerce Committee that would have required health care providers to use the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) Program to prevent illegals from receiving government health care services.  A similar amendment, sponsored by Congressman Dean Heller (R-NV), would have prevented illegal immigrants from receiving the availability credits unless cleared by SAVE but it was defeated by the House Ways and Means Committee.
            A new study by the Center for Immigration Studies estimates that 6.6 million uninsured illegal immigrants could receive benefits under H.R. 3200 – the House version of health reform legislation now before Congress.  The study noted that if all uninsured illegal immigrants with incomes below 400 percent of the poverty level receive the new affordability premium credits offered by the House legislation, the estimated cost to the federal government would be $30.5 billion annually.  CIS claims that the current cost of treating uninsured illegal immigrants at all levels of government, primarily at emergency rooms and free clinics, now comes to an estimated $4.3 billion a year.
            CIS is quick to point out that “Even though there is no mechanism to prevent enrollment, it is likely that many income-eligible illegal immigrants would not enroll out of fear or lack of knowledge of the new programs.  Thus the actual costs would be less than the maximum estimate of $30.5 billion.  However, if illegal immigrants are legalized and could receive affordability credits, a much larger percentage would be expected to enroll, with a corresponding increase in costs.”
            The final sentence in the above paragraph gets to the heart of the matter.  If Congress follows through on plans to grant amnesty and citizenship to the estimated 13 to 20 million illegals now in the country, the problem of coverage for a massive segment of the population becomes moot – they will be eligible for all benefits accorded any other citizen.  
            Unfortunately, as the amnesty/citizenship debate moves forward later this year, it will also be driven by emotions.  Those who are intent on granting millions of illegals all the rewards and benefits of U.S. citizenship will work hard to make sure the American people focus on the compassion aspects of this argument and not on the budget-busting fiscal facts – such as the extra $30.5 billion annual price tag for health care alone – that should very much be part of the debate.

 

THE DEBATE IN THOMAS JEFFERSON’S HOME COUNTY

            Thomas Jefferson would most likely be surprised at the recent debate on population growth in Albemarle County, Virginia, home to his beautiful hilltop home, Monticello, and his legacy, the University of Virginia.  When he settled in Charlottesville, far into the woodlands of Virginia, it took him days to travel to and from Washington, D.C. – now you can make the journey in about 90 minutes.
            However, as with many once-idyllic areas that are still far enough away from the urban sprawl of a major metropolitan area, but close enough to be attractive to many newcomers, debate ensues about how far and how fast to grow.
            Brandon Shulletta of the Daily Progress of Charlottesville recently reported on a new study which “warns of the dangers of unchecked population growth” in the area.  As one might expect, the report received mixed reactions among the pro-growth and anti-growth forces.
            Put forth by the Advocates for a Sustainable Albemarle Population, the report “states the potential dangers of rampant growth include (sic) air and water pollution and an overall deterioration of the area’s ecosystem.”
            Some debate has emerged over the funding source of the report but a local supervisor was on target in defending taxpayer money being invested in the effort by stating “we want to be making policy judgments based on good information.” 
            According to the Daily Progress:  “The study concludes that if the total population for the Charlottesville-Albemarle area increases to 217,000 people – it’s currently less than 140,000 – the quality of ecosystems in the developing areas will start to tumble.  Though the most rural areas of Albemarle would be slower to feel the pinch…degradation would become more widespread as population continues to increase, ultimately impacting rural areas as well.”
            What is important about this article is that it highlights a group of citizens and elected officials taking the lead in looking to the future and working to stave off the negative impact and dangerous consequences of population growth that will truly change the quality of life in their communities.  NPG encourages similar action in counties, cities and towns across the nation.  Click here to view article.

 

CLIMATE CHANGE AND AFRICAN FISHERIES

            When you talk about climate change most people immediately think about the greatest impact taking place at earth’s highest latitudes.
            However, in late August, the organization Earth Portal published an article by Lauren Morello that highlighted another consequence of climate change that does not regularly make the headlines – the impact on the world’s fisheries.
            The article entitled “Africa’s Fisheries Least Able to Adapt to Climate Change” cited a report by the WorldFish Center that “identified 33 countries whose economies are ‘highly vulnerable’ to climate change because they rely heavily on fisheries to supply food and income.”
            Twenty-one countries in Africa made the list where fish accounts for half of the animal protein consumed each day.  Asian and South American countries rounded out the list of places in the world where climate change affects fisheries the most.  Surprisingly, Russia ranked third. 
            Edward Allison, the report’s author, noted, “Fisherfolk are pretty adaptable, and they’re used to dealing with variations in climate.  But they’re first in line in terms of exposure to impending storms, rising sea levels, flood and droughts.  They work on water, in water…Every aspect of their lives are (sic) exposed to climate change.”
            Allison’s hope is that in highlighting this information and writing this report, the World Bank and other government and non-government organizations might be moved to provide funds to help nations adapt their economies to shifting weather patterns.  It was noted that many small island nations – especially in the Pacific – could not be included in the study but would be high on the list of being most vulnerable.  Click here to view article.

 

POPULATION AND IMMIGRATION NEWS

A WELL-STATED PROBLEM

            Throughout the years, NPG has made it clear that if Congress acts to offer amnesty and citizenship to 13 to 20 million illegal immigrants now in our nation, it would create a bureaucratic nightmare of immense proportions for the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Service (USCIS).  Any concept of providing thorough background checks on new applicants to safeguard our nation’s security would go right out the window as their papers would be rubber-stamped as acceptable with lightening speed – all to keep the process moving along.  Mike Cutler, Senior Writing Editor of Californians for Population Stabilization (CAPS), makes this point quite succinctly in a recent newsletter in which he challenges the concept of Congressional demands for a 24-hour window for screening amnesty applicants.

            “Any amnesty program would mean that millions of new applications would be dumped on USCIS desks.  Evaluating them is a task the agency isn’t up to now and won’t be in the foreseeable future.

            Because of this terrible problem, Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR), as
amnesty is known, would be administered by an agency already operating without a shred of integrity.  Our government could not prevent criminals and terrorists from receiving official identity documents or screen out people who are not who they say they are.  This program would ultimately provide such aliens with resident alien status and then United States citizenship.

            Criminals and terrorists use multiple false identities to conceal who they are, their actions and their movements.  They use changes in identity the way chameleons use changes in coloration, in order to hide in plain sight among their intended victims.”

            This week, as America reflects on the 8th anniversary of September 11th, Mr.  Cutler’s words take on an added warning.

 

FLORIDA’S POPULATION DECREASING

            Florida has been welcoming transplanted snowbirds from the north and others who wish to work and retire in its positive year-round climate for more than a century.  For many years, it led the list of the nation’s fastest growing state.
            Now, its growth has not only stagnated – Florida is actually decreasing in population.  The real estate bust has taken its toll and contributed to a major population shift.  Much can be attributed to the reluctance of many potential retirees from up north holding back on selling their present devalued real estate and starting a new life in the Sunshine State.

 

NOT MUCH CHANCE FOR PASSAGE

            Confront an open border advocate or someone championing citizenship for illegal immigrants and you will hear their oft-repeated rhetoric of our nation’s history of welcoming immigrants and the need to be compassionate to those illegals who have already established roots in our country.  However, for many individuals who back a continued flow of millions of new citizens, they’ll tell you our nation – especially our Social Security system – needs an uninterrupted influx of new people to fund its future.
            That is perhaps why Congressman Dana Rohrbacher’s (R-CA), H.R. 2287, the No Social Security for Illegal Immigrants Act of 2009, while well-intended, probably has little chance of ever being brought up for a vote in Congress. 
            NPG wholeheartedly endorses this legislation designed to eliminate the jobs and benefits that attract new illegal aliens.  Yet, at a time when Congress is running trillion dollar deficits and is hungry for any and all dollars it can get its hands on, the worry about illegal immigrants tapping into Social Security benefits is surely an issue that can be kicked down the road for someone else to worry about. 

 

18 KIDS AND COUNTING

We’ll never get our population numbers down with folks like this:
            First it was the “octomom,” now it’s the Duggar family. And those who follow the reality show “18 Kids and Counting” on TLC can tune into the exploits of a 42-year old Arkansas mother, Michelle Duggar, who while pregnant with her 19th child, runs a very hectic household.  The website ParentDish described her as a “stress-free mom, never letting anything get under her skin.”  When asked by the interviewer at Parent Dish if there were any plans for more children, Mrs. Duggar replied, “We would love more.”
            The issue of US population size & growth never came up during the interview.

 

IMMIGRATION RIGHTS FOR GAY COUPLES

            When and if Congress gets around to taking up Comprehensive Immigration Reform, there is a new issue that’s been thrown into the mix by proposals put forth by Senator Patrick J. Leahy – legal residency for gay couples.  Leahy, the Chairman of the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee, hails from a state that recently voted to condone gay marriage and his legislation would permit American citizens and legal immigrants to seek residency in the U.S. for their same-sex partners.  Congressman Michael Honda of California is backing a similar bill in the U.S. House.  Look for this politically divisive issue to add to the volatile immigration debate that will take place in the coming months.

 

NPG NOTES

            Members of Congress who held town hall meetings in their home districts during the month of August got an earful and you can be assured that the issue of illegal immigration was a hot topic at many assemblies.  It is expected that Congress could begin to debate amnesty/citizenship for the 13-20 million illegals now in America sometime before the end of the year.  NPG will be very active in that debate as it is an essential part of our efforts to rein-in population growth. 
            Concurrent with our efforts to educate Members of Congress on the disastrous impact of any amnesty/citizenship legislation, NPG is also working to get Congressional sponsors for legislation that will create a U.S. Commission on Population Growth to research and plan for the critical policies that are needed now to keep America’s population at a livable and sustainable level. 
            The ad below ran in the Washington Times National Weekly Edition this week and will run in the Washington Post National Weekly Edition next week in order to keep our Senators and Congressmen focused on today’s out-of-control population growth that cannot be allowed to continue unchecked.

 

WELCOME BACK CONGRESS!

IN THE MONTH YOU WERE AWAY AMERICA’S POPULATION INCREASED BY ALMOST 250,000!

             That’s 250,000 more people you have to worry about when planning for the future – and   the numbers are growing at an alarming rate. 

            The U.S. Census Bureau reports that last year, the U.S. population grew by 2,743,429 people and the Pew Research Center projects that we can expect today’s population of 307 million to grow to almost 450 million by 2050 – just 41 years from now!

            It’s not too late to get a handle on America’s population growth that will seriously exacerbate today’s problems relating to soaring federal deficits, health care, Social Security, water and energy shortages, environmental ruin, and numerous other crises.

That is why it is crucial that Senators and Congressmen act today to work with NPG to help create a U.S. Commission on Population Growth. 

            Establishing this Commission now will provide much needed direction for how our nation can enact responsible population policies.  We must put our country on the road to sustainable population levels that will provide a decent quality of life for generations to come.

            Population growth is an issue that can no longer be ignored.  It is a giant threat to our future.  Please act today to take the lead on this issue before it is too late.  Please contact us today for information on how we can work together to make a U.S. Commission on Population Growth a reality.

 

PLAN FOR THE FUTURE
CREATE A U.S. COMMISSION ON POPULATION GROWTH TODAY!

 

QUOTABLE

            “The ‘myth’ that health care reform won’t cover illegal aliens, is itself a myth.”

            Ira Melman
            National Columnist and FAIR spokeman

             "The unemployment rate jumped to 9.7 percent in August, the highest jobless rate in over 26 years, and the number of unemployed job hunters grew to 14.9 million.  Yet the federal government issued 1.5 million permanent and temporary work visas over the past year, and 8 million illegal aliens currently hold jobs that could be filled by American workers.”

            Californians for Population Stabilization
            Labor Day messag

             “Perhaps the scariest aspect of our times is how many people think in talking points, rather than in terms of real consequences.”

            Thomas Sowell
            National Columnist

            “Despite the progress we may see in the coming years, the mathematics and politics of rapid greenhouse gas reductions remain remarkably daunting.  China’s emissions exploded in the past decade; if left unchecked, they alone will equal the current global level by 2030.  Worldwide energy consumption is expected to increase 50 percent from 2005 levels by 2030, with the bulk of the growth coming in the developed world.
            Many climate scientists believe that a significant degree of warming is already ‘locked in’ by past emissions and that greenhouse gas concentrations have already reached potentially dangerous levels. To avoid warming, therefore, global emissions would have to be halted immediately – and existing emissions would have to be removed from the atmosphere as well.  Not a likely prospect.”

            Samuel Thermstrom
            Resident Fellow
            American Enterprise Institute

WHY THE NPG JOURNAL?

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            The NPG Journal (offered free to all recipients) exists to give more widespread distribution to timely news stories and articles related to population, immigration, environmental and political issues that currently affect our daily life – or have the potential to seriously impact our future. 

            We realize not all news stories covering population issues will reflect NPG policies and goals.  One of our main purposes in creating the NPG Journal is to expose these items to a wider audience, and to draw attention to the fact that so many articles speak to immigration and population issues but often fail to address the central cause of many problems – TOO MANY PEOPLE. 

            Ultimately, NPG would like to see writers at all levels make the obvious (to us, at least) connection between environmental and resource problems and the growing number of people in both the United States and the world.  Unfortunately, most do not.  To that end, we comment as necessary to help our readers see those links in hopes they will continue to speak out on what we deem to be the most pressing issue of our time – population size and growth and its negative impacts on our environment, resources and quality of life.

            NPG President Donald Mann offers his personal insight and commentary on individual stories, especially those that challenge, confirm and/or complement our NPG Research and Forum Papers.  The goal of the NPG Journal is to greatly expand NPG’s educational programs.  NPG’s activities continue to emphasize the need for Americans to speak up on population issues and keep our nation – especially our elected leaders on the national, state and local level – focused on taking action to help resolve today’s immigration crisis and work to halt, and eventually reverse America’s out-of-control population growth.

            We welcome your feedback to articles posted on the NPG Journal and urge you to forward to us the e-mail address of friends you think would like to receive a complimentary copy of the NPG Journal on a monthly basis.  Contact us at www.npg.org.  

 

ABOUT NPG:

            Negative Population Growth, Inc. (NPG) is a national nonprofit membership organization with over 30,000 members nationwide.  It was founded in 1972 to educate the American public and political leaders about the devastating effects of overpopulation on our environment, resources, and standard of living.  We believe that our nation is already vastly overpopulated in terms of the long-range carrying capacity of its resources and environment.