Yes, in the “debate” in the GOP-dominated US Senate over the Green New Deal and how to respond to climate change, Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) opined that all we need is America birthin’ more babies.
“Climate change . . . is a challenge of creativity, ingenuity and technological invention,” Lee said. “And problems of human imagination are not solved by more laws, but by more humans. More people mean bigger markets for innovation. More babies mean more forward-looking adults — the sort we need to tackle long-term, large-scale problems.”
But — of course — not just any babies.
“American babies, in particular, are likely going to be wealthier, better educated, and more conservation-minded than children raised in still-industrializing regions,” Lee said.
I suppose it’s possible Sen. Lee, rather than promoting overpopulation as a solution to global ills was merely poking fun at the principle of being a responsible shepherd or steward of the planet. In either case, it’s … kind of bizarre.
Do you want to know more? Sen. Mike Lee says we can solve climate change with more babies. Science says otherwise. – The Washington Post
About what I would expect from a Mormon.
I’d not thought of the Mormon/family connection. I wouldn’t make that broad a generalization, but it’s certainly (even if a joke) within the Republican theme of “family values.”
He also had a poster of Ronald Reagan riding a dragon and firing a machine gun in the same context you are referring. So, even though he’s Mormon, I do believe he did have his tongue firmly implanted into his cheek.
But, and you’ll remember this David, during the 60-70’s where the push was zero population growth. Well, the population was around 3.5 billion, now, 7.0 billion and we seem to be doing just fine. It’s an amazing thing, climate, it’s always changing. Anyone remember the Ice Age? And, isn’t it from the melting icebergs that gave us such great and fertile land in the US along with some of the most beautiful National Parks? No one is denying that the climate isn’t changing, just that it’s caused by man and excessive carbon. Read this amazing article from the Univ. of Chicago.
https://news.uchicago.edu/story/naturally-occurring-carbon-dioxide-delayed-impacts-climate-change