Size Matters: Analysis of Census Bureau's Population Project

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Size Matters: Analysis of Census Bureau's Population Projections
By Steven A. Camarota, August 14, 2008 12:30 PM

While the Census Bureau’s press release accompanying its new population projections emphasizes the importance of the country’s changing racial composition, this is almost certainly not the most important finding. The new report shows a U.S. population in 2050 that is 135 million larger than it is today. This could have profound implications for the environment and quality of life in the United States in the future. Immigration policy is the primary factor driving population growth.

Several observations on the new projections:

* A U.S. population of 439 million in 2050 is by far the largest ever projected by the Census Bureau. As recently as 1996, the Bureau projected a population in 2050 considerably smaller than is now projecting.

* The increase in the size of the overall U.S. population of 135 million between today and 2050 is larger than the combined populations of Great Britain and France.

* Assuming the same ratio of population to infrastructure that exists today:

— The nation will need to build and pay for 36,000 more schools.
— Develop enough land to accommodate 52 million new housing units.
— Construct enough new roads to handle 106 million more passenger vehicles.

* Although the projections do not provide enough information to precisely determine the share of population increase due to immigration, prior research and some information in the study itself indicate that about three-fourths of this future population growth is driven by new immigration and births to immigrants.

* One of the more interesting findings in the Census Bureau projections is that even with record levels of immigration over the next 42 years, the population of the United States will still age significantly. This is consistent with prior research showing that immigration has only a modest impact on slowing the aging of American society.

Adding 135 million more people to the nation’s population is very likely to have significant implications for many things Americans care about such as pollution, congestion, sprawl, and preservation of open spaces. It may also have implications for the size and scope of government as more densely settled societies are almost always more heavily regulated.

The new projections point to a policy choice. The United States may well decide to continue to allow the settlement of 1.5 million new immigrants (legal and illegal) each year. But legal immigration is a federal program like any other and could be reduced below the 1 million currently allowed to enter the country each year. Greater resources could also be devoted to reducing illegal immigration. The projections provide a glimpse into one possible future. We must decide as country if this is future we want.

http://www.cis.org/node/739

POPULATION CONTROL! -- REMEMBER ADD MORE TO THE 100,000,000 ILLEGALS HERE, NOW. APPROACHING 1 BILLION PEOPLE SOONER THAN AMERICANS REALIZE - CONTROL POPULATION BEFORE IT IS TO LATE!

MY SON WAS EXPLAINING TO ME JUST HOW THE CENSUS IS THE ROOT TO ALL THE EVIL.

THAT THE GREATER THE POPULATION IS IN A STATE THE MORE ELECTED OFFICIALS A STATE GETS IN WASHINGTON.

ISN'T TWO OR EVEN THREE SENATORS FROM EACH STATE ENOUGH REPRESENTATION?

AMERICANS NEED TO FOCUS BACK TO THE STATE LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT; AND REDUCE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN HALF!

****IN THE BEGINNING OF OUR GOVERNMENT THE GOVERNOR OF EACH STATE SENT SOMEONE TO REPRESENT THE STATE TO WASHINGTON.
IN OTHER WORDS WASHINGTON ASKED TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE PEOPLE...*****

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Adding 135 million more people to the nation’s population is very likely to have significant implications for many things Americans care about such as pollution, congestion, sprawl, and preservation of open spaces. It may also have implications for the size and scope of government as more densely settled societies are almost always more heavily regulated.

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Whoa, whoa, whoa - hold up a second.

Why is no one asking the even more basic question, and right now:
"You mean, we have no water shortages, no unbreathable air, no suburban cramping, etc, etc NOW?" I don't think so.

The US needs to establish some responsible and well-reasoned policies that deal with population levels and growth (or, even better, sustainability).
As it stands, 'just adding bodies' without even asking questions (what big business really supports) is going to ruin our quality of life and standards of living.

American economists--in fact, almost all economists, build their decisions on GROWTH--GROWTH of population is the first thing necessary. The only economists (becoming a filthy word, like ACLU) who do not use growth in their efforts are the members of NPG (No Population Growth). They are sneered at and derided by most other economists. If you believe that the world needs to sell more every year to be a better place, if you believe your family will suffer without population growth---we are the guilty party. Our American birth rate is slightly below replacement rate. So the brains (economists) say bring in the immigrants---that will create markets and provide growth.

We need to provide financial opportumities for our American women to be able to have families and still maintain their place in the busines world. France gives a one year leave and a monthly stipend as well as having a law that employers will bring the woman back at her original salary and job level when she returns. How about some good old fashioned Americana instead of crazy a** technology. How about bringing the birth rate to slightly over the replacement rate. How about a TRUE management of our resources--for -example--no more building in areas that do not have enough water or better still a national water system. Pipe water like we do oil. It is very sensible.

Profits are not, or SHOULD not ebe the main or only motivation.

What doth it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and suffer the loss of his own soul?