Thread: U.S. population will continue to grow as dreams come true

published: October 13, 2006 12:19 am

Column: U.S. population will continue to grow as dreams come true
By Jeff Mullin
ENID NEWS AND EAGLE (ENID, Okla.)

Enid, Okla. — America is No. 3, with a bullet.

Sometime early next week our nation’s population will top the 300 million mark, thus solidifying our lead over No. 4 Indonesia, but still leaving us far behind No. 1 China and No. 2 India in the ranks of the world’s most populous countries.

It has been only 39 years since the U.S. topped the 200 million mark. That Nov. 20, 1967, milestone engendered a celebration, as the crowd gathered in the lobby of the Department of the Commerce building in Washington broke into applause, interrupting a speech by President Lyndon Johnson.

Life magazine designated Robert Ken Woo Jr., born at the same time the Census Bureau’s population clock marked the milestone, as the 200th million American. Woo is now a 38-year-old married father of three who practices law in Atlanta.

As an Asian-American, Woo didn’t exactly fit the population model of 1967 America.

At that time, a white child born to parents living in a suburb would have been more appropriate.

The most likely candidate as the 300 millionth American will be an Hispanic baby born to Mexican immigrants in Los Angeles County, says William Frey, a demographer at the University of Michigan and Brookings Institution in Washington.

These days America is growing at a faster pace than in 1967. According to the Census Bureau, there is a birth in America every seven seconds, a death every 13 seconds and a net migrant (the number of immigrants minus the number of those emigrating) every 30 seconds. That means there is a new American either made or born every 10 seconds.

We are projected to become a nation of 400 million sometime around 2040.

America, as it has done since its inception, is growing and changing. New and different ingredients are being blended into the nation’s melting pot. A rapidly growing Hispanic population is adding a unique flavor to the American experience.

The fact many of those people have come to this country illegally is worrisome. Immigrants, both legal and illegal, represent some 40 percent of America’s population growth.

But immigration has been the basis of much of America’s population growth throughout its history.

In 1915, when our population first topped 100 million, about 14 percent of Americans were foreign-born. The number is about 12 percent in 2006.

There is no doubt we need to get a handle on illegal immigration, but closing our borders completely is no solution. We are a nation of immigrants and, despite the hatred professed for our way of life by the leaders of many nations, are still the envy of much of the world.

As America grows, the need to preserve its land, water, air and natural resources will become even more vital. More people means the potential for greater environmental damage, so we must be vigilant to make sure the 300th million American doesn’t grow up drinking fouled water or breathing polluted air.

America’s growth, it seems, is inevitable. China had a net migration loss in the past year, according to the CIA’s world fact book, as did India. America, for much of the world, remains the shining light of hope for a better life.

The 300 millionth American, whoever he or she might be, might grow up to save lives, or perhaps souls. The 300 millionth American could discover a cure for cancer or unlock the mystery of Alzheimer’s.

The 300 millionth American could become a great military leader or a fervent advocate for peace and non-violence.

In America you’ve still got a chance to become whatever you dream of becoming, and are willing to work to become.

And that, ultimately, is why America’s rapid growth will continue.



Jeff Mullin writes for the News & Eagle.

http://www.cushingdaily.com/opinion/cnh ... ndarystory

In America you’ve still got a chance to become whatever you dream of becoming, and are willing to work to become.

And that, ultimately, is why America’s rapid growth will continue.

I propose that we eliminate all forms of welfare payments and government subsidies to non-citizens to see if this is really the case.