Humans at risk of lethal 'own goal' ...

[Shaker]

Good grief.

[Hope]

As a species. Most species either evolve into something else or become extinct.

So, there isn't an evolutionary imperative that species have to become extinct.   

[Hope]

...(b) there hasn't been a time when we didn't try to save people, we just got good at it, ...

and I'm simply asking whether we have become too good at it?  It seems to be that the means of extending people's lives is almost the main job of medical scientists now.  Perhaps something to do with our - Western, at least - fear or dislike of death.

[Leonard James]

So, there isn't an evolutionary imperative that species have to become extinct.   

Except that of the evolving universe! Planet earth is doomed sooner or later. 

[Gonnagle]

Dear Leonard,

It stands to reason that unless population control is achieved in one way or another, our future is bleak.

Hans Rosling is your man, ending poverty is the answer.

http://www.ted.com/talks/hans_rosling_on_global_population_growth

Gonnagle.

[Leonard James]

Dear Leonard,

Hans Rosling is your man, ending poverty is the answer.

http://www.ted.com/talks/hans_rosling_on_global_population_growth

Gonnagle.

Sounds like a good start. 

[floo]

It only needs one nut to press the button. 

Like Donald Trump if the US electorate were ever crazy enough to vote him in as President!

[Owlswing]

Like Donald Trump if the US electorate were ever crazy enough to vote him in as President!

The problem here is that they are just, as a mob, stupid enough as to be likely to do so.

[Hope]

Like Donald Trump if the US electorate were ever crazy enough to vote him in as President!

Will Sarah Palin's endorsement help or hinder him?

[Jack Knave]

Attitudes like those of Donald Trump are doing nothing to lessen the possibility of that conflict. Only my opinion of course!

I reckon this desperate rhetoric from the US is because they know they are weakening. You never get this stressed out verbiage from the strong. 

[Jack Knave]

It only needs one nut to press the button. 

Shouldn't that be a loose screw!

[Leonard James]

Shouldn't that be a loose screw!

 

[Jack Knave]

As for overpopulation, I think the real issue is the lack of access to water in many pats of the globe - regardless of whether or not it is clean.

I agree, but I think it will be more of a perfect storm where many issues conflate. So not just water but food i.e. bad crops due to storms and lack of rain in our bread bowls. Migration, which is going on now, cause of shortages in given area and fleeing from wars. Financial and political break down especially because of the heinous greed of the Elites which has left the people in an impoverished state of affairs.

[Jack Knave]

The number of near-misses, almosts and very-nearlies with regard to nuclear weapons during the Cold War is absolutely staggering - don't read up on this if you want to sleep soundly at night ever again (although it's absolutely fascinating - to me, anyway). At least two Russian military men are known to have averted a nuclear exchange between the USA and the USSR (as it was), at least one of them by deliberately disobeying training and orders:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasili_Arkhipov

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanislav_Petrov

There was a TV programme on this some years ago. I think one of these events happened in the 80's (?). Scared the shit out me to know just how easy it is for things to be misread with mega issues like this.

[Leonard James]

There was a TV programme on this some years ago. I think one of these events happened in the 80's (?). Scared the shit out me to know just how easy it is for things to be misread with mega issues like this.

(Smuggly) When you get to my age it doesn't worry you too much! 

[Jack Knave]

Oh gawd ... I want my mum! 

That's mummy!

Come on Leonard regress properly, no half measures here PLEASE!!!

[Jack Knave]

I wondering wheth these drug-resistant organisms will act as population control.   

Oh I forgot things like bird flu epidemics. Being so globally linked these things can spread like wild fire.

[Leonard James]

That's mummy!

Come on Leonard regress properly, no half measures here PLEASE!!!

When I was a child, mummy was considered a bit sissy if you were referring to your mother. 

[Jack Knave]

(Smuggly) When you get to my age it doesn't worry you too much! 

You were crying for your mummy a minute ago.

[Jack Knave]

When I was a child, mummy was considered a bit sissy if you were referring to your mother. 

But that is what regression is all about.

[Leonard James]

You were crying for your mummy a minute ago.

Nah, that was my mum. Mummies are embalmed dead people.

[Jack Knave]

Nah, that was my mum. Mummies are embalmed dead people.

I see! Very telling.

[jeremyp]

The problem here is that they are just, as a mob, stupid enough as to be likely to do so.

If you talk to most Americans, you'll find they do not think it at all likely that Trump will get in. Let's give them the benefit of the doubt until he does.

[Nearly Sane]

If you talk to most Americans, you'll find they do not think it at all likely that Trump will get in. Let's give them the benefit of the doubt until he does.

So you have talked to a majority of the US population/electorate?

[jeremyp]

So you have talked to a majority of the US population/electorate?

Pollsters have.