This is an interesting thread. Two quick points I noticed that keep getting glossed over:
One:
quote:
2) Humans in economically developed countries are less likely to pass on their genes than those in poorer countries. This is just a fact.
—sfs
Except Mormons. Seriously, don't forget that even economically developed countries with low or negative growth rates have population sub-sets (religious, ethnic) with very high growth rates. In cases like N. Ireland and Kossovo the 'wealth= more fit" argument hardly worked as these (typically) poorer population subsets (Catholics, Albanians) eventually overwhelmed the wealthier ones.
Two: Humans DO compete with other organisms for food and resources. Since the dawn of time we have struggled to prevent insects, rodents, bacteria, predators (etc) from consuming resources - crops & livestock - that we want for ourselves.
This message has been edited by custard, 02-23-2005 15:59 AM