Mo' Better People

As America's population hits 300 million people, will we re-live the Summer of Love?

Katherine Mangu-Ward | October 17, 2006

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The United States today is characterized by low population density, considerable open space, a declining birthrate, movement out of the central cities—but that does not eliminate the concern about population. This country, or any country, always has a "population problem," in the sense of achieving a proper balance between size, growth, and distribution on the one hand, and, on the other, the quality of life to which every person in this country aspires.

In their preface to the report, the commission wrote: "Consideration of the population issue raises profound questions of what people want, what they need—indeed, what they are for." They're absolutely right, and—with the 300 millionth person lurking in the shadows—we're at it again. Groovy.

Katherine Mangu-Ward is Reason's associate editor.