How Many Is Too Many? The Progressive Argument for Reducing Immigration into America

By Frosty Wooldridge

Book Review:  How Many Is Too Many? The Progressive Argument for Reducing Immigration into the United States By Phil Cafaro

America imports in excess of 1.2 million immigrants annually.  One million legal immigrants land on America’s shores via lawful invitation.  Another 500,000 to 700,000 reach America annually by violating our borders unlawfully.  At our current rate of immigration, America expects to add 100,000,000 (million) legal immigrants, their offspring and chain-migrated relatives within the next 35 years.  That number equates to doubling the populations of our 35 most populated cities.  Example: New York City jumps from 8.3 million to 16.6 million, Los Angeles increases from 11 million to 22 million and on down the line.  How do we water, feed, house, transport, work, educate and care for that many people?  And still maintain quality of life and standard of living?  Answer: we won’t!

Such enormous numbers create mega-ramifications for Americans, our environment, quality of life and standard of living.  It’s called “overshoot” as to water, energy and resources.  Legal and illegal immigration drives 98 percent of California’s racehorse population growth as it gallops from 38 million to 58 million within 30 years. (Source: www.CapsWeb.org)

Colorado State Professor Phil Cafaro, author of How Many Is Too Many? wrote a compelling, compassionate and sobering book on America’s immigration predicament.  As a “liberal”, he understands that most Americans want to allow legal immigrants a chance at the American Dream.

At the same time, he understands that emotions and the past cannot dictate America’s future choices as to mass immigration.  By 1970, American women chose two children families, but the rest of the world raced ahead to jump world population from 3.5 billion to 7.3 billion in 2015.  At least two billion human beings suffer from lack of water, energy, housing, resources, jobs and a decent life.  Yet humans keep adding in excess of 70 million, net gain, annually.  Millions apply for a visa to America for a “better life.” 

However, their sheer numbers cannot be sustained by America or her citizens.  Cafaro relates how America’s poor live in poverty, job and wage decline, and loss of standard of living to endless immigration.  His profoundly compelling research relates to enormous “carbon footprint” destabilizing Earth’s weather systems.  He addresses environmental degradation as well as a dozen other fronts.

Every single one of our 535 Congressional members must read Cafaro’s book to understand the dilemma future generations face without drastically cutting immigration numbers.  Every American needs to read this book to create a national discussion on “how many immigrants is too many and when do we stop the onslaught?” Since those developing countries haven’t cut their birth rates to live within their carrying capacity, Cafaro urges vigorous support of women’s health and reproductive rights.  He encourages one and two children families.  He asks for immigration to be cut to 300,000 annually.  As a six continent world traveler, I understand that, in order for the USA to return to a stabile civilization, that number should be cut to 100,000 annually because 100,000 egress the country each year.  That would create a net zero population number.

Fact: technology won’t save our civilization.  Only rational choices and reasoned actions give America a chance to survive the 21^st century as a sustainable and viable civilization.  Cafaro provides those answers.

Cafaro filled his book with sobering facts.  He doesn’t mince words when he talks about our dicey future as a country and a species.  If the end, if we fail to cut immigration and humans worldwide fail to stabilize and decrease their populations, the words of Nobel Laureate Dr. Henry W. Kendall ring true, “If we don’t halt population growth with justice and compassion, it will be done for us by nature, brutally and without pity – and will leave a ravaged world.”

Read this book; act upon its suggestions and save your country and the planet’s future for all living creatures.

Book: How Many Is Too Manny?

Author: Professor Philip Cafaro, Colorado State University

Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

ISBN# 13: 978-0-226-19065-5

ISBN# 10: 0-226-19065-X

Hardcover: $27.50

Kindle: $9.99

###

Frosty Wooldridge
Golden, CO

Population-Immigration-Environmental specialist: speaker at colleges, civic clubs, high schools and conferences

Www.HowToLiveALifeOfAdventure.com

Www.frostywooldridge.com

Six continent world bicycle traveler

Speaker/writer/adventurer

Adventure book: How to Live a Life of Adventure: The Art of Exploring the World

Latest book:  How to Deal with 21st Century American Women: Co-creating a successful relationship

Frosty Wooldridge, six continent world bicycle traveler, Canada to Mexico summer 2014, 2,200 miles, 100,000 vertical feet of climbing: