Baby boom to come

The current covid-19 prevention conditions are favorable for large numbers of births in December 2020 and the months to follow. The increased home confinement, job and school closures, reduced travel, lack of social interaction, reduction of sports to attend and view, closure of gyms and spas, reduced supply and availability of contraceptives, and boredom are likely to contribute to increased pregnancies and births.

The biological clocks are ticking for there to be a surge of babies popping out like popcorn in the microwave. Although many of those older confined adults are beyond the reproductive years, the younger members of society who think they are invincible will likely make up the sexual and reproductive difference. This may go down in history as the generation explosion greater than that of the soldiers’ return from World War II.

Earth has 7.6 billion people, 5 billion more than can be sustained at the European standard of living. If 7.6 billion people were to stand on each other’s shoulders, it would make 34 columns of people from Earth to the moon. Each person needs natural resources and a healthy environment to live. Scientists estimate that the yearly supply of natural resources was used up by August in 2019. The human pyramid scheme does not seem to concern politicians and leaders because exponential reproduction beyond sustainability creates more supply-side economic demands and stimulates the economy.

We can hope that those sexually active will use reproductive constraints during this crisis. Most likely, many will not be able to afford more children in an economic downturn and increased debt.

JERRY DAVIS Hot Springs