TECHNOLOGY KEY TO SOLVING PROBLEMS

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, January 7, 1993                   TAG: 9301070435
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short
TECHNOLOGY KEY TO SOLVING PROBLEMS
JAY Hough (letter, Dec. 19) is somewhat shortsighted in identifying "overpopulation" as the source of world problems. In many areas of the world, people are overtaxing their natural resources and coming up short. But population density is not the determining factor in their plight. Given an ever-advancing technology, there is virtually no limit to how far natural resources can be stretched to accommodate more people (or raise their standard of living).
Hough seems to be preoccupied with reducing absolute numbers of people. Even so, he should still recognize the importance of technology. It is in the underdeveloped areas of the world that populations are exploding. In technologically more-advanced societies (such as the United States), reproduction declines to a point where only immigration can sustain a population growth.
He might also observe that technological advancement depends on economic freedom. Individuals must be able to profit directly from their new ideas, such as ways to create more food, energy, etc., using less resources. Otherwise, new ideas are seldom tried. Ultimately, it is the institutions that hamper or replace market forces that cause resources to fall short of human needs.
Hough is right about world leaders having a self-serving, shortsighted approach to things. I don't expect their approach to "overpopulation" will be any exception. ANDREW AKERS SALEM

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB