"Voluntary limitation of families is only possible if the old do not need to rely on thier families to support them. Since voluntary saving for retirement is not always possible and even then not always effective (in times of capitalist meltdown) it follows that the community (in larger terms, the state) must provide, which in turn necessitates a state graduated pension (come back Barbara Castle) and that, in turn, necessitates significant and progressive taxation (and death duties and capital gains taxes)."

Ummm, guys, let's not forget that where there are fewer people, there are fewer taxpayers. Therefore the government of any country has no real incentive to control the general population (except perhaps for the lowest classes), nor to encourage people to depend on the government for a state graduated pension rather than on the support of their descendants in their senior years.

I agree that global overpopulation is the problem from which most of our current social/economic/environmental problems extend. But don't depend on "the government" to fix it. My thoughts: There needs to be a global shift in religious attitude away from going forth and multiplying, and TOWARD replenishing the Earth by being stewards of our natural environment. THAT will require a concentrated, sooperative effort by ALL major and minor religions to preach that -- hello -- we have long since fulfilled the commandment to multiply, and we are now "sinning" by destroying what "God" has "created" (whatever "God" is considered to be by any of those religions).

Good luck with THAT idea, right? What religion is going to preach that, when having fewer people ALSO means fewer converts and fewer $$$ in the offering basket? Greed is the sin that is turning out to be the deadliest for Mother Earth.