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AIBU?

To think, without upsetting anybody, we are massively overpopulated on this tiny Island??? What sensible non punitive solutions are there??

628 replies

PasstheBucket89 · 08/08/2020 21:29

Its pretty relevant with all the talk about migrant boats, priti patel saying she will make the passage unviable etc she has done some awful things, it makes my blood run cold tbh i doubt she cares about the safety of them in that boats. But, what di we do, and when suggestions are made its often motivated by hate not quality of life issues. And yes, the ageing massively adds to the overpopulation aswell, but what should we do? reasonably? this tiny Island is massively overpopulated, it doesn't benefit anyone to be crammed in like sardines like this, massively effects access to housing, healthcare, education etc, What should the gov do, not adding to the hostile environment??.

OP posts:
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PasstheBucket89 · 08/08/2020 21:30

sorry a few typos, the ageing population it should say.

OP posts:
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AntiHop · 08/08/2020 21:32

But we're not over populated. Some cities are overcrowded yes, but overall we have a huge amount of unused space.

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MeredithJim · 08/08/2020 21:34

You do know that’s only 12% of Britain is built on. We’re no where near overpopulated

fullfact.org/economy/has-92-country-not-been-built/

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Keepithidden · 08/08/2020 21:34

We live in a relatively low tax country, barely 10% of the country is built on. We aren't over populated, we just don't pay enough taxes for basic infrastructure healthcare and education. Also we consume far too much, so the resources available are stretched.

Over population in my opinion is a con and is being used as another tool to distract the population from the underlying problems.

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GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 08/08/2020 21:34

I have admit I don’t really understand why they do it. Understandable when they are true refugees, there are usually closer ‘safe’ places so I don’t understand the danger they risk trying to get here. Is it that appealing here?

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Brefugee · 08/08/2020 21:34

Kill everyone off when they get to pensionable age and invest the savings in electric cars for all

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AntiHop · 08/08/2020 21:35

The problem is not lack of space, but the unfair distribution of wealth. There's a small amount of people who are extremely rich. Far too many people struggling give get by, and over stretched public services. If the rich fairly paid their taxes, this would not be so much of a problem.

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Frenchfancy · 08/08/2020 21:35

Great Britain is not a tiny island. It is the 9th biggest island in the world.

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EugenesAxe · 08/08/2020 21:35

We are overpopulated. I have no solution but far from restricting people coming in I occasionally wish there was a nice way to gun down or wipe out all the cunts that litter/ vandalise/ commit arson.

Sorry. I’m just noticing it a lot more during lockdown. It's so antisocial to me that it’s made me extremely anti their society.

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OhhhPeee · 08/08/2020 21:36

The birth rate is falling and we will be entirely dependent on migration within 100 years.
www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/health-53409521

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SandieCheeks · 08/08/2020 21:36

No, we aren't overpopulated - but we do have hugely unequal wealth distribution.

We have more than enough for everyone, but a very small percentage of people hoard far more in resources than they could ever need.

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SonEtLumiere · 08/08/2020 21:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NiceGerbil · 08/08/2020 21:38

Agree with the points above re tax v infrastructure investment, amount of land built on etc etc

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Frenchfancy · 08/08/2020 21:38

It is also not that over populated. Belgium, the Netherlands and Sri Lanka are all more densely populated.

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GrolliffetheDragon · 08/08/2020 21:39

Over population globally is a problem, but it's not so much about space as resources used - go look on Google Earth at the UK and see how much of the UK is built on.

We also have a birth rate below replacement level, so we kind of already are dealing with over-population - though that means we need immigration/tech solutions to manage care of the elderly etc. Now, if we could just deal with the resources issues...

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Talklessmilemore · 08/08/2020 21:39

Overpopulation doesn’t just refer to actual proportion of land built on. How easy is it to get your children in a good school locally, get a GP appointment, get seen in an emergency and the like? Or travel somewhere without being stuck in traffic or on the train crammed in. Access to facilities travel and healthcare etc is just as important. In that sense we are definitely getting closer to capacity. It’s irrelevant that someone could build thousands of houses on open space if there are none of these other things that can absorb the extra population.

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Branleuse · 08/08/2020 21:40

Its not overpopulated outside of London and maybe a few other big cities.

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wagtailred · 08/08/2020 21:41

Well france is massive. Perhaps we could rent a section of france and run it as part of the uk and then the migrants wouldnt have to risk their lives in boats.
I also agree the issue with the uk us that its so london centric it feels crowded as we put everything in one place.

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weepingwillow22 · 08/08/2020 21:41

The key issue facing this country in the next 40 or so years is our ageing population not over population. We need to encourage immigration of younger skilled people not discourage it.

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InsaneInTheViralMembrane · 08/08/2020 21:41

Let covid run its course! 😉

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imissthesouth · 08/08/2020 21:42

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Prig · 08/08/2020 21:42

We have got used to the cramped life here, and I agree with you. Roads during peak lockdown resembled the traffic in the 1950's. Now we're squeezed into file with so many others and space is a massive issue. Houses will begin to be built on green belt land. We have free space but our infrastructure is buckled. USA has almost 5 times the population of the UK, yet it is 50 times bigger. We are overpopulated. Solution can only be to have less kids.

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GhostCurry · 08/08/2020 21:42

“Overpopulation doesn’t just refer to actual proportion of land built on. How easy is it to get your children in a good school locally, get a GP appointment, get seen in an emergency and the like? Or travel somewhere without being stuck in traffic or on the train crammed in. Access to facilities travel and healthcare etc is just as important. In that sense we are definitely getting closer to capacity. It’s irrelevant that someone could build thousands of houses on open space if there are none of these other things that can absorb the extra population.”

Agree.

Some parts of the UK just don’t function anymore. Having moved abroad I see it now. Life is so much easier when you can carry out everyday tasks in an environment that isn’t stretched beyond capacity in every way.

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Redcups64 · 08/08/2020 21:43

We might not be overpopulated in terms of land, but we are overpopulated in terms of Resources

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Pepperwort · 08/08/2020 21:43

Yep, it's depressing to immediately see the headline tropes trotted about about how we're not overpopulated because not everywhere is concrete.

Those statistics are utterly meaningless.

I can cram - what's the world record?? I'll go check in a minute - however many it is into a mini. Does that mean they are all going to survive there forever?

We need a more realistic look at how many people there are here, the food security situation, and the economics of it all. The food security situation is going to be critical post-Brexit, now that we've lost our secure allies in the EU.

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