I'm writing an article on Malthusianism; that is, a cute phrase for overpopultion theory and the various racist and classist ideologies that have underpinned it historically, Thomas Malthus being the biggest case in point(and sworn enemy of his contemporary Marx). The overpopulation meme seems to be every random jerk's way of neatly wrapping up every social or political discussion in a nice little misanthropic package that hand-waves all structural problems and attributes everything to there just being "too many people, man". I'm trying to show concisely and in a readable way how wrong the assumption is that overpopulation is just "reality" and arguments based around it are purely scientific and transcend ideology; that in fact it's a part of one of the most pernicious ideologies ever spawned. Anyone have any good thoughts, rebuttals?

@Joe Hill In Heaven Sippin' Shine
Overpopulation is an interesting topic for all sides of politics because it is not a direct consequence of capitalism or profit. To say that it cannot or will never pose a problem is incorrect. However, there is a specific way the argument is framed by the ruling ideology. Many economists (thinking Fukuyama here) believe that free market capitalism is the final or most advanced stage of human society. They are not introspective of this point, as they seem to never fully criticise the pursuit of profit in terms of its negative effects on society, because 'it's just better than any alternative...it doesn't matter if it has negative aspects...it's not perfect but it's the best we have' etc etc. The first stage of framing a rebuttal is to questions this assumption and start focusing on these negative effects, as well as challenging their 'whig history' and linear view that we have reached an evolutionary peak in human society.
So, what negative effects exactly? Well, look at any social justice issue and it will almost certainly follow as a result the pursuit of profit at the expense of everything else. Environmental, education, health, infrastructure etc etc. "A rising tide lifts all boats." Wrong.
I would not so much focus on what capitalism actively does that hurts people (imperialism, alienation), but more just bring into questions it's assumption of superiority by focusing on the negative by-products.
Now we can get onto Malthusian economics and overpopulation: what is the significance of population on the capitalist system? Well, it is surrounded on labour and, more recently, consumption. Ask: why do economists even care about population? Answer: it effects profit. Do they really care how population effects the conditions of the population? Nope. Again, I emphasise the focus on the negatives.

And so the conclusion: concerns about overpopulation are a side show to the ruling ideology. Why is it even bad to them? Altruistic concerns about the destabilising effects and threats to peace are nothing but lip service and marketing opportunities to open new markets. They are also setting up to shift the blame when the shit hits the fan, from the profit system to another bogeyman to keep their motives hidden. Their whole argument is theatre. They are not even in a position to care in the first instance because altruism and collective concerns are beyond them, "in the past and antiquated approach", they would say.

Final point: societies with advanced capitalists systems have a declining population, the opposite of overpopulation. Do they seek to argue capitalism as a solution and saviour to more populous nations? What a sham. These advanced societies in the West and East Asian (Japan, South Korea etc.) are cannibalising their own population with the slogans, 'choose a career or a family, you cannot do both', or 'just consume and be a child forever, no one needs pesky responsibilities like children'. They do not want to have to 'pay for' and raise the next generation, that would hurt their profits! The response from governments to fill the gap in labour is immigration. Thus the Malthusian argument gets new vigour, as the ideologues pretend to have a solution for all nations. But indeed, without an objective measure, what is the definition of 'under population' or 'over population'. In this economic only frame, they are arbitrary categories according to the 'needs' of the ruling classes. The pursuit of capital has no solution to the population problem, even if it exists. Again, it is posturing and opportunism.

In response, maybe the free market advocates will say: if absolutely necessary, when immigration is no longer feasible, large corporations will have incentive to provide a population stimulus and 'pay' for employees to create new workers (slaves) for them. But they will only do this if there is no other choice, and still, like immigration, it is a stop-gap measure. Capitalists can only be proactive about profits, everything else is reactionary and suffers as a result. You have to make the argument that private ownership and control of by the few is the 'best possible solution'. It clearly isn't, especially not in this case. And this is where the critique of Marxism comes in.

Q: What does opportunism mean in the Marxist context?

why are u spamming? Oh, you are a retarded.

Just block him

This is hilariously cringey.

I think you'll find it is actually Autism.

@Deleted User 'Q: What does opportunism mean in the Marxist context?' opportunism is basically any subtle distortion from the correct path. http://www.iccr.gr/en/news/Some-characteristics-of-opportunism-in-America/

There is also revisionism. Revisionism is doing the same but openly.

Revisionism <:BlobHyperThink:317088659331481600>

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPm0NKcBZcY

Mmmmm. I imagine her having a beautiful black baby growing inside her right this moment

The baby would obviously be aborted.

Can't have her fans and family getting wise to what's up.

Cant be a minority if they're all killed

Wtf theres no stalin emojis?

Stalin pointing at his head

🤔

Ooooooh

Oooooooh

Ooooooooh

so whats up whith you guys?

HAHAHA COMMIES ARE FUCKING BRAINWASHED

HOW DUMBED DOWN DO YOU HAVE TO BE TO BECOME COMMUNIST?

🤔

This lecture series has been good to watch. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tFW6EjxP2K8

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/hegel-dialectics/

Communism and Catholicism is not compatible.
https://w2.vatican.va/content/pius-xi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xi_enc_19370319_divini-redemptoris.html

Marx’s objection to empiricism rests upon this: that its attention is directed exclusively to the source of knowledge, but not the form of that knowledge. For economic theory, Marx considered it vital to examine economic forms and why political economy ignored this matter. https://www.marxists.org/archive/pilling/works/capital/pilling2.htm

sad!

Hello.

asdf

We are safe here, comrades.

@Martin @Deleted User come

Your non-arguments have no power here.

LMAOO

@Deleted User !!! KURWA