America Alone

[August1991]

And what does Steyn think is wrong in the world? Steyn hates liberalism, secularism, femisnism, socialism...all the things that the radical Muslims hate. Slap a turban on him and he'd be indistinguishable from Osama bin Laden.

I've been reading Steyn regularly for about 7 or 8 years now. I discovered him from the NP. I even bought one of his books.

I have never seen make a comment about removing gay rights. At most, he has merely noted that gay rights are not a priority compared to other issues.

If I had to classify him, Steyn is more of a (social liberal) libertarian, living in NH and all. He's not a moralist but then not a moral relativist either. When he defends the "anglosphere", he's always quick to say that it's because its tradtions work.

He is against big government and big religion.

And Steyn's reading of demography is as accurate as his readings of pig entrails or tea leaves. If I want a treatise on demography, I'll talk to an expert. If I want to read about musical theatre, I'll call the high-school drop out Steyn.

I tend to agree. In Quebec, demography is an old obsession for historical reasons. Steyn seems to have discovered demography recently and like many new converts, he seems to think that he understands it and that he can use it to explain all kinds of things. Demography is like that.

In fairness though, Steyn has backed away from the demography argument and he also uses the "unsustainable social welfare state" argument.

I find it ironic that the Right sees Islamism as the threat to Western Civilization whereas the Left sees Climate Change as the threat to Western Civilization. In either case, there is a sense that somehow Western Civilization will not survive. Curiously, both sides seem to see the real danger as coming from within Western Civilization. "We lack the will to deal with the threat."

That's the great thing about clown cars. They look small, but man, do they hold a lot of clowns.

Giggle.

[ScottSA]

And Steyn's reading of demography is as accurate as his readings of pig entrails or tea leaves. If I want a treatise on demography, I'll talk to an expert. If I want to read about musical theatre, I'll call the high-school drop out Steyn.

Ok, I'll bite on this snippy little exercize in lightweight snideness and ad hominem. Explain to me what precisely is wrong with his demographic projections for Europe. What, for instance, is your disagreement with the numbers or experts he cites? If you have read the book, you'll know that Steyn doesn't even attempt to put his own numbers forth...he cites "experts". Not that this is brain surgery or anything...when replacement value of a given population segment is in decline while another segment is in ascendancy AND the immigration floodgates are open, almost exclusively feeding the latter segment, only the most turgidly dense among us would argue against the hardly startling conclusion that the latter segment will sooner or later outnumber the former. Since you have chosen to be among that group, please feel free to explain, all ad hominem aside, what in particular you see as faulty in the book. You haven't even read the book, have you?

[White Doors]

You haven't even read the book, have you?

No, he admitted that he had not.

[Black Dog]

Ok, I'll bite on this snippy little exercize in lightweight snideness and ad hominem.

You know for someone who whines and whines and whines about ad hominems, strawmen, yadda yadda yadda, you've shown absolutely no compuction about using personal attacks or ignoring arguments to make pissy little jabs. If you're going to retire to the fainting couch every five minutes, at least have the guts to live up to your own allegedly lofty standards. It's bad enough you're a blowhard without being a hypocritical blowhard. Honestly.

Explain to me what precisely is wrong with his demographic projections for Europe.

The same problem I have with any "demographics is destiny" argument: demographics is a notoriously inexact science. I have never once seen Steyn reference the phenomenon of shrinking immigrant birth rates (if you compare immigrant birth rates in Europe with those of their country of origin they are always lower). Nor does he mention fertility rates are in decline just about everywhere.

Not that this is brain surgery or anything...when replacement value of a given population segment is in decline while another segment is in ascendancy AND the immigration floodgates are open, almost exclusively feeding the latter segment, only the most turgidly dense among us would argue against the hardly startling conclusion that the latter segment will sooner or later outnumber the former.

And of course, only the ignorant would assume that those factors would remain static for any significant period of time. A slight alteration-a decrease in birth rates among immigrants or a decrease in immigration levels- and poof! The whole theory goes off the rails.

[Black Dog]

Demographic doomsayers take note: here's something you can really soil your Underroos over.

China: 30 million men face bleak future as singles

BEIJING, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- A report released here Thursday said there will be 30 million more males of marriageable age in China than females by the year 2020, which will make it difficult for men to find wives.

The report, issued by the State Population and Family Planning Commission, said China's sex ratio for newborn babies in 2005 was 118 boys to 100 girls, compared with 110:100 in 2000. In some regions, the sex ratio has reached 130:100.

[ScottSA]

And of course, only the ignorant would assume that those factors would remain static for any significant period of time. A slight alteration-a decrease in birth rates among immigrants or a decrease in immigration levels- and poof! The whole theory goes off the rails.

Bingo. The penny has dropped. Could it be that Steyn is suggesting that immigration be limited? If you had actually read the book before barging into the discussion, you'd know that's precisely what he is trying to do.