Preview of the first 4 pages of ‘Concrete: The Human Dilemma’
The first issue of ‘Concrete: The Human Dilemma’ throws out an idea thats a new one on me. In the story, a businessman wants to hire Concrete as a spokesman for his foundation. Here’s what he says about it to Concrete:
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SAGEMAN: Its mission is to stem the population explosion. That’s a cause I know you’ve embraced in the past. We provide contraceptives and education to women in poor countries – the conventional stuff of which there’s never enough.
SAGEMAN (cont.): But I want to make an impact in this country, too, where each child has a sevenfold impact on consumption. I want to change norms. I want childlessness to become acceptable, even chic.
SAGEMAN (cont.): The foundation will pay young couples to choose education, careers, and good works over childbearing. To receive the entirety of payments, they must be sterilized, graduate from college, and even agree never to adopt.
CONCRETE: Huh!
SAGEMAN: Yes. We’re not dancing in the posies here. The point is, a meaningful and fulfilling life can be made in defiance of the human drive to perpetuae one’s genotype. They’ll be role models. I hope to start a trend.
——
Interesting stuff.
Are we still worried about overpopulation? I didn’t think that was such a problem. If I recall correctly, in developed nations reproduction is currently below replacement level (which is two children for each person). This is why we’ve got an aging population in most developed countries. The problem isn’t overpopulation, but resource management, at least as far as I’m aware.
That said, I think there’s a lot of merit (from an ecological point of view) in limiting human population. Finding ways and means for this that do not injure our collective humanity isn’t easy, though.
The most fascinating thing about this proposal is the way it’s framing its action in terms of a culture hijacking. Sageman hopes to make sterility cool.
I have a bunch more ideas loosely connected to the issues raised here. But I’m not gonna write about them now. Instead I’m going to say: buy this comic. It’s six monthly issues, the first one is out now, and it’s going to be all good.
Not sold? Okay: there’s also boobies. And a three-legged dog. Now go to your local comics shop and buy it.