In dealing with impoverished countries, Hardin likens the situation to a lifeboat, wherein there are only enough places for so many people and only enough food for that exact same number of people . At first this seems to be a good illustration until closer observation reveals it is only true to a certain extent. And as Cousins (1992) points out, the lifeboat view is actually only a selfish desensitization and no help at all. Cousin also points out that, "Once we discover how easy it is to stare without flinching at famine in Calcutta or Dacca, it should be no trick to be unblinking at disease ridden tenements of Detroit of Harlem." And according to Harden the best way to bring down the birth rate is to let people starve, a sort of self sustaining population control. When you take a closer look at countries with a higher birth and death rate, and compare them with developed countries with both a lower birth and death rate, the obvious difference is quality of life. So, as Cousins pointed out, the best way to lower both birth and death rate is not to let them starve and take care of themselves, but to help them achieve a better quality of life.…
