The Viral Epiphany by Richard McSheehy

Asian countries, “make up a very large population center as well, perhaps three quarters of a billion people in total, and it too is growing extremely rapidly. Along with India, this part of the world is experiencing truly explosive growth. It currently has three quarters of the world’s population.”   He turned and looked directly at the audience but saw only blank faces.   This was not exactly new information for most of them.
    “Gentlemen,” he said, almost in a whisper, “that is the problem. The population growth is out of control.”
    Jim Burton momentarily put his hand over his eyes, Oh, no, he thought, not this again.
    “We have all agreed in the past, at least in principle, that one of the greatest dangers to the world’s population is the population of the world itself. Correct?” he looked for confirmation from the group and several of them nodded.
    “Recent computer projections clearly show that this area of the world has entered an even more unstable growth pattern than in the past.   Projections are for an exponential increase in the number of babies born in the next several years, no doubt due to the failure of the people to use birth control methods, either because of religious objections or just because they interfere with their own personal pleasure or some such thing. The attempts by these countries to control their population growth by means of birth control has been a failure despite their governments’ propaganda to the contrary.”
    Jim had heard similar discussions before and couldn’t see why this was being brought up now.
    “Gentlemen, the numbers don’t lie.    With population numbers in Asia reaching into the billions, they will soon leap to the tens of billions and the lives of everyone worldwide, including us, will be altered, inevitably, for the worse.   We simply cannot allow this to happen.   That is why we have, reluctantly and certainly only out of the direst necessity, decided to activate at the earliest opportunity a very secret but necessary population-culling program.” He looked at the audience for comments then quickly added, “I must emphasize that this is truly only for the overall good of people everywhere.”  
    Jim looked around the table but everyone was looking downward and no one met his glance. “Culling?” Jim asked, “Did you say culling?   I never heard of any such program.   What are you talking about?”
                Dr. Goodfellow looked at the others and then at Jim. He gave him an indulgent smile. “No, Jim, of course you haven’t heard about it. You’ve been out in the field and you haven’t been able to attend some of our prior meetings.   Culling is not a word we use publicly.   Perhaps it’s not a very accurate description of the idea anyway. Usually the concept is simply referred to as risk and financial prioritization.   After all, we are budget limited and we really can’t do everything we might like to do.”
                “I still don’t get it.” Jim replied, “What do you mean by culling?”
                “Of course.” Dr. Goodfellow said gently. “Let me explain.   In the natural world all species are subject to various threats, either from environmental changes, predators, disease, famine, you name it.   In some cases the population of some animal, or even plant groups, drops by ninety percent or more when these natural disasters are encountered.   It happens all the time. Some species even become extinct.”
                Jim nodded but said nothing.
                “In general these phenomena cull out the weakest members of the group and only the strongest members survive.   In the long run it is a necessary and natural process that strengthens the remaining members of the group and actually helps them to survive.”
                “OK,” Jim said, “I’ve heard that many times in the past.   It’s certainly not new.   It’s called