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The Midwest Cattleman · March 9, 2023 · P4
year ago. They are
me what year he was born – about to get even
more serious and
we’re quite a pair. It turns complicated. One
out that he will be the age I way to look at it is
am today… just over 100 years that we have been
after the year that I graduated living in a bub-
from high school. I’m still try- ble and change is
ing to let that ‘sink in’. coming – it always
Change does.
During most of my life, we Grandsons and
have been told that we should Granddaughters
be concerned about two major All of this
world powers – Russia and may sound a bit
I wonder what kind of world China. Before that it was gloomy, but for Working-age adults in China’s population are quickly aging.
The yellow indicates China’s initial over-reporting. That country’s
my grandsons will live in when China and the Soviet Union, those who pro- ‘one child policy’, it turns out, was not so genius after all.
but something changed. I re-
they get to be my age. This duce food there
world is sure changing every member when two presidential is a bright future
candidates and one incompe-
day. Last week, Korvin (the for grandsons and
youngest) and I were doing tent moderator couldn’t agree granddaughters
what nation was the greatest
some math. He is pretty good in some parts of
at math, so I was giving him threat to our national securi- the globe. My chil-
ty. Why is that? Because, from
some things to think about as dren and yours are
we drove to town. I wanted to time to time, it changes. Could blessed to be born
it be that today there is anoth-
get him to think about the fu- in a very fortunate
ture and what it might be like er threat that is about to over- part of it. That’s
come these nations and may
for his generation in America. not the case for
I asked him what year it will soon be at our door as well? most. The real The U. S. demographic by 2025. When I showed this chart to my
granddaughter – particularly the over 100 yr. section, her face lit
Recently, I have been learn-
be when he gets to be the same enemy the next up. “What do you think about that?” I asked. “It’s good to be a
age I am today. I don’t think ing more about demographics generation will woman!” She answered.
and, at least according to one
the thought had occurred to face is food and
him that… that might happen person looking at the data, this food input short-
is Russia’s and China’s last
someday. I know it never oc- ages. For much of
curred to me when I was eight. decade. Say that to yourself the world the next
again out loud - slowly. Last
It took us awhile to work major change will
through the problem. decade? Change, it turns out, be actual famine
is the only thing that is con-
First, I had to get my own and starvation.
age right. I just couldn’t come stant in this world that we are Our grandsons’
visitors in. Both of these coun-
right out with it… I had to trading partners
think on it. tries started running out of will be much closer
children thirty years ago and
This is an odd year, and I to home. Mexico’s
haven’t had my birthday yet, today they are beginning to demographics are
run out of working age adults.
so it’s an even number…for among the health- Mexico will be a trading partner for generations – they have the
generations.
now… if you follow me. Then This is not theory – it’s facts – iest in the world,
it’s numbers on a page. And
I sat there in a moment of glee but someone is just going to sing: “I Thought He Walked
– realizing that I was a year to make matters even worse, have to help them purge the on Water”. He loved horses.
China has recently admitted to
younger than I first thought corruption and cartels. He loved dogs. He was a real
myself to be. I know my first over-reporting their population I was blessed to know all cowboy when there were real
numbers. That country’s ‘one
phone number and my first zip of my grandparents and en- cowboys, a man who took the
code (both go back 60 years), child policy’, it turns out, was joyed their attention for three time to write down a few fami-
not so genius after all. Our
but I can’t remember how old decades – the 60’s, the 70’s, ly stories. I still get enjoyment
I am. Korvin hadn’t had his demographics are similar, be- and most of the 80’s. Like from reading them from time
cause we moved to town and
birthday this year yet either my wife’s parents, they came to time. He was a cattleman.
but knew exactly how old he started having smaller families through the Great Depres- If you stop by sometime, I’ll
too, but we are in much better
was. However, he couldn’t tell sion and knew very well what show you his set of old brand-
shape than they are. They sim- hard times were – they lived ing irons. We don’t heat them
ply don’t have enough women it. I even remember some of up ‘red-hot’ anymore. We just
of child-bearing age to birth the my great-grandparents. They hang them up to remind us of a
next generation in numbers to are all completely off the de- different time.
change this trend in any mean- mographics graph now – they I wonder what my youngest
ingful way. The handwriting have gone on to their reward. grandson will be doing in 2077.
is on the wall. Change. Some Those of us who are still on the Will he ride? Will he write?
countries will soon be disap- graph are going to have to live Will he have my old stuff hang-
pearing as we know them, and with one constant, and that’s ing on his wall? Only time will
the current war in Europe is change. tell.
going to accelerate the way this One of my great grandfa-
affects our world today. Fertil- thers, Will Harris, was called KwC
izers, fuel, food, shipping, trade, ‘Pop’ - a handle that I too have To learn more about these and
and trading relationships are now recently become accus- other challenges, search for:
already much more complicat-
1920’s Handmade Branding Irons ed subjects than they were a tomed to. He’s the one I think FARMCON 2023 - Peter Zeihan
Belonging to ‘Pop’ Harris – Summerfield, TX of when I hear Randy Travis
