Rick Springfield, the iconic rock star known for his 1980s hit ‘Jessie’s Girl,’ joined Bill Maher’s podcast to weigh in on the ongoing debate about population growth. During their conversation on Maher’s ‘Club Random’ podcast, both artists expressed their views on the issue, with Springfield stating that the world doesn’t need more children and Maher agreeing with his perspective.
Springfield’s comments were particularly striking, as he suggested that even with his son recently becoming a father, the world’s population is already too high. ‘I think we have way too many,’ he said, indicating that he views the current state of global demographics as already unsustainable. Maher supported this sentiment, emphasizing the environmental strain caused by an increasing population.
The discussion took place in the context of the United States’ birth rate reaching a historic low, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According to the CDC, the birth rate in America has declined significantly, with a 3% drop since 2022. Since 2014, the rate has been on a steady decline, with only a small uptick observed between 2020 and 2021.
Experts have suggested that this declining birth rate is being influenced by the changing priorities of young Americans. With a greater focus on career advancement and personal fulfillment, many are choosing to delay or forgo having children altogether. This shift in priorities is contributing to the overall drop in birth rates across the country.
As part of the conversation, Maher highlighted the growing movement that advocates for more babies, citing influential figures such as Elon Musk as proponents of increased population. However, both Springfield and Maher dismissed this perspective, arguing that the Earth is already struggling with the burden of its current population.
These discussions have sparked broader conversations about the implications of overpopulation, environmental sustainability, and the future of human demographics. With the U.S. birth rate at its lowest point in history, the debate over whether the world should have more babies continues to gain traction in public discourse.