The Upside of the Minority Population Growth

Here's what we know about minorities in America: their names are too hard to pronounce, they're responsible for bringing in the Swine flu -- as devastating as that was -- and they single-handedly caused the financial meltdown.

But here's the upside to minority population growth: America is the only western industrialized nation with a fertility rate above the 2.2 percent replacement rate. That means we have a healthy, growing pool among laborer and consumers. People to make stuff and people to buy the stuff being made, which is key for both short-term economic recovery and long term economic health.

And also in that regard minorities, who traditionally lag in home ownership, will also fill the "home ownership gap" left between sellers and buyers as boomers continue to age and downsize. Also, as minorities are typically steered into higher priced loans, they will inadvertently and disproportionately help prop up the banking system.

The minority population is also younger than the national median age by about ten years -- 27.7 years of age as compared to 36.8 years -- which means minorities will be shouldering social security and medicare as more and more of the current majority check out and cash in.

But here's the bad news, 'cause there's always nasty weather ready to rain on our Juneteenth Day: stricter immigration laws and the lousy economy are slowing minority growth among Hispanics and Asians, the two fastest growing minority groups. And blacks aren't really pulling our weight. Despite the stereotypes, we're apparently procreating at a modest 1.3 percent rate.

Not only is the slowing minority population growth putting our nation at risk, it's also delaying the "tipping point" at which minority and majority will reverse. The Census Bureau had previously projected that white children would become the minority in 2023 and the white population as a whole would do the same in roughly 2042.

Well, now you can add at least ten years to that date. Which means the champagne will have to stay on ice a little longer, and I'm going to have to load up on HGH so I'll be able to party like it's 2052!

More important than my party plans for the next 40+ years, all the previous is worth keeping in mind the next time someone starts bitching too loudly about immigration reform and how we're going to kick out 12 million of "those people." It is essentially the minority population growth that is keeping this country afloat.

You're welcome.

For more perspective please visit That Minority Thing.com

Comments

[noudidnt]

Thanks for the tongue-in-cheek article John.

[rigveda]

Whenever I read these race-based articles and their comments sections on the HuFpo, I get really depressed. I am a liberal, but it is embarassing to read some of the hatefilled opinions that some of fellow liberals spew. Really fills me with disgust for my fellow man, no matter what color they are.

[andhakari]

ALL population growth is bad. There are nearly 7 billion people on this planet, and every environmental problem is directly tied to that unfortunate fact.
I don't care what color people are, but there are TOO many of us.

[Ohioan730]

Not to "belabor the point" LOL, but it will be a happy, happy day when people realized how artificial the concept of race is.

Latinos will realize they are white, black and Native American just like me, the only difference being the white part is English instead of Spanish.

Blacks will one day realize that they ARE "whitey". LOL! Take a DNA test and find out you're 35% European and call the next white person you see "cousin" because they probably are.

Plenty of white people will find out through DNA testing that one of their ancestors was a "passer" and part of them arrived here a long time ago on the Henrietta Marie from West Africa.

When this DNA testing thing becomes more commonplace, I'm gonna be LMAAAOOOO @ people when they find out what they hat ed all their lives is what they are. Like Dave Chappell's Clarence Bigsby--the black, blind K K K member who believed he was white because nobody ever told him otherwise.

[PATina]

While I agree w/ you that race is a false construct.­.. racism is real and has done far too much damage to be "healed" by a simple DNA test.

I'm sorry for sounding "racist"..­. but white people can't "construct" something for their benefit... and then when those benefits are about to run out... want everybody to "just get a long". The trauma is too great for a whole lot of folks. It will take a lot more to deal with and the burden will not bet on the Hispanics and Blacks you cite... but on White people who started this mess.

[LeighAnnes]

Great blog! I'm white but I'm also waiting for whites to become the minority. It will be a good thing. However, I turn 49 this year. I might not live to see it. :(

[SammyD]

John, you've been waiting so long for the perceived positive of your wish. Ironically and unfortunately for you, by then the U.S. will be a 2nd or 3rd tier country. Enjoy your celebration and the challenges comin' your way.

[peace4tomorrow]

I look forward to the day when whites are magenalized, to the point where they have little influence over what goes on in this country. Only when will institutionalized racism finally come to an end. Maybe when whites are finally powerless they'll come to understand the living hell that black and brown people go through everyday in this country.

[conserv47]

DOWN WITH WHITEY!!!!

Hes the reason we live in a free country. Hes the reason we were bought from our African brothers. Hes the reason that we have the opportunity to become the best that we can be. Hes the reason....­blah, blah, blah,

Maybe one day you were understand that we are ALL of the HUMAN race. Well one can always HOPE.!!

[ckone]

The best thing is that in the near future whitey will be in the minority. But will he be able to then play idenity politics? Play the white race card? Yell police brutality? mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

[proudem]

"minoritie­s....singl­e handedly caused the financial meltdown." Really? Really? I stand corrected. I thought it was a lack of regulation, magic numbers from the financial industry, greed and a lack of oversight that created the financial meltdown. Who knew that it was actually minorities that brought this country to its financial knees? Wow!

[somefool]

I thought Ridley was writing tounge-in-cheek at the quoted lines.

[hereitis]

ya, proudem, pretty sure he was being sarcastic there.

[karela]

Blaming the melt down on minorities was a far right wing talking point--well, make that shouting point--several weeks ago. I guess you don't listen to Fox News either huh?

[PATina]

How did you miss all the blame that was thrown on minority homeowners for causing the financial crisis by buying houses they couldn't afford???

[Ohioan730]

The most important thing to note about the majority race population shift that is upon us is that integration, immigration, and equal rights made some of it possible. It has shifted the mindset of the mainstream culture and we are less afraid of "others" than our parents were. Its natural.

Another thing to note is people have been mixing in this country for centuries. Most AAs are some form of a white male/black female historical union (ala Jefferson-Hemmings) and I suspect that there are more than a few white people who's ancestors aren't recent immigrants, might take a DNA test and find out they have AA blood as well. Its been known to happen.

Race is a line that people draw in the air and it doesn't really exist. . White and black people (especially) who have been here for hundreds of years in America are actually blood relatives and distant family. I just found my white distant relative--a family historian who wrote a book about our family. We have a common ancestor that arrived from England in the 1600s, for example. I still have the original surname.

[LeighAnnes]

Great post! Remember that it turns out the Dick Cheney and President Obama are 8th cousins? President Obama said on a television show during the campaign that he would prefer not to be invited to any family hunting parties.

[jsanti7]

Interesting thread but it is so on the mark if you want to DISTRACT from the most important issue to any one in America . How are we to survive as a country if we do not speak loudly about the pyramid scheme crony capitalism has imposed on the American people ? and those who actually produce something . the monopoly pyramid has sucked up all the money to the top and is now redistributing tax dollars to the rich in a unprecedented and color blind way ...so this article does no service unless we talk about better education and a shift in protecting the American way from exploitation from the most powerful, to big to fail is a failure in regulation. and to big to fail is too big to exist amoungst other issues that will make this country viable and healthy.On­e thing I learned in the Military ...Take care of your people or they may just take care of you! So stay informed and vote in the people who understand they work for all the people

[greyhound2]

There are legal immigrants and illegal immigrants. Legal immigrants have respect for our laws and play by the rules. Illegal immigrants have no respect for our laws and do not play by the rules. The first group is welcome. The second group is not.

[ADVOCATE4ZPG]

....especi­ally and certainly if they are Somalis, who have been unable to organize themselves as anything but a maelstrom of tribal/internecine conflicts for decades--and, perhaps, centuries before "colonialism" imposed a modicum of order....

[JGC1010]

Huh?

[msully]

Your article might have been more readable if you didn't hide your point behind a wall of strawmen.

[conserv47]

"they're responsible for bringing in the Swine flu"

REALLY?!?! I must have missed that one on Fox News.

"they single-handedly caused the financial meltdown."

I have yet to see a SINGLE Newscaster make this assertion on Fox News or the MSM. Either directly or indirectly most news shows have been blaming the PREDATORY lending practices of the lenders and the LACK of vision to anticipate a downturn in home prices as the principal cause of the economic meltdown. Not once have I seen ANYONE mention ANYTHING about minorities.

[stormynite03]

you somehow MISSED all of the coverage saying that illegal mexican immigrants brought the swine flu, even as a ter..roris­t tactic? even though it was shown that kids coming back from spring break brought it to the US. where have you been?

[conserv47]

Like I said, I prolly missed that point somewhere in the news coverage but I do not watch ALL news.

For clarification, it is NOT my opinion that minorites were responsible for the spreading on the H1N1 virus. But it is my contention that if we had GOOD border policies, the spread of this virus might not have been so widespread here. Much like Ellis Island in NY was used for incoming immigrants or returning Americans. In fact it was shown that illegal immigrant DID contribute to the spread of the virus.

[Ohioan730]

Surely, you jest.

[somefool]

I don't Ridley is saying all conservatives think in this manner, but that certainly neither are these beliefs rare. I saw all of these sentiments at least implied by various right wing outlets at some point.

[PATina]

Not once have I seen ANYONE mention ANYTHING about minorities.

Then you must have had your eyes shut for a really long time.

Seriously.­.. you don't remember that this crisis was brought on by MINORITIES buying houses they couldn't afford??

[conserv47]

"Well, now you can add at least ten years to that date. Which means the champagne will have to stay on ice a little longer, and I'm going to have to load up on HGH so I'll be able to party like it's 2052!"

DOWN WITH THE WHITE MAN!!!

Forget the fact that many WHITE people have died and fought on EQUALITY for ALL Americans regardless of race, creed, or color. I am not some sort of white supremist or anything BUT I do find it offensive that a population SO concerned about equality would belittle an entire population in this manner.

Conservatives are NOT against immigrants coming to America for a better life. Conservatives are against people entering the Country ILLEGALLY thus leading to drug smuggling, gun running and a host of other crimes. What has ILLEGAL immigration done for California???? Taken jobs from Americans who NOW need those jobs in order to provide for their families. Put undue pressure on their health care system since most illegals simply go to emergency room for treatment thus by giving FALSE info on their enrollments papers not having to PAY for treatment leaving the hospitals to cover the costs. This scenario forces the hospital to RAISE the rates on the rest who can pay. This is driving up health care cost more than any other factor.

[EmeraldWorld]

"Forget the fact that many WHITE people have died and fought on EQUALITY for ALL Americans regardless of race, creed, or color. "

Don't make me laugh.