The census figures were released, and for the first time ever ( happens every 10 years ) California lost a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.  If New York had only counted 89 more people, they would not have lost one.  Instead, it would have been Minnesota: Both liberals and conservatives seem concerned that the 7.4% growth, the smallest since those Depression years in the 1930's, should be a national concern.  Hawaii grew by 7%.  Many others feel that population growth is the biggest problem today facing humanity , right up there with global warming. Paul Ehrlich released Population Bomb 53 years ago. This all started with Thomas Malthus in 1798. However, last year, like the attitude of some noteworthy Americans today, there was a sense that a world population which did grow fast enough would actually cause problems .  You can still purchase a hardcover  of the original PB from Amazon.com for $124.50. Four years later in 1972 came Limits to Growth , blaming population gr