[adorno]

I seriously believe this planet could handle 50 billion people.

The only thing stopping it would be politics, which is the cause of most famines, etc. today.

Politics is about the policies that people use to get along and to get things done. As such, politics will be with us as long as humans exist. The problem is about "stupid politics", such as socialism and communism and despotism.

However, I'm not too sure about that 50 billion figure of yours. While it might be possible for the world to afford to feed and clothe and house the 50 billion people, it would create a lot more of the politics which ultimately brings about cultural and religious conflicts which bring about wars. I say, let's keep it down to 6 billion or less.

[RobRoy]

Yep. You hit the kernel of why I said politics is the problem.

People do fight over real estate less now. There is more to lose.

It’ll still happen though, from time to time, and it is only a matter of time before there is another “hot” world war.

[Red Boots]

I say, let's keep it down to 6 billion or less.

I say that anyone deciding arbitrarily how many people there should be, then enjoining others to join him in keeping it at that level carries the seeds of a dangerous control freak despot.