But like I said, a billion Americans would be nice!
... why? Is it just to compete on a numerical basis with China and India for the title of most populated country?
In a way, yes, then no one could touch our GDP!
But then lot's of people could "touch", and in fact surpass, our standard of living. More to the point, it would be far worse than it currently is.
Not that it isn't the least of their sins in this argument, but people need to stop looking at population and GDP figures as if real life was a game of Civilization and try thinking about it in terms of actual impact on human lives.