The main thesis of Garrett Hardin's argument is that rich nations should not help poor nations. He is concerned that help from rich nations to poor nations will have disastrous effects.
    In an effort to apply libertarian principles to the international arena, Hardin contends that help from rich nations will reinforce poor planning by poor countries and provide non-sustainable supplies of food. Food supplied from outside the poor countries will lead to increased population.
    Poor planning, Hardin holds, will result in famine and disease.
Increased population and widespread famine and disease, in turn, will lead to
food shortages for everyone--wealthy as well as poor nations. Food shortages will lead to widespread war, and widespread war in a nuclear era will result in complete annihilation.