In the article, Raymond J. de Souza argues that Paul Ehrlich, who passed away at 93, propagated harmful ideas about overpopulation through his influential 1968 book 'The Population Bomb.' Although Ehrlich himself was not depicted as a wicked person, de Souza posits that his flawed understanding of human suffering and overpopulation led to misguided policies that worsened the conditions he aimed to address.

De Souza emphasizes that Ehrlich's prescriptions for solving overpopulation were based on misconceptions that ignored the underlying causes of societal issues. He contends that the panic over overpopulation and the drastic measures suggested by Ehrlich did more harm than the problems they intended to solve. The author expresses concern over how such influential thinkers can impact generations, creating policies that perpetuate suffering rather than alleviate it.

Ultimately, the article highlights the ongoing consequences of adhering to erroneous ideas and the importance of critical evaluation in public discourse. De Souza's critique serves as a cautionary tale about the influence of 'wicked ideas' and their capacity to misguide well-meaning efforts, stressing the need for a more nuanced understanding of population issues.