[DeepSix]

Interesting read. Every ecosystem has a maximum sustainable level - once you go past that, it crashes. There is a general "die off" (if I can put it that way) until the ecosystem recovers enough to begin supporting a population again. Then the process repeats.

I agree, more or less, with what you said about the living standard; to be more specific and to give an example, I have long wanted this country to wake up to the profligate use of fossil fuels, especially oil. There is not, IMO, enough being put into making the so-called "smart fuel" vehicles.

On the other hand, some Western standards are worth keeping, I think. I wouldn't want to guarantee the survivability of all mankind by reducing everyone to a state of starving poverty, in other words. But on the whole, I tend to agree - we're definitely overtaxing earth's resources.