[markbila]

I don't entirely disagree with you all but I don't think it's so simple. Human evolution creates and is driven by our modification of ecological factors affecting carrying capacity (eg the Green Revolution). Increased local carrying capacity creates opportunity for higher population and higher cultural density. Science and innovation are to some extent a function of cultural density and in turn drive further advances in ecological techs. Because carrying capacity of human ecologies is modified by technology it doesn't necessarily get 'spent' at a fixed rate (or at all) relative to population growth. By the same token, bad stewardship can decrease net carrying capacity even if population also decreases, so just getting rid of people won't solve our problems. Does any of this make sense?