The last half of the 20th century taught us that our planet cannot sustain the current population explosion in the third world. There is no way to adequately feed, house, and service the projected growth in numbers. And neither can it sustain the ruthless per capita resource extraction of the less populated developed world (with 5% of the world's people the U.S. is responsible for one-third of total fossil fuels burned). Not if there is to be a future for our children. Both sides face rude awakenings.

The concept of a universal middle class needs to be reconsidered. Seven billion people living like 21st century suburban America is not reality. Desire must be tempered by what is possible. Self-interest, even to the point of greed, is an intrinsic human quality and not necessarily bad. It is the driving force behind the recent rise to dominance of free-market societies and their affluence. But history has taught us that self-interest must always be subordinate to the tribe.