Illy,

This thread is indicative of only a small part of my collection of thought on a whole lotta' stuff. If you knew me, you'd understand why many of my compatriots think I'm a Pollyanna optimist.

There are models of sustainability (altho they're a bit simple cuz, after all, this is still a pretty big world). The problem is that as Todd points out, sustainable living on this planet is diametrically opposite the American economic model. Now some economists insist that perpetual economic growth is possible even if perpetual industrial (extraction/production/consumption) is not. I don't study the subject and don't know how that is possible, so I'm in a really poor position to argue it. More relevant is that the most powerful people in the world benefit from the status quo perpetual economic & industrial expansion model, and frankly most of the rest of us, your truly included, do also even as we march economically toward the precipice. Then there is the global population issue that no society will address (except China). Fortunately, the factors of economics and women's access to education looks like the human population growth issue may solve itself, altho it includes some serious problems along the way; i.e., some European countries are experiencing negative pop. growth even with immigration. And that creates serious near-term economic problems. Same in the USA, altho immigration keeps growth positive for now. But that's likely to change within 50 years. If we don't change the national economic model, societal collapse is likely. I can't predict if the beneficiaries of the status quo will opt for change, even gradual economic model change, over collapse. No crystal ball here.

True, I survive on the taxpayer's buck, and much as I would like to be super-human and improve the lot of human-kind, I long ago realized I cannot even improve the lot of salmonid-kind. So I set about identifying the segment of salmonid-kind that I can improve and address my professional efforts toward that end. My persistence is paying off, and I'm enjoying some satisfaction in this area. Thank you for the jurisdictional authority that allows me some degree of success on your behalf.

Sg