Big Beachheads in the Land of Stupid

Is societal collapse and a Malthusian Correction a workable path to a better future? Alex Steffen of WorldChanging.org says, "No." Moral considerations aside, a population die back and the scarcity that prompt it would spell very bad news indeed for the Earth's natural systems. What's the best path forward? Create something that works which is bigger than your house but smaller than the world.