I don't disagree with invention and creativity and a role of a problem in motivating the two -- I can't, really, having ended up writing a couple of odes to it

I don't disagree with invention and creativity and a role of a problem in motivating the two -- I can't, really, having ended up writing a couple of odes to it on HN in the past. However, I prefer my necessities not to involve potential humanitarian catastrophes. The steam engine, the rapid advancement of powered flight technology, and Google were all created in response to a need, but none of these needs were of the "young people will starve and old people will be left desolate if we don't come up with something" variety. We're not short on need for cheaper energy right now; I don't think we ever were. (More efficient agriculture is a slightly more complex subject due to political reasons.) Maybe someday we will be at a point where we can safely adopt a policy of encouraging lots of children, but right now it seems a little irresponsible.