Mr. Obama's presidency might hold great progressive promise for change and accountability, and then again it might not. Either way, it is clear that liberal blogs do have a positive impact on Mr. Obama's administration, even in this formative period.

But it seems like rearranging the chairs on the deck of the Titanic to make much of ebbs and flows of politics without increasing awareness of the icebergs on our path.

The environment and energy are rightfully receiving more attention these days, but the most crucial factor is largely ignored. Overpopulation lies at the heart of all of humanity's 21st century challenges, and yet the topic is practically nonexistent in our political discourse.

The United States is not directly responsible for population growth, but the US does play a global role in fostering economic circumstances that maintain misguided attitudes toward progeny. No segment of the human race can afford any longer to view procreation as a source of wealth, which means developed nations cannot afford to maintain economic inequities that passively bolster this view.

If millions in this country were willing to appear as racists when belligerently seeking new caches of oil to exploit, perhaps we can all run the risk of appearing as racists when peacefully encouraging people around the world to curb population growth.

Instead of throwing money hand over fist to weapons manufacturers, we need to throw money to educators in general and sex educators in particular. We need to spend money on incentives for women around the world to limit the number of children they give birth to and to wait until their mid to late 20's to bear children. We need to empower women, especially where they have little power over their bodies and lives, to be able to make the choices of if and when to have children.

None of this is going to happen unless the liberal blogging community right here begins to address overpopulation issues. I have that much confidence in its power and that little confidence in the mainstream media's willingness or capacity to intelligently address this issue. And the right's misguided attitudes toward women's rights, contraception, and sexual education leave much to be desired.

If we address this grave issue in tandem and at least get the conversation going, it will go a long way to giving overpopulation the national and political spotlighting it demands. Once we do, rearranging deck chairs, firing captains, and putting the plank out for the pirates among us will all make sense.