Suicidal implies some planned death wish - I think if anything man (in general) has a desire to live and thrive.

However mans history is a rather short and bloody affair - whether dying for ones god - or country - or greed - many all too ready to maim or kill others in the name of whatever.

We have reached our current pinnacle by consuming nearly half of the natural resources (coal - oil - natural gas) on this planet. Many believe we have hit the half way point on these resources or will in the next 50yrs. At which point the costs of living in a civilized manner will begin to get very expensive (supply vs. demand). China - India and other countries will consume as much if not more energy than the US.

Now lets toss in Global Warming (from use of fossil fuels) where some countries will "win" the new weather lottery and others will loose (farm land becomes desert) - and don't forget that fertilizer comes from natural gas.

I'd like to believe that we would all work this out all even-steven - but I don't think we're there yet as a species or as a race.

Man is not suicidal - but even though he controls the atom and will soon control his own DNA - he is still a tribal creature at heart and influenced by ancient religious beliefs that can conflict with the realities facing us.

Add to that the natural human state of either denial or totally self absorbed .... and the fact that no leader or politician want to be the "buzz kill" ( ah um we're running out of resources + global warming means the party is over - lets start planning). Means that mankind is heading towards a nexus of some type.

My Parents (the Greatest Generation) joined the world to defeat Hitler and split the atom.

Us Baby-Boomers have delivered advanced technology and opened the window on genetics.

We're all hoping the current generation can unite the world (at least most of it - think web) and deliver us thru the nexus