Hmm. My view is basically, things are getting worse, and we're getting somewhat smarter about the system as a whole thanks to groups like the Santa Fe Institute (where I applied and was rejected for an internship last summer), who use supercomputers to study the dynamics of complex systems. So yes, we're still not nearly to the point where there is no risk in acting to try and make things better, but there's also plenty of risk inherent in staying the present course.
Re: The nub