I think that this whole thing goes far far further than governments and politicians. It's all down to prevailing attitudes within societies, and it is these that will be responsbile for the changing of the guard in terms of the world pecking order.
In the west, generally, we want too much for too little and are willing to be very wasteful. IMO that does mean most americans. But also most brits, and most kiwis and most europeans also. And I include myself in this - we are all products of the societies that created us.
Consider for a few minutes what you think is a reasonable amount of effort a working person should put into life, and what salary you think that they should get for that, and what they should be able to purchase with that salary. Then try to imagine what would have been your answer if you were asked the question in 1956 or 1906 or 1856 - you will probably percieve a steady 'improvement' in the effort/reward payoff. But it has to stop somewhere - work can't continually decline whilst rewards increase. I think that we've only survived in this crazy cycle for so long because the developing nations haven't been able to get onto the conveyor belt, for whatever reason. But that is now changing - they are prepared to accept the 1956 or 1906 effort/rewards balance and this will knock us into oblivion.
As a rule we now expect to have lots and lots of unnecessary things, and see little contradiction in voting Green at 11am on the way to the mall to buy a load of superfluous junk. We see nothing wrong in attending a 'save the planet' demonstration dressed in the latest fashion which will be thrown away in a couple of months whilst still being perfectly wearable (albeit by someone with 'no idea').
There was an article in The Press (Chch) last Saturday where mothers were saying how difficult it was now to sort out parties for their young (3 upwards) children because of the expectations of what should be in the 'party bag'. Everyone felt that they had to outdo each other lest their child became a 'playground pariah'. If this isn't an example the road to destruction of our own making then I don't know what is - we spend money we say that we haven't got on bits of junk that the kids don't need which has caused massive pollution to produce and transport which the planet can't take just so that we keep up with all the other dotty mums and dads who are doing the same. Oblivion here we come!