It would make sense if we were locust or even sheep. But we happen to be a species that creates and develops "resources". Not coincidentally, life is just fine in densely populated Holland, and not so comfortable in near-empty Ethiopia. It is about good government, culture and infrastructures, not about how many people are there. The more, the better, as long as they behave.
I'd opine more like exploits resources. Much of the well off parts of the world are on a razor's edge when it comes to collapse. That governments help each other in such times, or not depending on a rather complex matrix of affinity and proximity, helps hide the fact a super storm could end Holland's prosperity. (not to mention much of what we see as the good life in Holland many CONs see as unsustainable due to the taxes needed to maintain that good life.)
The great forests of New England are gone, there replacement a pale shade of scrub regrowth and lumber plantations. The farmers moved west to exploit the vast plains, leaving most of New England to be covered in a scrub regrowth. The vast short grass prairies of New Mexico are gone, the vast timbered slopes of the East Rockies around the Silver Towns are gone and neither will be replaced.
Right now Texoma is in a stage 4 drought. Lakes are at 20 to 30% cap and no real relief in site. No water, no towns- our economy will collapse.
When you study the collapse of civilizations several things repeat. Disease, crop failure, financial collapse, political instability.
We comfort ourselves with the idea science and modern medicine have made epidemics like the black death a thing of the past, but a disturbing trend of 'super bugs' mainly due to an overuse/misuse of antibiotics maybe the tip of the iceberg.
Crop failure is a real possibility, our modern agriculture depends on cheap credit and high industrial inputs. many farmers are only as good as their relationship with their bank. many areas are just one 'good' drought away from ruin. Agricultural productivity MUST have huge inputs of oil, from fuel to chemicals and fertilizer food production must have a steady flow of 'cheap' oil. Political turmoil in the ME can spell millions in extra food production costs. Another financial collapse can end credit to agriculture/food processors bringing food production to a dangerously low level.
Whole continents have had their agricultural base ruined with millions dying due to 'natural' causes. Iceland with volcanoes, Europe and America's 'year with no summer' due to an island in the Pacific exploding, all killed millions of citizens in nations with good infrastructure, governments, culture, financial systems.
Reckless financial policies are as deadly as droughts. Many CONs are certain the EU will collapse under the weight of it's nanny state taxes, but history has shown nations can collapse hard due to maintaining a military state. Casino Capitalism can destroy an economy as well as any war. hyperspeculation can raise prices above what the average man can afford, then crash the prices so his labor is worthless. A huge national disaster in a nation trillions of dollars in debt with a strong political faction willing to collapse the government, could be a perfect storm.
Political collapse is a growing possibility- suicide partisan politics that undercuts a government's bond rating can destroy domestic and, if the nation is big enough, global credit. people without money are people without food as so many live in urban areas. Many empires fell not due to 'barbarian' invasion but a loss of civic duty and sacrifice by the masses who saw the ruling parties as too self involved.
I think your mantra is a bit trite and a lot of wishful thinking. History is a record of mankind behaving badly.