Actually, "the people who control us" push a range of ideologies and religion is only one of the many forms such takes.
When looking at where we on Earth were about a century plus ago, and even a few decades ago, in many places we have improved and fixed things rather significantly. And are likely to continue that trend. As other nations/cultures acquire improved living standards and lifestyles, their reproduction rates will likely reduce to those of the developed, First World nations.
Along the way, as tech and industrial abilities improve and grow, we will likely gain in ways to effectively move off planet and develop life supporting systems "out there". I'd expect that within the next century or two we will have practical and cost effective means to travel interstellar and then we will see humanity spread to the stars.
Meanwhile, we will need a certain level of population to support the industry and economic base needed to advance technology and manufacturing resources needed to get there.
This is an idea and concept I'll try to explain and develop later in another thread. Point being what it takes now to make, say a 747 in terms of global industrial, economic, trade, and transport grid, along with population base and it's support(housing, feeding, etc.) and education, etc. and then realize that a comparable interstllar transport system~devices will require something several times more expanded than what we have now on this planet.