Best of Times, Worst of Times

Response to comment that said in essence "these are the best times ever for mankind."

1.Gerald:

I do believe, what we have right now is... The Best That's Ever Been. Never before has global civilization reached this level of technological excellence. Never before have knowledge and communications advanced so rapidly -- so exponentially every day. True, I'm referring, to the moderately wealthy and up, residing in the wealthy nations of Earth. And, although we care about them, even Jesus said, "The poor will always be among us."

 As a Genealogist, I have investigated the lives of families going all the way back to the Middle Ages. Believe me, never before have human beings been so comfortable, so atmospherically controlled, so labor-saved by appliances, so widely educated, so entertained, so free to travel downtown or hundreds even thousands of miles from home. Never before has communication been so accessible, so widespread. Those things our great-great grandparents considered luxuries have become absolute necessities of today.

Consider this... the entire human race did not have air conditioning prior to 1950. So yeah... even with its blemishes, shortcomings and tyrants, this is the best that's ever been.



2.William:

Never before have so many people in the USA lived right on the sidewalks, and in the gutters, with no home, no family, no job, and no society that even knows they are alive, much less cares about them, or tries to help them... Never before in the USA have so many immigrant children been taken from their parents and forced to live in barbed wire concentration camps. Despite the technological excellence that we congratulate ourselves on, we just throw people in the garbage and pretend it is not happening. 70% of Americans are overweight. 30% are grotesquely obeise. 50% of Americans have no savings. 20% of men will never marry. 18% of all Americans are taking anti-depressants. Sorry, we should do better than this given all the opportunity we have to actually improve EVERYBODY'S life (and not just the wealthy).



1.Gerald:

Thanks, William, for your thoughtful reply. You'll notice I did write: "True, I'm referring, to the moderately wealthy and up, residing in the wealthy nations of Earth." These wealthy are still a minority among the 7+ billion human beings occupying this planet. And I know and understand that many of them have no hearts or souls but I don't necessarily hate them. The human condition over all evokes pathos and vexation. It always has. Yet despite the social setbacks, great minds have continued to forge ahead... as they are so driven by their own ambition. William, if you had the power, how would you bring about the social change you envision? If you come up with a workable solution, I'll stand behind you in support.


2.William:

I live in a room off of Hollywood Boulevard and nobody cares if I am alive or dead. I have no REAL friends and nobody is concerned about my welfare. After the stock market crash I was laid off and did not work for two years. I sent out a thousand resumes with no good result. Now I work several part time jobs. There are several homeless camps a few blocks from my apartment. Despite the supposed promise of this marvelous technology, I have not had a single employer in my forty years of work that has been honest and not misrepresented the wages and/or terms of employment. My brother stole my inheritance. This is my America: Lies, cheating, deceit, deception, and a lot of nice shiny new machines and math equations.

If I would bring about social change I would: 1. Eliminate the tax break for churches and religions, 2. Limit private home ownership to three properties. 3. Eliminate "corporate personhood" in the court system and make the board of directors personally liable for the crimes of their companies., 4. Bring back the one room school house and change the school organization so entire families of children are in the same classroom with their neighbors -- for their entire school day and entire school career 5. Eliminate national boundries (or borders) and allow uninhibited travel anywhere on earth for all people. 6. Stop personal income tax and substitute a wealth tax instead. 7. Stop "for profit" medical care and require medical practice to be a social service. 8. Restore net neutrality.

The internet will be the promise that could make this all occur because for the first time in the history of mankind, we can talk to someone around the globe and anyone who has something to say, can make his voice to be heard. And we don't have to ask the landlord, the over lord, or the overseer if we can publish a book, we can just upload a youtube video.


copyright (c) 2018
William Schaeffer