In a couple of hundred years we've gone from a society where people used to starve if there was a bad season to now where everything is quite predictable and manageable. A significant improvement in the scheme of things.
The author talks about the basic needs. Food, shelter. Well, we've got that sorted generally now. That allows us to take the next step on the priority list.
Look after the joint and look after each other.
I'm actually pretty confident we will get there one day. I am regularly impressed with the empathy expressed by young people these days. They definitely have a different outlook on life to their predecessors.
I agree that people need structure. But let's not mistake structure for control as we have seen in the past with mad religious groups and dictators.
Yes, people can be a bit selfish. But that might be our saviour. Particularly for population control. The more educated women are, the less children they have. To the point that we will end up with a declining population. Nicely lining up with machines taking over so that humans don't have to work in traditional ways.
So, provided we don't blow ourselves up in the next few years, I reckon we'll get there. There is a growing awareness that we have to look after the place and that we have to look after people. Things such as mental health and looking after the environment were only discussed on the fringes not that long ago. Now, they are mainstream topics.
