ThirstyFish

I am slowly becoming a cynic both in the modern and classical sense. Almost 2400 years ago, philosopher Diogenes of Sinope (412-323BCE) argued that "humans have complicated every simple gift of the gods". He would turn in his grave if he saw what was going on today. A cynic is a person who has little faith or hope in the human race or in the sincerity or goodness of individuals. Classically, Cynicism was a philosophy which held that the purpose of life is to live in simplicity and virtue in agreement with Nature, rejecting desire for wealth, power, sex, fame, and possession.

We are destroying the environment, becoming a Brave New World'esque ignorance society, and heading towards a Nineteen Eighty-Four'esque societal structure, with anti-intellectualism and obscurantism becoming the new "norm".

The world population is expected to reach between 8.5 and 10.5 billion by 2050, all while we are barely feeding the current population (7 billion). Our natural resources are diminishing. More immediately, we seem to be heading towards a great economical disaster, and we have already seen the greatest upwards redistribution of wealth in history. Our financial system is heading toward an economic totalitarianism. Small stores and businesses are closing. Jobs are being shipped overseas. We are getting paid less than ever. How can one not be a cynic? After all, they say: "Scratch any cynic and you will find a disappointed idealist".

Song of the Day: Dear God - XTC (1986)