Previous generations didn't have to deal with the industrialization of the food supply. Previous generations didn't have to worry (too much) about the global population and its effects on the world's resources as a whole. Now we are worried about e.coli, salmonella, hig fructose corn syrup, and mad cow disease. Is that the right direction?

Only the last couple of generations had to worry about the bomb, and back then it was in the hands of two (fairly) responsible superpowers. Now the superpowers talk of arms reduction, while rogue and irresponsible nations test their weapons. Is that the right direction?

Everything we manufacture is disposable, and room for disposal is running out. Previous generations didn't have to deal with decades of sustained industrial pollution. Whether or not it's affecting climate change is irrelevant. Is turning every rural area into a landfill the right direction?

We spoil our kids, lower our expectations, hope that they don't have to work as hard, and expect something better than what we had. Is that the right direction?

Civilization was founded on people working together to benefit themselves and their neighbor. Now we don't even know our neighbor's name. We don't care about local politics anymore, and citizens have no more rights than non-citizens.

We simply don't care enough about any one thing to do anything about anything. Sure there are exceptions, but usually the people who do care have a personal agenda that could get one over on you.

Now Russia's worries are China's worries are America's worries are Mexico's worries...everything is interdependent. Nearly everyone is at risk of losing their jobs due to something they had absolutely no control over. Now - more than ever - the power has been consolidated to so very few, leaving the HUGE majority of us powerless and at their mercy. How is that the right direction?

Sure we're making some strides in some areas, but culture has been degrading for quite some time. Worldwide there has been an emphasis on freedom, yet nobody considers the responsibilities of freedom. Freedom without responsibility is the antithesis of civilization, and that's where we are headed.