The causes of the growing malaise in society today ...

[Dr. Who]

Often in the course of discussing one topic, it leads to the discussion of underlying causes. Rather than derail those discussions, let's just talk about that growing malaise in society. We know that it's happening because we see the symptoms like rampage killings, people taking videos of others being harmed without intervening and posting them for amusement on the internet, people using the internet to harm others for amusement, the breakdown of interpersonal relationships, the growth of incel groups, violent gang activity, talk of white supremacist groups popping up, declining numbers of people voting, the loss of semi-skilled work that has been the life blood of the economy since America became a nation. It's a very complex topic that comprises economics, technology, culture, politics and human nature.

Is this just a bump in the road or a sign of fundamental problems that won't just go away on their own?

[Admiral Ackbar]

Often in the course of discussing one topic, it leads to the discussion of underlying causes. Rather than derail those discussions, let's just talk about that growing malaise in society. We know that it's happening because we see the symptoms like rampage killings, people taking videos of others being harmed without intervening and posting them for amusement on the internet, people using the internet to harm others for amusement, the breakdown of interpersonal relationships, the growth of incel groups, violent gang activity, talk of white supremacist groups popping up, declining numbers of people voting, the loss of semi-skilled work that has been the life blood of the economy since America became a nation. It's a very complex topic that comprises economics, technology, culture, politics and human nature.

Is this just a bump in the road or a sign of fundamental problems that won't just go away on their own?

What you are seeing is the long slow rot of Socialism. It infects, festers and destroys all that is good about the human condition.

It is a creeping crawl to the bottom.

One might even say Socialism Sucks

[Dr. Who]

What you are seeing is the long slow rot of Socialism. It infects, festers and destroys all that is good about the human condition.

It is a creeping crawl to the bottom.

One might even say Socialism Sucks

Is it socialism? Is socialism moving jobs offshore or replacing workers with robots or software? Is socialism causing younger people to interact with others through technology but not in person and is socialism causing people to find amusement in schadenfreude? Is socialism responsible for rampage killings? If so, please explain.

[Tahuyaman]

The causes of the growing malaise in society today ...

I think malaise is the wrong word to describe our situation. I think it’s just increasing anger and divisiveness. Some of it can be attributed to the explosion of social media where people can vent rudely about anything and everything anonymously.

[Lummy]

The causes of the growing malaise in society today ...


I think malaise is the wrong word to describe our situation. I think it’s just increasing anger and divisiveness. Some of it can be attributed to the explosion of social media where people can vent rudely about anything and everything anonymously.

It can't be. DrWho is always very precise, and she never intends to anger anyone.

[Chris]

Liberals want big government, conservatives small, libertarians smaller, populists a government, no matter the size, that listens to them, and that is the cause of the general malaise, the government listens only to elites.

[Dr. Who]

The causes of the growing malaise in society today ...


I think malaise is the wrong word to describe our situation. I think it’s just increasing anger and divisiveness. Some of it can be attributed to the explosion of social media where people can vent rudely about anything and everything anonymously.

Certainly anger and divisiveness is part of it, but that's the part of the iceberg that you see. There is also the other part that is brewing under the surface. A nihilistic attitude. A depression, a sense of hopelessness and fear that is palpable among younger people and particularly millennials who I have heard described by Steve Bannon, no less, as better dressed Russian serfs. They are widely predicted to become the first generation in U.S. history to do worse than their parents financially.

[Tahuyaman]

Certainly anger and divisiveness is part of it, but that's the part of the iceberg that you see. There is also the other part that is brewing under the surface. A nihilistic attitude. A depression, a sense of hopelessness and fear that is palpable among younger people and particularly millennials who I have heard described by Steve Bannon, no less, as better dressed Russian serfs. They are widely predicted to become the first generation in U.S. history to do worse than their parents financially.

I don’t see this sense of hopelessness, depression and fear.

[Dr. Who]

Liberals want big government, conservatives small, libertarians smaller, populists a government, no matter the size, that listens to them, and that is the cause of the general malaise, the government listens only to elites.

I tend to agree that this is part of the problem. The elites have hijacked the world economically. They have embedded themselves in government and control the finances of the world.

[Chris]

I tend to agree that this is part of the problem. The elites have hijacked the world economically. They have embedded themselves in government and control the finances of the world.

Except it's not just an economic problem, but a more general social one. How long can you right wrongs by wronging others? MLK wanted equality, now it's about power.