Everything matters. Everything is important.

I feel quite bad when I think to deeply about the way society is developing. For most of my life I felt that society was getting better, more caring, more accepting of individual rights, more protective of those unable to defend there own rights, more willing to help those unable to help themselves, better education, basically becoming better.

While nirvana was never reached at least the trend seemed positive.

Now it seems that the process is in reverse. Each day it seems I read about a some freedom lost , some new intolerance, a new law that reduces peoples rights, reduces there ability to have a decent life or some way that a special interest group has bent our political leaders ears.

I guess I felt that the community leaders, on all scales, were working for a better future. Some shared vision of what could be. Now I find self interest is the rule. There are pockets of resistance ranging from community groups rehabilitating land or taking care of the elderly through to the likes of Bill Gates donating billions to charities but these are exceptions.

It seemed that even the political leaders, left or right, were at least trying to lift the game. Nuclear arms were reduced and international treaties for the good of all people were developing everywhere. Corporations were putting money into environmental research (and long term/long shot projects) and working on producing better, safer working environments. People played sports and got involved with the political parties (of what ever flavour).

There were lots of bad things going on, I must re-emphasise that, but, the will to change was evident.

Maybe it started some time in the eighties but the cult of self interest is certainly well entrenched now. There are too many examples to point at. I just feel as though the people with power are grabbing at everything and desperately working to seal in their and their heirs right to rule over the masses.

The self righteous and fundamentally religious are increasing their hold on power. I couldn’t of imagined political leaders in Australia turning up to a fundamentalist freak fest but that has come to pass. Imposing their belief that a literal interpretation (or the particular cult leaders interpretation) of the bible must be imposed on all people. The same is true in the Muslim and Hindu worlds as well. So sad to see the rights of the average person crumble under these special interest groups.

Corporate greed and control seems to know no bounds. While not of the highest impact, but the best example, is the extension of copyright periods and DRM legislation. It is apparent that we are all now considered criminals.

Everything matters. Everything is important.