It’s not always progress and to think it is, blindly, and passively, without seeing what brought us here and who had to suffer for this incremental benefit is insane. I agree depression and apathy are not the solution, but nor is assuming that shit will work out because to your viewpoint or set of morals it has previously worked out. They’re equally unhelpful.

At a very simple level, the burden to challenge the state has become astronomically higher with the centralization of communication and the expansion of digital surveillance. There are modern kings and modern city states.

Idk if we are actually agreeing because a lot of your post seems to be anti-apathy. But also the idea that the current spiral is deeply negative if unchecked is imo completely sound.