We have lost the belief in Progress. That each year will be better than the previous one, for humanity.
We have lost the belief in Agency. That we can do something about it.
Who is this “we”? This general framing presents the problem as a universal problem of modernity but a lot of the material feeding your ‘vibes’ are quite specific results of policy failures (e.g., in the UK, US) measured against your own preferences.
There are many people in Iceland, Switzerland, Norway, Singapore &c, who do not feel this oppressive ennui. Instead, things work quite well, the government is sane and in control, and public discourse is by-and-large rational.
It is tempting to see an eldritch horror as the problem, one which can be killed with arcane magic, because it avoids the difficult truth that the problem is a suite of local political obstacles which need to be successively overcome.
There are many people in Iceland, Switzerland, Norway, Singapore &c, who do not feel this oppressive ennui. Instead, things work quite well, the government is sane and in control, and public discourse is by-and-large rational.
Do they believe that they have a say in civilization’s direction? It’s all well and good to have cozy little enclaves under the wing of the US hegemony while it lasts, but if it falters, something relevant beyond local political obstacles may just emerge. Of course, all in all, their position is still more enviable than most.
Who is this “we”? This general framing presents the problem as a universal problem of modernity but a lot of the material feeding your ‘vibes’ are quite specific results of policy failures (e.g., in the UK, US) measured against your own preferences.
There are many people in Iceland, Switzerland, Norway, Singapore &c, who do not feel this oppressive ennui. Instead, things work quite well, the government is sane and in control, and public discourse is by-and-large rational.
It is tempting to see an eldritch horror as the problem, one which can be killed with arcane magic, because it avoids the difficult truth that the problem is a suite of local political obstacles which need to be successively overcome.
Do they believe that they have a say in civilization’s direction? It’s all well and good to have cozy little enclaves under the wing of the US hegemony while it lasts, but if it falters, something relevant beyond local political obstacles may just emerge. Of course, all in all, their position is still more enviable than most.