The 20th Century Golden Age

Politically and socially the 20th century was anachronistic. The era of peace and huge social welfare benefits humanity enjoyed were due to the release of environmental energy made available by technology, a finite resource which, by the early 21st century, was in overt decline. I predict that history will judge the 20th century as a golden age, one of peace and comfort, widespread food, shelter and universal rights and care for humanity; but that these benefits came at the unsustainable expense of taking too much energy from the environment.

Current politicians are either ignorant of this reality, or concealing its truth by promising that things can be as prosperous as they were in the 20th century, but this is not possible. An environmentally sustainable life is one that is poorer for humanity than one that takes more from the environment than it returns; this should be obvious. It is understandable why politicians would avoid making this clear. Those that do are perhaps known to be correct, but ignored out of fear and hope; we all like to think positively, that things will get better. To be told that they will not, or even might not, is unpleasant enough to ignore, to cower from. It is this psychology which opposes environmental issues which highlight any poor consequences of current actions.

For non-humans, plants and animals, the 20th century was not a golden age but a crisis of epic proportions.

There is a link between race and intelligence: racists are not intelligent. Racists don’t realise that we all need each other, and the same applies to humanity’s relationship to other animals, and the electronic life and being developed. We know what we need and who we need when the time comes, but often only realise this when what we once had is gone.

Mark Sheeky, 25 June 2024