[vinceguidry]

> I'm of the opinion this sort of thing cannot be changed, it's just a mechanism of humanity. Cynical, selfish people rise to the top, those who optimize for power get it. They self-select. Ambition for power, for control over others is not something people with empathy would want to work hard for.

In that regard, things are quite a bit better than they were, say, in the fourteenth to sixteenth centuries. Eighteenth century Europe brought a kind of reform to business, the new discipline of economics started to hold politicians at least somewhat accountable for forwarding the cause of trade for its own sake. They of course still routinely interfered with commerce in service of their own ends, but this sort of thing became frowned upon enough to become a major issue in the democratic revolutions of the period.

So I wouldn't say that it can't be changed, our ability to organize on levels large and small is slowly evolving for the better, and one of the big drivers of that evolution is outrage.

At one point in human history, effective leadership was a big stick and the strength to wield it. Now even the most brutish strongman needs to have certain social graces or he won't be in power for long.

[sixQuarks]

I agree with both of you. The system cannot be changed within our lifetime, so sit back, grab some popcorn, and enjoy the show. That being said, over the long-term, there does seem to be slow progress.