The Demise of Modern Man

Considering how we live in an ecosystem bursting with interdependence, it cannot be avoided that along with interdependent sociological processes, the development of social issues and problems become intertwined and causal. Some issues may be often the cause while some maybe the manifestation of the effects of the former. 

In some paradigms, man can be seen as the main perpetrator of all these social issues. While some say that although mankind has indeed given considerable contribution to the development of such social conflicts, the main reason why these issues progress into more tangible effects is the reaction (and the magnification of these reactions) of the environment and the receiving end of mankind to such instigations.

Let me put it this way, multinational corporations may keep on abusing the environment, but the fact still remains that as long as the international community patronizes the products of these companies, they still remain capable and still have the “need” to abuse the environment.

So with that, the rise of capitalistic mindsets bring forth an age wherein the need to help the status of our environment takes the backseat over the need for more profit and economic progress. With increased usage and marketing of natural resources, the influx of money increases. Such negative correlation is brought forth by the functionalist perspective.

And so, with the lessening of the environment, more and more people experience a decrease in nutrition and increase in poverty. With the loss of pure natural resources (which we all know, are the best sources of healthy living), the nutritional status of those affected become worse. They no longer have clean water to drink, nor do they have fresh air to breathe. They soon develop typhoid fever, tuberculosis, e. coli or whatever new epidemic we are having nowadays. What’s worse is that they no longer can afford proper medicine for their illnesses because they have no more resources to generate income on. They fall faster towards the depths of poverty. They lose the resources that give them good health and sufficient earnings.

And soon, after the grassroots become impoverished, the government soon experience setbacks. Their people are sick, poor and in need of their help. And they have little money to use, because the people that pay their taxes (which is apparently the lifeblood of the nation), can no longer pay as much as they used to, because they simply aren’t earning as much as they used to. The government then becomes lame and immobile.

And with the inability of the government to fix the basic problems of society, collateral damage is inflicted on other vital sectors of society. Gender and overpopulation issues are by far the sectors that receive the most damage. Overpopulation becomes affected in this because numerous legislations that bring about laws that uphold the rights of the family to choose their size and dynamics depend on how the government executes their passing and regulation. If we have a government that fails to function at its core, the implementation of these rights to a well-planned out family slowly descends into obscurity.

Same goes for gender issues. Numerous activist groups fight for more laws that enable women to live equally among men. But when the mindset of the populace is fixed on merely surviving on a day-to-day basis, these advocacies fall short of being heard and acted on. In fact, there may come a point in time wherein the public would see these groups as unnecessary extremists rather than much-needed advocates.

And so comes an inevitable option for some sectors in society: wade in water of blurred development or fight the system and make drastic change. Although most political analysts prefer to not do both choices and instead find a more proactive approach in changing society, this is rarely the case of today’s problematic societies. They would choose to become one of two things: terrorists or the terrorized. They either become the passive victims of shootings or the active shooters themselves.

It cannot be ignored that more and more separatist groups form under the premise that they are for change and development. And although one can see the nobility in their means, their Machiavellian approach to achieving change cannot quench the thirst for peaceful and harmonized progress. It will only lead to further destruction (to the environment, even) and ultimately perpetuate the cycle of regression our world is experiencing.

One problem clearly leads to another and another and another. And it’s very distressing. But what bothers me most is that mankind----despite numerous failures to base on----continually fails to tackle and defeat the issues at hand. They fight fire with fire. A problem with another problem. The highly-developed mind of modern man sadly cannot see that the fire they are fighting is the same fire that when controlled and handled correctly, can bring us the warmth and comfort of communal development.