I believe that the overriding consensus is that we are not leaving earth better than we found it. Pollution from plastics and micro-plastics, carbon emissions, chemical irritants, all man-made substances, invading our air, soil, and water…depleting our ecosystems. This impetus, this “progression,” at times foolhardy..this deterioration…driven by ego and greed and childish vanity…are we that much better off? Are we closer to a sustainable planet? A sustainable economy? A sustainable life? Not really. I think that is the point of this entire conversation. People sought out spices and decimated native cultures. People sought out other territories and eventually fought for control. Would war even be an issue if not for greed? If not for control and leverage and “furthering” one’s position? There is a tipping point. At which point do you trade happiness in the sake of “progression?” I don’t particularly know, but I feel like on the whole, we have surpassed it.

Honest questions: What has landing on the moon really done for society? How does it add to the greater good of anything? I get that being able to launch satellites into orbit has created an entirely different technological infrastructure, but I don’t know that the moon landing really contributed anything more.

The man who sits back in his chair really IS enjoying the fruits of his labor. He likes his life the way it is. He could work harder, but the end goal in the story after building his fishing empire is enjoying his afternoon off. He has that now. He isn’t denying himself anything.