Joys of Capitalism and the Paradox of our Times
The paradox of our times is that we have taller buildings, but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We buy more, but enjoy it less.
We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more advanced degrees, but less common sense; more knowledge, but less good judgment; more medicine, but less wellness.
We have multiplied our possessions but reduced our values. We have higher incomes but lower morals.
We have been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbour. We’ve conquered outer space, but inner space is still a mystery to us.
We have cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul; split the atom, but not our prejudices. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
These are times of steep profits and shallow relationships; world peace, but domestic warfare; more leisure, but less fun; two incomes and more divorce.
It is a time when there is much in the show window and nothing in the stockroom; a time when technology can bring us a letter in seconds, and we can choose either to make a difference or just hit “delete.”
– This text is said to have been sourced from the Internet. It appeared in Ann Landers’ column, The Toronto Star, Saturday, January 22, 2000, p. S11.