I didn’t mean anything negative toward antidepressants other than that lowered sex drive is often a side effect of many of the most commonly prescribed medications. And yes, there are many real reasons we see a consistent plague of depression in modern society.

I would argue though that we are in one of the most food secure times in all of history. And are actually positively positioned for meeting our energy and resource needs.

Our problem has more to do with management and greed than with actual reality of our situation as a species. If we were making better choices collectively we could reduce a tremendous amount of the harm we associate with population sizes and lifestyle. But many old systems would have to die, we have to let go of a lot of what we just assume to be ‘facts of life’ and start evaluating the intrinsic value of things differently. Meaning measuring success with a new set of rules.

But it’s very hard to even consider when most of us are just trying to get from one day to the next. We feel trapped in someone else’s fabricated cage. Hence, the depression and hopelessness that’s universally felt. But all in all, I think we’re going to make it to be honest. We have to, or we will indeed fail as a species. The cage looks small but it’s not real. That’s what I remind myself anyway.

Well, that’s a whole lot of depressing graphs. Speaking of… I wonder if antidepressant use, or just depression rates in general, might have something to do with the married couples data.

Pie feds aka “the feds”

Kvapil himself comes to a dark conclusion. “I’ve learned that it’s me who has to change,” he says on camera. “Trying to understand everyone and reach an agreement at any cost could be our greatest source of weakness, the reason these wars are lost. First, the information war, then the real war.”

Someone once told me, “you’re not going to change them, they’re going to change you” and damn that is some wisdom. A pill not easily swallowed if you’ve been raised to reach for the light in everyone. But there are certain points that should not, and cannot, be compromised on.

Do not expect compassion or mutual respect from people who don’t value either. They’re hard wired to see you as the fool, not as someone who worked together for common ground.