When any animal is offered an easy life, the animal will take it.

Humanity -- East and West -- for the most part -- has it easier than their parents or grandparents.

I sit at a computer and can communicate world-wide. I can do at least basic research on most topics without leaving my chair. I can order pizza and other foods and they'll be delivered, as will clothing, furniture, and many, many other things.

At universities there is a growing tendency to do research based upon the discoveries and theories of earlier researchers, without verifying the accuracy of the original observations. Why get your feet muddy, get mosquito bitten, and be uncomfortable when so-and-so did the observations ten years ago?

You can see where such "science" ends up.

The de-emphasis on critical thinking -- my college has dropped the logic requirement, even for those in computer science, for instance -- is just one indicator of intellectual sloth. The college also no longer requires a second language for graduation. I won't even speak about the high school except to say that Advanced Placement courses now teach what was standard fare for me.

These problems have nothing to do with individualism or cooperation or socialism. They DO have a lot to do with a culture that equates mental laziness with some (to me) undefined social good.

("When is the library going to on-line? I mean, all of it, so I don't have to come here for the book?"

"Are you willing to pay for that?"

"Well, no....")