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Societal Problems

What systemic failures trap people in worse games than they deserve to play?

These aren't isolated issues. They are symptoms of platform failure—bad systems creating bad incentives that compound into personal suffering. The loop of consciousness still runs, but it runs through broken infrastructure.

Stealing Attention For Profit​

Problems that manifest in the inner loop—how individuals experience consciousness.

Current StateSuccess Looks Like
Lack of consciousness in managing thoughts and emotionsMastery of inner state
Disconnection and alienationDeep sense of belonging
Over-identification with external factorsPurpose independent of circumstance

Ailing Mental Health​

Mental health issues are on the rise due to lack of trust in systems that influence our lives.

There is a need for individuals to take responsibility for their inner well-being, develop self-awareness, and cultivate a joyful existence independent of external circumstances.

Root Causes​

  • Treating soil as a resource rather than a source of life, leading to nutrient depletion
  • Overemphasis on intellectual intelligence and neglect of other forms of intelligence
  • European influence on education systems globally prioritizing cognition over consciousness
  • Societal pressure to have a defined purpose or mission from external sources

What Can Be Done​

  • Practice "Inner Engineering" to gain better control over internal state
  • Invest time in understanding yourself (21 minutes of daily practice suggested)
  • Shift focus from external achievements to inner well-being
  • Recognize and develop multiple dimensions of intelligence beyond just intellect

Loneliness​

Loneliness is a killer.

Post-COVID, more people spend more time alone. The platform of connection has eroded.

Current StateSuccess Looks Like
Touch starvationRegular physical connection
Digital substitutes for presenceReal presence with real people
Isolation normalizedCommunity as default

Resources:

Stress​

The viscous circle that creates dis-ease that leads to disease.

How do you earn a living in the age of AI? The uncertainty compounds stress into a chronic condition rather than a useful signal.

Environmental Problems​

Problems in the physical substrate that supports all life.

Biodiversity​

Soil degradation and loss of biodiversity—the foundation eroding beneath our feet.

Current StateSuccess Looks Like
Industrial agriculture treating soil as resourceRegenerative agriculture treating soil as living system
Loss of microbial life in soilThriving soil biome
Nutrient depletionNutrient-dense food

What Can Be Done:

  • Launch campaigns like "Save Soil" to raise awareness
  • Change agricultural practices to preserve soil health and biodiversity
  • Recognize that human health begins with soil health

Cultural Problems​

Problems in the shared narratives and coordination mechanisms of society.

Tech Fear​

Fear of technological advancements and impact on sense of belonging and self-worth.

Current StateSuccess Looks Like
Concern about job loss and human relevanceHumans doing what humans do best
Fear of machines making critical decisionsAppropriate human-AI collaboration
Anxiety about being replacedClarity on irreplaceable human value

What Can Be Done:

  • Embrace technological advancements as opportunities for human liberation from mundane tasks
  • Focus on developing uniquely human qualities: purpose, ethics, narrative, judgment
  • Build systems where AI amplifies character rather than replaces it

Lack of Focus​

The technology that connects also uses outrage to divide and control us.

Misled engineers have gamified attention for profits by becoming driven by their egos rather than user wellbeing.

Current StateSuccess Looks Like
Attention harvested for ad revenueAttention respected as scarce resource
Outrage optimized for engagementCalm optimized for understanding
Dopamine hijackedReward systems aligned with growth

Resources:

Howzme Culture​

Howzme instead of Howzus. Most kids aspire to be influencers, not teachers or doctors.

We are all born to be influencers. But we don't need social media for validation.

Current StateSuccess Looks Like
Singular focus on showing offReward from working in teams
Social media for validationInternal validation from contribution
Influencer as aspirationCraftsperson as aspiration

Life is better surrounded by good people. The platform has inverted the incentives.

Real Connections and Relationships​

Dating apps mean people that might connect in real life don't.

Not having enough children to support an aging population. But will AI counterbalance this?

Current StateSuccess Looks Like
Algorithmic matching replacing organic connectionTechnology enabling, not replacing, connection
Declining birth ratesSustainable population dynamics
Aging population without support structuresIntergenerational coordination

Resources:

The Common Thread​

All these problems share a root cause: platform failure.

Politics is what happens where systems fail.

When platforms create bad incentives, individuals suffer the consequences. The fix isn't to blame the individuals—it's to build better platforms.

Problem CategoryPlatform Failure
PersonalSystems that extract attention rather than support flourishing
EnvironmentalSystems that externalize costs to soil and biosphere
CulturalSystems that reward performance over substance

The consciousness loop still runs. But when the platform is broken, even healthy loops produce unhealthy outcomes.

Cradle to Grave​

These problems hit differently at different life stages:

Life StageHow Societal Problems Manifest
SurviveMental health struggles, loneliness, attention capture
ImproveTech fear about career, stress about earning, relationship difficulties
BuildRecognizing platform failures, desire to fix systems for next generation

The wisest response is to move from suffering these problems to building systems that solve them.

See Also​