Re: Number 4

Humanity has many different traits that are brought out based upon what environment we are living under. Our negative traits do not inherently outweigh our positive traits to the extent that a better system that we currently live under is totally impossible. That is simply a form of misanthropy and defeatism, not realism. While it's true that human beings are capable of selfishness, greed, ruthless competiveness, rampant mistrust of their fellow human, and materialism, we are also capable of great compassion, cooperation, love for our fellow human, charitable behavior, and a strong desire to benefit our entire species. Which traits are ascendant at any given time depend upon what our environment--i.e., our socio-economic system--demands of us and encourage. Given how our current system operates, it's no wonder that negative behavior patterns such as selfishness, greed, and materialism come to the fore in people so often. Despite this fact, positive behavior is evident in many human beings, and if even a few people can aspire to a better world, than so can all humanity make it happen in the future.