Beautifully written and well-articulated points here. You've given me many things to think about here. I'm especially resonating with the reflection on oneself being key here. This hit home.

If you believe the world is shit and we are doomed, congratulations, you are a star pupil. You learned the lesson of the banksters well. Hopelessness is utopia to them. When one achieves that state, drugs, alcohol, gambling, violence, and a host of other maladies become attractive. Of course, they profit off all of them.

I couldn't agree more.