It's never been a better time to be a cynical pessimist

So 2009 has arrived, and is it just me or does the apocalypse feel a little closer than ever. I know that generally the papers don't print good news, but the bad news seems to be getting worse. Yes America will soon have its first Black President inaugurated but can one man change the world. Being a cynic I think it's unlikely. At best Obama may delay the inevitable. Just look at the world. recession, war in Palestine (again) famine, genocide, more people than ever, less fuel and food than ever. And even when we try and come up with new ways to invent fuel, the best we can muster is a process which destroys indiginous farming and so makes the whole fuel problem worse. China's population is skyrocketing, so is its consumption of fuel (it will soon replace America at the top of that chart). But bringing things back closer to home, Britain stands in the grip of recession. You can claim its not really a recession all you like, or that it will get better, but with a million people expected to lose their jobs in 2009, woolies in the final throws of a long, painful and devestating death. Zavvi close to collapse as well and who knows who might be next. Knife crime and anti social behaviour seems to be getting worse. Its getting to the point where I am seriously considering whether or not I want to raise children in a world where before they come of age they may be having to come up with ways to save a world beyond saving. And things seem to be heading on a downward curve, picking up pace, with the helpful hand of gravity.
So what's to be done. Well honestly, nothing, and this is why i feel so justified in my cynicism. The way I see it is that as people are individuals and perfectly within their right to make their own decisions we can never drag ourselves out of this quagmire. to many people are apathetic or arogant and thus think only of themselves. Companies want to please the masses, so they might harp on about reducing their carbon footprint, but most will only get involved if they can see someway to make a profit. Also throw in the recession and companies are soon going to change tact and stick to the lowest cost, rather than the greenest way to run their country. Of course, if you asked anybody if they would rather keep their job or lose it so the company could have a zero carbon footprint, most if not all would rather keep their job and sod the atmosphere. Of course when the gigantic tidal wave sweeps across london destroying all their cherished possessions which they picked up in some closing down sale which they spent with the money they earnt at a job they keep the irony will probably be lost on them. Swept away on a wave of self drepracting ignorance.
Or what about the stupid fucking humvee drivers whose only experience of combat is watching Platoon and destroy the ozone layer every time they turn on the ignition or change gear.
Unfortunately we live in a democracy which allows commerce, capitalism and selfish greed. Therefore if some moron wants to own a land rover to lord it over the hatchback driver when taking their children on the school run to the security fenced prisons of education with metal detectors to ensure no knifes or guns are carried onto the premises then who are we to stop them. After all why should one group of people be oppressed by another.
Im not saying democracy doesn't work. its does, to a point. a sharp point which is about to burst the balloon of arrogance the human race has blown up around itself in order to make life easier, less stressful and more accomodating. Because in modern society people don't think life should be easy.
You want that nice two week holiday in the maldives, put it on the credit card. What another ipod has been released, one that enables you to poke your friends on facebook whilst simultaneous texting them, put in on the credit card. That car you drive which is three years old and will only fit three children in the back, despite the fact that you don't have any, buy a big gas guzzling 4x4 and put it on the credit card. Your planning for the future. A future when Britain will become as cold as the artic, when half the worlds animal population will be extinct and you'll sit watching Planet Earth explaining to your fat, pudgy knife weilding kids, that the animals they're seeing are like dinosaurs now. Extinct! A future where people don't meet for drinks or go out for a meal, but tell each other what they want to be doing with their lives through twitter, facebook and mobile technology. Bringing people together! don't you mean isolating, alienating and turning society in slobs who can't be arsed to go and pick up the weekly shop, especially when some large petrol fueled lorry can deliver it for you.
As I said, it truly is a amazingly brilliant time to be a cynical pessismist. You can just sit back watch the world go to pot, and smugly say to yourself (or maybe text a friend) that you were right.
Of course there's nothing a cynical pessismist enjoys more than being proved wrong. It just gives us more fuel for the fire.