“I am certainly not an advocate for for frequent and untried changes in laws and constitutions.
I think moderate imperfections had better be borne with; because, when once known, we accommodate ourselves to them, and find practical means of correcting their ill effects.
But I know also, that laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths disclosed, and manners and opinions change with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also, and keep pace with the times.
We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy, as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors.” – Thomas Jefferson to H. Tompkinson (AKA Samuel Kercheval), July 12, 1816
We often look back at the past and label the practices of our forefathers barbaric and/or childish.
Which of today’s practices will be interpreted the same way by our descendants? And what are we doing about them?
Hopefully the way we waste the environment! I really hope that will be the “smoking” of the 2020s.
– Consumption as a goal in itself
– Unnecessary packaging & useless plastic toys that come with cereals and happy meals
– Wasting time & burning petrol in traffic jams because we all *need* to all be at work at the same time
– Needing to own private cars which spend more than 90% of their time idle
– Not having a thought of where all our goods, foods and energy originate from