Steve,

I fully agree with you that whining is not a solution. The only solution I see for myself as an individual is to spread individuality in my tiny sphere of individual influence person to person. I realise of course that's not going to change this world - I have no illusions about how many drops are required to raise a tide. My modest goal is to change at least my direct surroundings - build sort of a buffer against the rest of the crazyness out there.

As for society, humans, the world: whether they go to hell in a handbasket or are rescued by objectivists doesn't much matter - though it's a scary thought if HomoSaSa actually developed in that direction - who would be left to complain about :D

I wonder if the barbarian hordes overran the Roman Empire because the Romans lost their will to survive.

Haven't we seen that repeat itself all over history? With every high culture in Southamerica, Asia, Egypt, India, Europe, North America? What's left are the Far North (Greenland, Canada, Alaska), the South (Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica). Maybe Africa - I'm undecided on their 'high culture' status, possibly because they go as far back as the cradle of humanity. Every great civilisation rises and then declines again - it's simply not natural for sheeple to be wolves. So the smart money in terms of cultural evolution is on guessing (OK: evaluating, predicting) where the next 'high culture' will evolve and what it's basis will be - and be there first to get a head start.

That reminds me a bit of Asimov's 'psychohistory' in the 'Foundation' series: scientist trying to calculate human evolution and guiding it through rise and decline, but in the end still only riding it through to the next high tide, only shortening the valley of lows a bit. And almost failing because of freaks like 'The Mule' :D

Michael,

I've toyed with the idea of a virus or bacteria for some time now. Problem is: even they can't get each and every specimen to wipe out this species, so a few centuries down the road we'd be back with faecesbook on Mars :[ But it's a nice fantasy while it lasts :)

As for the 'sovereign  individuals' (not citizens) I'm all for it. Basic ground rules of individuality would take care of your courts and witnesses and law enforcement: you want to join, you agree to the preinformed laws - you want to stay out you're left to live your life in peace. Only forced association (did I read that in one of Fred's posts?) creates the problems you mention that require coercion to solve.

Steve again,

As if the law doesn't really have an effect and it is the culture that is the sole determinante of behavior.

I've always seen the two as shaping each other: laws circumscribe what behavior is still acceptable and culture circumscribes what get's made into laws.

Same goes for education: you can have the best educational system imaginable, it will still not solve certain cultural, societal, behavior. To use Jules analogy again: you can teach the sheeple all you want - in the end they will still bleat. The best we can strive for is some compromise to at least curb the worst of the bleating for a while.