The End of ....History?

Sorry for the break from semi-consistency. I was on vacation and then got sick and when I am sick I can't focus on anything.

I was reading some things, sci fi, and thought about how no one really thinks about the end, in real life. Some people ARE thinking about the end, currently reading a nonfiction book about where capitalism and growth should go, but most people prescribe growth for the sake of growth. But what does capitalism lead to? Incentives should guide th economy onto a path that doesn't destroy itself in the end. But, when these incentives don't mainfest themselves until it is too late, then we are screwed. There has to be development beyond stuff. Does it not seem obvious that intellectual or spiritual development has to take center stage in the end? The amount of knowledge in the world continues to grow, but do people take this into account in the everyday lives? No, people are just trying to survive, they have to. If each individual isn't doing it, shouldn't somebody be looking out for them?
I am not trying to say government or some supranational organization should be in charge of people's well-being per se. But, should not the leaders of industry, government, and other areas be enlightened to a degree. No, of course not, just look at who gets elected to Congress, both sides. I have seen the best minds of mind generation destroyed by greed and self-interest...because that is how the world works.
I think I just caused myself to become depressed....
Is there a point when you can't change someone for the better? Educationally (is that a word), or socially, is there a point when the oppurtunity has been missed? I have seen kids in elementary school and said "well, he probably isn't going to make it to college and will probably be a social burden in the future, what can I do?" I do not know. You can tell people to be good, but when people all around aren't reciprocating, how do you tell them to take the high road? Kids don't necessarily understand the high road. But, you can't wait until later, or can you? There has to be a point when you knuckle down and say "quite the bullshit and grow up. Look around and see the world and act like a person"...or something similar. What do you tell adults that have other things on their minds? Maybe you just need to talk to them. When I get older and have proved something I can help people. I just don't feel like I deserve to tell people anything.
In conclusion, everybody, including me, needs to think about where they want us all to go, and not just themselves. In the end, it seems that only knowledge/information and humanity, the caring for other people, are the only things that can last...and styrofoam cups...

Rural poverty

I was debating what to post on, rural poverty or infrastructure and budget surpluses...I have more unfinished business with rural poverty.
I would guess that most rural places are on the lower end of the wealth scale. Unless the "rural" place is on the outer each of ever-expanding suburbs, it is probably poor, because of lack of opportunity. I am trying to get to the idea that rural areas are inherently poor because of their lack of economic development, but have not figured out the right way yet. Because rural areas lack a large service industry, most of the jobs are in agriculture or resource extraction. The resources are not very valuable, if they were, then they area would develop beyond rural. Or the area is unlivable. Example, near oil wells in many areas it is rural because of pollution from the extraction, or the harsh conditions surrounding the extraction. What I wish to discuss is how to have rural areas not mired in poverty?
This post is getting out of hand as I contemplate high pop. density rural areas vs. low pop.density areas. High pop. dense areas that are rural because the lack of investment for a "city"to grow. This would consist of families in small single story homes close together with a large distance to the closest urban area. Other areas would just not have many people. My main focus will be on the more dense "trapped" areas. By trapped I mean that they cannot exact the cycle of poverty on their own because of poor farming conditions and/or lack of industrial or service opportunities. People are living in areas that have no chance of endogeneously becoming more than poverty stricken.
How do you improve these areas? Just move the people. "Hey, the land stinks. Why are you living here? Just give it up and move to an area that has potential and let nature retake this area." That would be an interesting experiment, but people are too attached to....just about everything to let it go. Though, China moving a couple million people to construct the Three Gorges Dam is very similar to this scenario. I respect the idea of moving people to accomplish a possibly, the jury is still out, worthy goal. But, it was the chinese govt. simply s***ting on people with no real political power. People should not live in disaster prone areas and expect the govt. to protect (new orleans sucks) them and bail them out.
I will continue this tomorrow, as I got nowhere today.

Shin Buddhism

I feel that I need to address a more spiritual topic, as development can only be pounded out so much until you realize that answers might not be there, but anyway.
When I was in Japan and refreshing myself in Shin Buddhism and the ideas embodied in it, I felt rejuvenated ("...was juvenated before, lost it, and then got juvenated again....rejuvenated" Pooty Tang). The all embracing concept of giving and receiving compassion on all levels just makes it feel good to be alive. Then, I return to Hawaii and to work, and eveything disappears in the busy-ness and tiredness. Maybe it was being on vacation, but it is so easy to lose oneself in the sometimes inevitable monotomy of life that we forget the uniqueness of each day and each person. The challenge is embracing that and not worrying about all the problems confronting us in the future. I wake up tired and regret getting out of bed because it feels so good to dream. But, I should be embracing the new day and ability to experience life some more.