verk - I agree with you about society being more able to cause change. Thing is, this state of betterment that you are speaking of isn't always for the betterment of mankind. Some people want war.
I definately have a core belief in the idea of human goodness but the premise of the my beliefs are always challanged, rightfully. I see the vanity and pleasures can be used to overcome peoples beliefs and foundation. People crumbling under waves of women,money and status. In this grind of life they find out if they are winners or losers.
It's disillusioning and quite honestly sad. This is the process of becoming 'mature' in this day and age. Realising the vanity programmed as automaton in the people living boring and energy-less lives. It's like you have to constantly rise above it and see past it into the heart and soul of everything. It's like taking an observers eye on everyone and most surprisingly YOURSELF.
Which by very definition seperates you from the crowd which you must combat in itself.