A phenomenon noticeable throughout history regardless of place or period is the pursuit by governments of policies contrary to their own interests.
Nothing sickens me more than the closed door of a library.
Books are the carriers of civilization... Books are humanity in print.
When people don't have an objective, there's much less dynamic effort, and that makes life a lot less interesting.
Dead battles, like dead generals, hold the military mind in their dead grip.
We seem to be afflicted by a widespread and eroding reluctance to take any stand on any values, moral, behavioral or esthetic.