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Maybe the bug is wishful thinking. Legitimizing things we view as positive even though rationally you can see why they would never happen.

It's a nice bug. If enough people were guilty of having that mindset, maybe those nice things could make sense?

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The bug is that in order to make a difference, you have to have power. But in order to have power, you have to compromise your character. And thus, you compromise your ability to make a difference.

Obviously this is a wildly simplistic generalization, but it is a very powerful rule of thumb.

Sounds like learned helplessness to me.

The only sensible inner practice I've found is refinement of character. It works both when practiced publicly and when practiced privately.

And aspects of character can be built, sustained and recycled. Like anything.

Once you're a billionaire, what incentive do you have to better yourself when you can just pay to change the world around you?

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