idleness, meritocracy and comfort is why. "There's nothing to do" is a common phrase in our society and sums up why we are in this place. People have too much time on their hands. When their machines break, they just buy a new one. When they are running low on food, they just go to the store. What reason do people have to get up and improve themselves? They believe that their existence ends with their last breath and nothing they do in life matters, so they just do not care. Sure, they will put in some effort toward improving their creature comforts, but effort ends there for a majority of people.