I often wonder why humans continue on a downward spiral towards stupidity and laziness. I have a new theory on why this is happening.

Setting the scene …

Advances in technology and medicine are making humans live longer at diminished levels of health (and intelligence). As a result, the rest of the population is having to work harder and sacrifice to keep these people alive longer. The healthy are dealing with higher costs for gas, taxes, health care, food (not to mention chemically grown food to provide for more mouths), education, clothing, shelter, etc.

Natural selection …

If you are familiar with the process of natural selection, you will understand where my theory originates. Whether or not you believe that humans were descended from apes has nothing to do with the point I am about to make. Evolution is science. Charles Darwin may have presented the most comprehensive evidence on evolution, but it was not his invention. Evolution was invented by nature … plants, animals, beast. Darwin was merely an instrument in exposing the vast majority of the population to what some still like to call a “theory.”

Theory or fact?

Actually, evolution fits into both categories. It becomes theory when you try to describe unobservable behaviors and biological trends (you could probably fit humans coming from apes into this category). However, evolution is fact when it is based on observable behaviors and biological evidence. Darwin did extensive research on orchids and discovered interesting evidence lending hand to evolution.

Why is “evolution” such a bad word?

Evolution received a bad rep from most religions. Why? It is actually quite amusing to me that religious followers found their theories more credible than evolution, but my goal is to not dispel anyone’s beliefs with my words. Instead, my goal is to separate the fact from fiction.

Evolution does not discredit religion. It does point to some inaccuracies in most religions, but it does not attempt to falsify religion or a god. We are talking about apples and oranges … science and spirituality. I think that is why so many people fear science. Evolution is not a religion! You can’t tell me that you don’t “believe” in evolution. Evolution is fact! Scientists can show you a life form evolving in your lifetime. This is very easy to do with plants and animals that live only a short time on this Earth. Their evolutionary cycle is much easier to study. We have to rely on empirical data to study changes in humans. It happens every day. Life evolves. We change and morph. Life adapts to environments and evolves over time.

Back to natural selection …

Okay, I watered down my point a lot, but it is kind of hard to study natural selection without first understanding evolution. The brief explanation of natural selection for those of you who slept through the last couple of centuries is this … a process in which certain favorable traits are passed through the gene pool while other less desirable traits eventually become less common and are phased out of existence. In short, plants and animals possessing the unfavorable traits, usually do not survive to breed and pass them along. Instead, they adapt and change … or returning to the above discussion … they evolve!

My theory …

My theory is actually quite similar to that presented in “Idiocracy,” and yes, I have addressed this issue before … actually repeatedly, but never on this same scale. Essentially, I fear that we are failing natural selection. Our medical/technological advances are interfering with nature. We are keeping sick, weak and noncontributing members of society alive longer and allowing them to pass along these unfavorable traits to their spawn. The weak are walking upright as we poke and prod them with needles, feed them the latest medicines, and put bandaids over the problems … passing these along for everyone to eventually suffer from. We are evolving into an inferior race. We are becoming dumber, fatter, sicker and lazier. Eventually, we will stop evolving all together, because we will cease to exist. Sometimes I wonder if the answer is a global depression that forces us to start all over again. We have weaved such a mess of society. We have defied nature! We don’t even deserve to live this life. We are the inferior race! We are the fat, nasty, sweaty human beings that we always hoped we would never become. We are less than what we were, because we have so much more. Sad times are only to come …

We are all just sucking up the Earth’s resources!

Attention: The following comment should not appear in response to this entry in any form or fashion …

“If it were not for medical advances, I would not be alive today.” Don’t be selfish and think only of yourself. This is a discussion about survival of the fittest … not survival of you!