I think too often "progress," "civilization," and "improvement" are measured in terms of addition rather than subtraction.
There is kimchi in the supermarket. There are 500 channels on cable. There are 99 different ways to get your coffee at Starbuck's.
But isn't an equally important measure of "progress," "civilization," and "improvement" the reduction of suffering and delusion? The elimination of false consciousness? What if the increase to 500 cables channel, 99 kinds of coffee, every food imaginable available at your Stop-n-Shop megamarket actually increases false consciousness/delusion?
Brian Dauth Queer Buddhist Resister