[Gryphin]

Puke,
Reguarding this thread getting you down:
My interpretation is that most of the wars including the Crusades were for economic power. Even the American Revolution was motivated by the merchant class who stood the most to gain from it.
On a positive note:
As for regulating meat: Did you ever read Sinclare Lewis's description of the meat packing industry in the US? I have forgotton the name of it.
Positive note:
Comunications as fast as a ship:
Remember how many people died at the Battle of New Orleans 3 days after a peace treaty was signed.

It is my Optimistic Cynical positon to quote,
"Times Change, People Don't"
I do feel the quality of life improves. The people who talk on cell phones in a restaurant, well, I don't know about them.
I feel people still take as much leasure time as they would have 200 years ago. Work a holics existed back then as they do now.
In short: The pase of life has not increased. Our capacity to fill it has.
Disclamer: I could be way off base here. I just choose to belive all of the above os true.
Life Gets Better.