Demographically (and by proxy political divide) though things are far from improving, we are just getting started. Just look at the massive social unrest caused by European states attempting to raise pension ages. God forbid we try and unwind some of the ZIRP associated housing inflation (in a democracy where the older homeowners hold a political majority it will never happen willingly).
I've always found it odd that societal/financial problems are seen as insurmountable when they are really just human inventions; we could forgive all/some portion of debts, and all the people and infrastructure who exist today would be exactly the same tomorrow. But the very air we breathe contains a third more carbon today than it did when my parents were born; it's an awesome (in the bad way) feat of humanity that we've altered the very atmosphere of our planet in such a dramatic fashion, and there's no simple way to remove it.
> I've always found it odd that societal/financial problems are seen as insurmountable when they are really just human inventions.
Very true!
This in the face of a fertility collapse across the developed world and a rapidly aging population. Most of the youth is waking up to the idea their pensions will be worthless when it comes retirement age. A lot of social services are feeling the strain (and exploding costs).
It really is the biggest issue of our generation.