>I feel like I'm the one taking crazy pills.

Years ago, someone on HN made a comment to the effect of, "I feel less and less a part of this world. Like the world is just moving away from me."

I understood the sentiment perfectly. And, this was before the madness of the last 9 years or so.

Funny thing is it seems that a large number (perhaps the majority) of people feel this way, yet powerless to do anything about it. I think the things you mentioned represent a very short list of the total dysfunction to which people of conscience cannot (and probably should not) habituate. And, I wonder if it's really the sense of powerlessness in the face of these things that is actually the depressing bit.

Of course it seems that the sentiment has been weaponized, with a third to half of the U.S. (and some significant portion of other countries), now incited to destroy it all, including their fellow citizens whom they have been convinced are part of the problem.

While this superficially sates their disaffectedness by channeling it into a kind of frenzied bloodlust, their behavior further demoralizes those who consequently feel more powerless in a world that is now more hostile and even less sensible.

If its all about what is normal, actually caring about the things you mentioned are indeed crazy. Growing your own food, or even knowing where your food comes from, is then also crazy. Ironically, not taking any prescription pills is also on the list of taking crazy pills, as I think the last stat I saw was that something like 70% of Americans are on at least one prescription drug and a little over 50% are on two or more.

Normal today is a very strange thing, in my opinion.

1. The conflicts in the Middle East aren't ancient. They originate in the 19th Century at the earliest. 2. When you're the world's current most powerful global empire, you have the privilege of forgetting. Chile can't forget. Cambodia can't forget. Nicaragua can't forget. Etc.