I get his rant. But most of the "real" problems at least on the surface require huge amounts of resources, if they are even solvable. For instance, world hunge

I get his rant. But most of the "real" problems at least on the surface require huge amounts of resources, if they are even solvable. For instance, world hunger. We seem to produce more food per unit land area each year yet people still go hungry. I'm sure the explanations given are all valid, but more importantly solving them requires near-global consensus for which no incentives seem to exist. Example 1 -- food market speculation. How many in the West care if millions go hungry when there's money to be made? Example 2 -- continued breeding by the poor. Many in the West are opposed to any form of birth control except "God's will." Having tilted at a few windmills in my day, I can see why people would give up trying to solve "moon shot" level problems in favor of something achievable (and with any luck, sinfully profitable) in their lifetime.