a significant day?

   Events and debates in the USA today highlight at least three fundamental issues confronting humanity at this time. The issues are confused and distorted by the bizarre state of politics in the States at the moment, but they are fundamentally clear:
1) President Obama has made a declaration on his intentions in attempting to deal with the challenges of climate change. I need to find a transcript to see what he actually proposes, but the basic point is that, if we don't get on with doing more to modify our actions, especially in regard to energy production and use, we seem to be ensuring that generations to come will have to find ways to exist in a radically altered environment.
2) The US Supreme Court has gutted a major provision of the Voting Rights Act, removing a level of protection against state legislation which creates discriminatory practices in relation to voting. I think we are at a stage when the structures of modern 'democracy' are not fulfilling the aspiration to involve all citizens equally in their countries' affairs. If the highest court of supposedly the greatest modern democracy does not perceive the need to provide all citizens with equal access to the ballot box as a top priority, it is hardly surprising that we see 'democracy' in increasing trouble in very many parts of the world.
3) The whereabouts of the most recent 'whistle-blower' is creating a real kerfuffle of enquiry and interest, which is highly entertaining in many ways. However, the real issue is that of the role that the highly developed technologies of today are to play in our existence at all levels. I hear a claim that 'technology is making life better' on a major international news channel almost daily - but is that really so? Isn't technology creating new problems which seem almost insoluble? Are we becoming too dependent on an ever increasing range of technologies which can all too easily be disrupted by a variety of natural events? Are we tending to assume too readily that technology can 'solve' our fundamental problems?
I think we need to assess the value of the various technologies far more rigorously, rejecting the trivial, and using far more carefully those that are really useful.