"Modern" life: slowing down and considering the lilies

Is it comforting or unsettling:
That we've been discussing this topic for nearly 150 years and that we're still worried about it?
That we have always idealized the past, while simultaneously accepting and adapting to the newest technology?

I recommend the full xkcd (bigger and easier to read) with mouseover: http://xkcd.com/1227/

I really liked this xkcd post. It comforted me that humans (Americans?) have always been fighting against, or at least cognizant of, our inability and unwillingness to slow down and have real conversations with people. However, it disappointed me that although our Luddite rantings about bicycles, tricycles, trains, boats, and telegrams existed, we now have technology like those ridiculous Google glasses, cell phones, smartphones, and email. 

Were these arguments raised to fight back against technology? Or were they raised simply to state a point: that technology is ruining our ability to communicate and think effectively? I also wonder what these authors did in their spare time. Did they ride their bike anyways? Did they give in to their mentioned technology after a few years? I'm sure they said "it can't get any worse". Were these articles warnings or admonitions to society? 

Brave New World here we come...?

Not sure how the country will react on Nov. 6th...

But I hope it's better than how this author views it:

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/11/the-separate-realities-of-a-50-50-race/264427/

I agree with the point that I typically do not read "news" from conservative outlets and am likely guilty of adding to the echo-chamber syndrome he discusses. I'd like to think, though, that people will not willfully disregard a new term of a presidency or dispute the entire merit of it.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/03/chris-christie-praise-obama-romney_n_2068836.html

It was refreshing to hear an outspoken Republican governor talk positively about something (really, anything) that the President is doing. All I've heard the last 3.666667 years is how Obama is the worst president ever.

Has our citizenship lost the ability to have constructive conversations? Does this feel like a race to the bottom for anyone else?  Will this election continue to paralyze our ability, as a nation, to handle important shit?

Funny how things can change for the worse in four years.