Being a spectator versus being a participant

Since the advent of TV, people in the western world have been increasingly taught to be spectators. Being a spectator is a very old activity of course. TV just made it seem like being a spectator is the default way to experience the world. “Don’t experience it yourself, but watch others experience it.” This has encouraged many negative behaviors in our modern society.
A sedentary lifestyle is now standard for Americans. Outside of work, many Americans do no additional physical activity. Many jobs require minimal physical activity to begin with. Office jobs and working behind a counter come to mind.
Few adults play sports. They prefer to watch them. Few people as a percentage of the population cook their own meals. Microwaving Mac and Cheese doesn’t count as cooking. Almost no one grows any of their own food. Almost no one could fix their own car. Some people drive their car every day and don’t know how to check their oil. Skills have just fallen to the wayside, as everything can be paid for and done by an expert.
All of these daily losses of power (being incapable of doing any of the above things are all losses of power) make it very easy for people to be manipulated and led on by corporations and governments. People are literally powerless to take care of their health and possessions, and that in turn breeds powerlessness in thought. That’s partly why the outrage over the BP spill has pretty much subsided. Few people still think about it. BP has done a tremendous PR effort to get people to think everything is ok. In a world where people are active participants instead of spectators, BP would have been liquidated as a company with all top executives going to prison. But instead business as usual will continue.
Every time you stop being a spectator and become an active participant, you can change the world for the better.