your perspective from your 3rd paragraph on.
It is interesting - obviously you don't know this about me - but I live between a mountain and a river. When I moved here in 1990, there were still (and still remain now!) remnants of that time when you could just push your car over the mountain to dispose of it; hell, no would ever see it and it would just rot in peace. The banks of the mighty majestic Columbia River where I live were DISGUSTINGLY AND EXTENSIVELY LITTERED with toxic waste - vehicles, appliances, you get the drift. Fortunately, much of this has been cleaned up; at least the part visible to the eye. I'm sure many, many toxins remain in the soil and water that can only be detected with instruments.
I can see the shift you describe taking 100 years! Certainly a generational shift, and there are encouraging signs right now in our youth!
I also agree that these Boogaloos are clinging to that world you describe in your 1st paragraph. Where everyone can carry a loaded weapon, as our communities were small enough to know the good guys from the bad (then why do you need to carry a loaded weapon, one might ask? In case of encounter with a wildebeest?). Where charioting around with flags was simply a sign of your loyalties to your head warlord? Where blazing through resources was just fine because - as you say - they were infinite?
Well, I am finding my mission in this moment. That's the best I can do right now.