I kind of doubt if Humans have ever had it nice and easy. The problems we have today might be somewhat different, but people have always had difficulties. I just read "The Better Angels of Our Nature" by Steven Pinker. He makes the point that the rate of violence has gone down, giving verifiable stats. The murder rate in Europe was thirty times today's rate about 200-300 years ago. We think the rate is higher, but because of high tech, we see world wide news right away and that skews our view a bit. But Human life has never been a picnic.

No. It wouldn't be consistent with current scientific knowledge to assume humans have no redeeming qualities. We have some crap qualities, but altruism is also a part of our biological nature (in addition to some other species).

Yes. MUCH more cynical given the current state of the US government. I honestly don't know that any politician can commit a travesty horrible enough to cost him (or her) re-election. We seem to have lost our principles as human beings.

you bet or as I like to call it aware.

About equal

I've been cynical about life since I was 13. .___.

I wonder what Diogenes's answer would be to such a question? That he had some peculiar habits would seem odd even in today's world...

No