So should it matter?

There is no life after this.

There is no way that you will know what has happened anywhere, at any time, to anybody after you have died - all awareness goes when your brain stops working, and as interesting as it might be to know how people will cope when you have "gone", and how the world will turn out usw usw. You will not know. You will not be aware - everything will continue without you knowing.

Logically, rationally, that is the way it will be.

So why does it matter what happens if it does not affect you?

"Because I have a pronounced altruistic side" is my answer. What happens to my wife after I die is important. She is intelligent, she has a university degree, she has survived nearly eleven years of marriage to my intellect. There are not many positive ways forward for her, and I protect her a lot from the vicissitudes of this world, and I love her and it is important. And she is not a silly little bit of brainless fluff (thankfully) - though the same can be said of most women, actually!

"Yes, but all the politics?".

Because of the altruistic side. We need to have a better world, not for just me personally when alive. If things do not improve soon for the mass of humanity and all the other species on the planet, where are we headed? "We" here will not include me, I will not be aware of it, but there have to be better solutions, practical, working, significant. For all the species on the planet - I repeat.

"But it was never like that!". True. But you do not stop believing that it can be. Cynicism may be the order of the day. Saying one thing one day and taking a totally different position the following day might get you elected,  but actions are what history judges. Lifting people up is more difficult than letting those that already have plenty help themselves to more. The modern day Ghengis Khans do not invade and pillage, they just open Swiss bank accounts. So it is not easy.

But it matters. Things have to get better, we have to address the issues, we have to resolve the problems, we have to learn to accept and be tolerant and not be too greedy. NIML (not in my lifetime)? No, it is too late (and as I nearly died in 2008, and death could happen any time). But believe me. It matters!