In terms of western society, start with the truth of the easter bunny; each generation does better.
Rome had mafia emperor, nonvoting slaves, Senate, provinces, and merchant privateers. The lead water killed. Average lifespan was less than 21. Surf's lifespan was improved going into the "dark ages".
Robotic capital has been proliferated in way the author of "Das Capital" could have never foreseen. Press and mills were not news to Marx.
Today's general mass seems to make it clear that they have no capital. They want the police to enforce DUI(s). The general mass want employers to make capital convenient for an 8 hour rockstar check. No other laws matter, because the market won't comply. No laws means, we all rockstars without the paycheck.