Happy New Year Percy.

Yes, I couldn't agree with you more and additionally had this very discussion with someone this very morning ( I must be telepathic) about this very topic and how we, as a culture, have become very blunted.  That is to say, we have become quite tolerant of immoral and unethical behavior and indeed expect it which affects what we expect of ourselves.  I believe that when the psychosocial barometer of morality and ethics is set so low, then we respond to it by either tolerating it or reacting to it on the same level OR we stand up against it by doing the right thing.  Of course, all too often humans are like water, seeking the path of least resistance and therefore tolerate more often than not.

I've also been discussing aspects of the ' ego' and have been developing and teaching a practice of awareness with a few friends.  In every moment, in everything we do, we make ourselves aware of where we are operating from....ego or from our true nature.   From which aspect of our personality are we reacting?  From where are our thought patterns centered or created?  

Of course, this practice can become quite philosophical as well as interesting.  So why are we 'really' brushing our teeth in the morning? Is it strictly for personal health or social acceptance?  Do we brush our teeth because we fear having bad breath and thus being ridiculed?  
It's also interesting to observe how often we delude ourselves into believing that we know why we behave as we do and believe what we do by developing all sorts of justifications and excuses to support our actions.  I asked one fellow why he allowed a store clerk to bully another customer and he said he was tired and had too much on his own mind.  But, indeed, it is my beliefthat if we choose to neglect to do what is right in any given moment, we are just as guilty as any bully.

We teach people how to treat us and therefore, what we command will ultimately have an affect on society.  Our behavior stems from our thought patterns.  So, on that note and in response to your comment about 'imagining' ...yes, I agree that what we imagine and expect, influences the world around us whether it's via our behavior or our demeanor in general.  
I watched a really good movie with Dr. Wayne Dyer that you may find interesting.  I had to purchase it online for 5 dollars and then stream it to my computer but it was well worth it.  The title is, ' Change your thoughts, change your life' and you can find it here:  http://www.hayhouse.com/event_details.php?event_id=493

I think the problem that confronts us today Percy is that humans have become so increasingly focused on external wants, delude themselves into believing they are needs and then live in a state of constant unfulfillment without any spiritual purpose.  The land of the living dead disorder is what I call it and there isn't any magic pill that can provide purpose and contentment in our lives even though the drug companies would like us to believe otherwise.