It has become a familiar lament, whispered over family dinners and debated in quiet corners: People no longer think in terms of what is right and what is wrong. They just think of money and power, and what they can gain - even at others' expense. It's a stark statement, but one that resonates in a world where ethical boundaries seem increasingly blurred and personal gain too often trumps principle.

The truth is we are living in an era where success is frequently measured by wealth, influence, and visibility. A person's worth is too often reduced to their bank balance, their social media following, or their ability to get ahead - regardless of how they do it. Honesty, kindness, humility, and fairness are still admired, but they are no longer seen as the primary route to achievement. Instead, they are often perceived as quaint virtues in a system that rewards ruthlessness.

Politics is perhaps the clearest mirror of this shift. Around the world, leaders are being judged not by their integrity or the justice of their policies, but by their ability to consolidate power and deliver immediate economic results - even if the cost is environmental degradation, erosion of democratic norms, or deepening inequality. The ends justify the means, and moral debates are often dismissed as idealistic or naive.

Politicians are ready to hand out whatever they can - and sometimes this means bending or even breaking the rules - to hold on to their seat of power or attempt to wrest it away from their adversaries. Winning votes was always important for political parties, but this has now been taken to a new level. It's one thing when people get what they request because it is justified, and it's another thing when they get it when they should not.

Politicians who nurture and encourage this way of thinking should carry the blame for this. But they have shut down their conscience and carry on because, in their mind, power is the be-all and end-all. So long as they get their preferences in the polling booth.

But it's not just politics. In business, we see companies profiting from exploitative labour, manipulating markets, or pushing unsustainable consumerism, all while hiding behind polished branding and vague commitments to "corporate responsibility". In education, students are encouraged to chase the highest grades or the most lucrative career paths rather than ask deeper questions about purpose or service. Even in personal relationships, the language of transaction has crept in - what can I get from this person, rather than how can I support or grow with them?

To say that people have entirely abandoned right and wrong is, of course, an overstatement. Many still act with conscience. Many still make sacrifices for others, stand up for the vulnerable, or hold fast to their principles in difficult circumstances. But the cultural tide has shifted, and it flows toward self-interest more aggressively than ever. The philosophy most people abide by today is based on what they can get. Even if, by right, they should not be getting it. And even if this is to the detriment of others.

What has caused this shift? Part of it may be the breakdown of traditional moral frameworks - religious, philosophical, or communal - that once gave people a shared sense of right and wrong. In their place, we have relativism: what's "right" is whatever works for you. Technology has accelerated this, creating echo chambers where like-minded individuals affirm one another's choices, and where consequences often seem distant or abstract. When everything is mediated through a screen, it becomes easier to dehumanise others - and harder to feel empathy.

Moreover, capitalism and consumer culture reinforce a mindset of scarcity and competition. If success means being on top, then others are not neighbours or fellow citizens, but rivals. This zero-sum mentality breeds a subtle cruelty: a tolerance for inequality, a shrug toward injustice, and even admiration for those who "win" no matter the cost.

So where do we go from here?

First, by recognising that ethics is not a luxury - it's a foundation. Societies that abandon moral thinking in favour of pure self-interest eventually fracture. Trust erodes, institutions decay, and communities weaken. Second, we must teach and model a different kind of success - one that values integrity, responsibility, and solidarity. That means challenging the narratives we consume, the leaders we admire, and the values we pass on to younger generations.

Right and wrong still matter. We may live in a noisy, competitive, cynical world, but conscience is not dead. It simply needs to be reawakened - in our homes, in our schools, in our workplaces, and in ourselves. We must remind one another that the measure of a good life is not what we gain, but how we live.