The exploitation of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, or natural gas enabled the emergence of today's global industrial society. Cheap energy has led to an unprecedented population increase up to this day. Nevertheless, the democratic mass society of the West, which has given rise to the welfare state, is on the verge of self-destruction. Among other reasons, this is because the parties competing for majorities are outdoing each other with promises and over-indebting the state. However, the actual reasons for this self-destruction run deeper: while entrepreneurial forces predominated during the ascent phase of Western societies, the pursuit of equality has dominated public discourse since around 1970. Today, not only are hereditary intelligence differences denied, but the high achievers are also discouraged by false incentives, undermining performance.