It might just be my current mood, but I honestly don't know anymore. Of course we want to think people are inherently good, but I just don't think they are any longer.
People are way too self-absorbed. Everyone thinks the world revolves around them, and a lot of people think they are so special that they either are, or should be, someone famous. Honesty and integrity are things of the past. It seems no matter what I see, read, or hear, people are choosing to do what benefits them the most rather than what is the right thing to do. Someone finds a wallet today, the chances are a lot less than 25 years ago that someone is going to try to get it back to the rightful owner. Someone is trying to park their car and accidentally hits another one. Same thing, I'd say the majority of people now days would just ignore it and leave or continue parking anyway without leaving a note. I just don't believe most people are good anymore based on honesty, morals and values, etc. Do they do the right thing in a given situation? Only if it benefits them in some way. To me, being inherently good means doing the right thing even if no one is around to know you did it. I think being inherently good means not being so selfish and self-centered, and doing things for others or things that might not be convenient or self-serving, but are the right thing to do. I can't tell you how many wallets, checkbooks and phones I have returned to people who have lost them. I still try to change a tire if I see someone stranded on the road that looks helpless. If I get under-charged at the store, I still tell the clerk so I don't steal from the store. There are lots of ways to do what is good, I just don't see the average person being good anymore. Whether it's laziness, lack of concern, or whatever, I see too many people who are too busy looking out for number one to do what's good or right anymore.