Two sides of a coin

Fire gave us light and warmth

As well as pain and destruction

The wheel lightened our load

And increased work expectations

The electric light extended the day

And took away our nights

The automobile decreased distances

And diminished physical fitness

Genetic alterations have improved our corn

and killed the bees

Fast food fit our fast world

But left us fat

Saccharine kept us from growing fat

But gave us cancer

Medical procedures have lowered the death rate

And an enlarged population has decreased our liberties

Antibiotics have saved millions

And made the germs stronger

Multiple medications improved our health

And increased the number of drug addicts

The computer has given us the Internet

And taken our privacy

Television has entertained us

And made us strangers

Media coverage has improved our knowledge

And left us manipulated

We have improved our highways, schools and social programs

And increased our government, taxation, and bureaucracy

We have saved the weak

and weakened the species

We have unleashed the atom

And threatened the world