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I just read 'Requiem' in its entirety. That someone so far removed, by geographic distance and time, from our current desperate situation could manage to describe it so well is evidence, I guess, of the 'eternal-ness' of the degradation of the human condition.

Just so. Now try some Don Marquis

In particular, this one:

A Politician
Leader no more, be judged of us! Hailed Chief, and loved, of yore— Youth, and the faith of youth, cry out: Leader and Chief no more! We dreamed a Prophet, flushed with faith, Content to toil in pain If that his sacrifice might be, Somehow, his people’s gain. We saw a vision, and our blood Beat red and hot and strong: “Lead us (we cried) to war against Some foul, embattled wrong!” We dreamed a Warrior whose sword Was edged for sham and shame; We dreamed a Statesman far above The vulgar lust for fame. We were not cynics, and we dreamed A Man who made no truce With lies nor ancient privilege Nor old, entrenched abuse. We dreamed . . . we dreamed . . . Youth dreamed a dream! And even you forgot Yourself, one moment, and dreamed, too— Struck, while your mood was hot! Struck three or four good blows . . . and then Turned back to easier things: The cheap applause, the blatant mob, The praise of underlings! Praise . . . praise . . . was ever man so filled, So avid still, of praise? So hungry for the crowd’s acclaim, The sycophantic phrase? O you whom Greatness beckoned to . . . O swollen Littleness Who turned from Immortality To fawn upon Success! O blind with love of self, who led Youth’s vision to defeat, Bawling and brawling for rewards, Loud, in the common street! O you who were so quick to judge— Leader, and loved, of yore— Hear now the judgment of our youth: Leader and Chief no more!