Economic determinism of the current drug culture

I don't think a Timothy Leary sort of guru could exist in the current culture.

In the 1960's, the U.S. had a booming economy, and people had little problem finding or changing jobs. The available jobs tended to pay decent wages and offered raises which stayed ahead of inflation, resulting in rising real incomes. So in that environment, people who wanted to explore subjectivity through LSD and other substances had priorities in mind other than cognitive efficiency and job performance because they assumed a background of economic sufficiency.

Contrast that situation with today's. We have a weak economy, relatively few jobs, stagnant or declining real wages -- you know the drill. So what kinds of drugs or other cognitive tweaks do Americans want to consume? Stronger brews of coffee, "energy drinks," Ritalin, Modafinil, piracetam -- basically drugs for people who want to stay awake, pay attention longer, study longer, memorize more, pass academic or professional exams and gain cognitive advantages over other people competing with you for a scarce supply of knowledge work.

In my lifetime, the drug culture's values have transformed from bohemian to bourgeois.