There are some fudgy leaps of logic here, trying to make sweeping insights but it is just undermining the whole thing for me. Like: "The ideological message is that if you cannot alter the circumstances causing distress, you can change your reactions to your circumstances. In some ways, this can be helpful, since many things are not in our control. But to abandon all efforts to fix them seems excessive."<p>Who is saying "abandon all efforts" to fix things? That is a total strawman argument. Mindfulness is fine and helpful for fixing exactly the issues we face in the world - I don't see how being stressed or overwhelmed helps anyone improve things. Mindfulness is meant to give you space to make useful actions rather than spin in place. Yes, the wheels of capitalism have inflated and twisted the concept for profit, but it is quite a stretch to say it is some sort of opiate for the masses to keep us docile.<p>If the Titanic is sinking, telling people to keep freaking out probably isn't the best way to save lives. "Stay calm" doesn't solve things either, but I feel like it gives you a better chance to find a raft, yes?