The Weight of the World: Addressing Moral Injury in an Age of Outrage

Turning Moral Injury into Action: Reclaiming Integrity, Justice, and Collective Power

Feb 07, 2025

If you feel the world is too painful right now, with so many things being up for grabs and certain people behaving very badly, you are likely experiencing a form of moral injury. It’s that deep, gut-wrenching feeling when you witness blatant harm, corruption, and injustice—and no one seems to stand up against it. It’s not just about sadness or frustration; it’s the psychological distress that arises when our sense of what is right and just is violated.

Moral injury was once thought to be a phenomenon limited to the battlefield, experienced primarily by soldiers who were confronted with ethical dilemmas in war. However, it is now clear that moral injury is present everywhere. In the modern world, our battlefields are often brought to us through our phones and screens. Whether it’s the ongoing war in Ukraine, the devastation in Gaza, or the systemic injustices happening in our own communities, we are constantly exposed to acts of violence, corruption, and cruelty. The overwhelming nature of these experiences, coupled with our perceived powerlessness to intervene, exacerbates the moral injuries we face daily.

The Growing Crisis of Moral Disengagement

I have been experiencing some form of moral injury for decades now and I know I am not alone. Many of my friends and colleagues feel the same. Things like the failure to act adequately on climate change, the rising levels of corruption, misogyny, racism, and fascism, moral disengagement, and the decline in trust in fair democracies, women’s rights, minority groups, and LGBTQI rights—these ongoing abuses of power by authoritarians, oligarchs and bad actors leave me incredulous. I can’t believe that we are here, still fighting for a better world when we have everything we need at our fingertips to create a sustainable and liveable society, so why are we in such a mess?

I believe we have reached peak moral disengagement which needs to be toppled, dismantled and destroyed. The decline of independent journalism, the unfair distribution of wealth with the rise of billionaires, and the growing shamelessness of those in power—paired with the unwillingness of institutions to hold them accountable—are some of the major causes that have led us to this moment. Power has been consolidated in the hands of the few while the rest of us watch in horror as they weild power for their own personal gain.

The Decline of Independent Journalism in Mainstream Media

The media, once a cornerstone of democratic accountability, has been steadily eroded, with major outlets bought and controlled by oligarchs who shape narratives to serve their interests rather than the public good. Investigative journalism, the kind that exposes corruption and holds power to account, has been undermined, defunded, or drowned out by sensationalist, click-driven reporting. Indepdendent journalism is alive and growing but it’s reliant on small players who don’t have the reach they once did. Without a robust, independent press at a mainstream level, citizens are left vulnerable to misinformation and manipulation, deepening moral injury as we struggle to separate truth from propaganda.

Economic Inequality and Corporate Greed

The economy, too, has been tilted towards a few at the expense of many. The unchecked accumulation of wealth by billionaires—many of whom actively lobby against policies, especially tax policies, that would create fairer systems—has widened inequality to unprecedented levels. The glorification of extreme wealth has normalised corporate greed, fostering a culture where exploitation is seen as business as usual rather than an ethical failing. Meanwhile, working people struggle under stagnant wages, insecure jobs, and rising living costs, with little recourse as many party politicians prioritise the interests of their wealthy donors over their constituents.

The Collapse of Accountability

Alongside this, there has been a collapse in accountability at the highest levels. Scandals that would have once brought down governments or corporate empires now pass without consequence. Corruption, nepotism, and outright criminality are met with excuses rather than justice. The powerful no longer even feel the need to hide their misconduct—it is done openly, with a level of shamelessness that signals to the rest of society that ethical standards no longer apply to those in charge. This moral disengagement at the top trickles down, fostering cynicism and apathy among the public.

The Weaponisation of Cruelty as Entertainment

Specific recent examples, like Robodebt and its devastating impact on innocent people—knowing our politicians and public servants willingly let this happen to our fellow citizens—have been another painful blow. The incredulity of these acts of harm and corruption weighs heavily. Yet, we must remind ourselves that most people do not behave this way. However, the way our media and social media have weaponised cruelty as entertainment—more correctly termed “outrage culture” or “angertainment”—is making us sick—physically, emotionally, and psychologically. The fact that suffering and exploitation have been turned into entertainment is, in itself, a moral injury.

Fighting Back: Taking Action for Change

This is why I have become much more active politically in the last five years. Despite doing everything I could at a personal level to thwart the climate crisis, and address corruption and inequality, I came to realise that it was the system that needed changing. I joined forces with many others to drive systemic change, co-founding Voices of Goldstein and working to elect Zoe Daniel as our community independent in the federal seat of Goldstein in 2022. I have gone on to help others do the same in their own communities and am still working as an active volunteer for Zoe today.

Addressing all forms of moral disengagement and corruption that breed moral injury is vital to our collective future. We cannot sit back and let this happen to us. Like many, I am not a victim—I am a doer, an agent of positive change. I also understand that no one in coming to save us so it’s up to us to change the system.

That is why I am so proud and inspired by people worked to get Zoe Daniel elected and Zoe herself, who, like other community independents, represent their communities and continue to address these issues on our behalf. Zoe Daniel’s National Press Club Speech on 5th February 2025 is a clarion call to end the moral disengagement that plagues our system and the resulting moral injury.

Turning Moral Injury into Action Handbook

If you would like to keep reading, the remainder of this article is more like a doer’s guide or handbook that goes into practical detail about what moral injury is, how and where it occurs, and, most importantly, what we can do about addressing and preventing moral injury now and in the future. So please feel free to share this article with as many people as possible so they, too, can change the system.

What is Moral Injury?

Moral injury is not just about guilt or regret; it is a deep and profound wound to the psyche that occurs when our moral code is violated—whether by our own actions, the actions of others, or our inability to prevent harm. It was first studied in military contexts, where soldiers found themselves burdened with the unbearable weight of decisions made in the fog of war. The term gained traction during the Vietnam War when veterans returned home deeply troubled by their experiences, grappling with the conflict between their moral beliefs and the actions they were required to take.

But today, moral injury extends far beyond the battlefield. It manifests when healthcare workers are forced to turn patients away due to underfunded hospitals. When public servants witness political corruption but are powerless to stop it. When whistle-blowers risk everything to expose the truth but are vilified instead of celebrated. When we see blatant injustices play out in real time and feel powerless to stop them.

How Moral Injury Shows Up in Everyday Life

In Politics: The deliberate spread of misinformation, policy failures that devastate lives, the normalisation of corruption—these create widespread moral injury. People feel betrayed when leaders, whom they entrusted with power, act in ways that undermine the public good.
In Business: Corporate greed that sacrifices people’s well-being for profit, toxic workplaces where integrity is punished rather than rewarded, environmental destruction carried out under the guise of economic growth—these lead employees, consumers, and communities to feel the weight of moral injury.
In Media and Society: Our news cycles are designed to enrage, not inform. Social media amplifies our worst instincts, rewarding division and cruelty. When suffering is repackaged as entertainment and injustice is normalised, moral injury festers.
In Personal Life: Betrayal by a trusted friend, witnessing abuse with no intervention, being forced to compromise your own values for survival—these are all deeply personal forms of moral injury.

The Psychological and Physical Toll of Moral Injury

Moral injury doesn’t just stay in our minds. It seeps into our bodies, our relationships, our ability to function.

Psychological effects: Depression, anxiety, feelings of deep shame or anger, loss of trust in others, and a sense of hopelessness.
Physical effects: Chronic stress, fatigue, headaches, and other stress-related illnesses.
Social effects: Isolation, difficulty forming or maintaining relationships, loss of faith in institutions and society.
Spiritual effects: A crisis of belief, existential dread, questioning the fundamental goodness of humanity.

How Do We Heal and Prevent Moral Injury?

Moral injury can feel overwhelming, but there are ways to recover. Healing isn’t just about self-care; it’s about reconnecting with our values, our communities, and our sense of agency. More importantly, we must take proactive steps to address and prevent moral injury at both local and systemic levels.

Individual and Community-Level Actions

Acknowledge It: Recognising moral injury for what it is—a real and valid emotional and psychological response—is the first step in addressing it. You are not just “too sensitive” or “overreacting.” Your moral compass is working as it should.
Find Your Community: Moral injury thrives in isolation. Seek out people who share your values, who validate your experience, and who give you hope that change is possible.
Speak Up: Whether in small ways or big, finding ways to advocate for justice, transparency, and ethical leadership can be profoundly healing. Even small acts of resistance—writing a letter to a politician, boycotting unethical companies, mentoring someone—can help restore your sense of agency.
Engage in Meaningful Action: Volunteer work, activism, ethical business practices, community organising—whatever aligns with your values, do more of it. Being part of the solution is one of the most powerful antidotes to moral injury.
Take Breaks from Outrage Culture: The outrage cycle is exhausting. Step away from toxic media when needed. Seek out news and information sources that prioritise truth and solutions, not just spectacle.

Addressing Moral Injury at a Systemic Level

Push for Political and Institutional Accountability: The systems that create moral injury—corrupt politics, unchecked capitalism, sensationalist media—need reform. Advocate for transparency, fairness, and ethical accountability in whatever sphere you can influence.
Strengthen Independent Journalism: Support independent media outlets that prioritise investigative journalism and hold power to account. Subscribe, donate, and share credible news sources.
Demand Economic Fairness: Advocate for fair wages, progressive taxation, and policies that curb the unchecked power of billionaires. Support businesses that operate with integrity and treat workers fairly.
Elect Ethical Leaders: In Australia, one way to push for systemic change is by voting for Community Independents at the upcoming 2025 federal election. Community Independents are free from party politics and committed to representing their constituents' interests rather than those of corporate donors or entrenched political machines.
Reform Corporate and Media Influence: Advocate for stronger regulations on corporate lobbying, social media misinformation, and media ownership to ensure public discourse remains fair and informed.
Support Legal and Policy Reform: Push for changes that protect whistle-blowers, prevent corruption, and strengthen democratic institutions so that moral injury does not continue unchecked.

Final Thoughts: We Are Not Powerless

The world can be exhausting, infuriating, and deeply unjust. But moral injury is also a sign of something profoundly important—it means you care. It means you haven’t become numb. It means your conscience is alive and well.

While we can’t always prevent moral injury, we can refuse to let it break us. We can build communities, hold the powerful accountable, and refuse to let cruelty and corruption be normalised.

This is not about being a victim. This is about recognising our power—our power to choose integrity, to fight for justice, and to remind ourselves and others that, despite everything, most people are good. And that goodness is worth fighting for.

As I keep saying, moral injury is not a signal to surrender—it’s a call to action. When we refuse to let injustice break us, we turn our outrage into power and our pain into progress.