Increasingly convinced the core divide in humanity is between those who suffer a traumatic, destabilizing event (as we all do) and believe everybody else should have to, too, and those who suffer such an event and hope they are the last person ever to do so.

Sounds like you are describing the difference between conservatives and liberals... pretty much nailed it!

Humanity has a moral core like a doughnut has a core.

Valid for those who are so high up Maslows pyramid that they have the luxury of considering this.

I feel it’s not a straight divide. There is that third special flavor of suffered a traumatic event and figures they might as well capitalize off everyone’s traumatic event.

I know there's a lot of "my job sucks so yours should too" in the world.

Correct.

This is the insight we need to reject the concept of generational sin, an entirely human pattern of cycle repeating instead of cycle breaking.

I'm in the latter camp mostly, with an exception for the "everyone should have to work in retail for six months" thing

I'm afraid I'm the former, but only if it's by choice (like voluntary military service, or other service abroad, like peace corps.) many people don't get a choice in the matter, and thats when it leads to the worst outcomes.

is it really possible to enjoy life forever