With the progression of the Age of Kali, people are becoming very proud, very much attached to women, and increasingly victimized by intoxication. By the influence of the Age of Kali, even a pauper is proud of his penny, the women are always dressed in an overly attractive fashion to victimize the minds of men, and men are addicted to drinking wine, smoking, drinking tea, chewing tobacco, etc. All these habits, or so-called advancement of civilization, are the root causes of all irreligiosities, and therefore it is not possible to check corruption, bribery and nepotism. You cannot check all these evils simply by statutory acts and police vigilance; you have to cure the disease of the mind by the proper medicine, namely advocating the principles of brahminical culture, or the principles of austerity, cleanliness, mercy and truthfulness. The modern civilization based on economic development is creating a new situation of poverty and scarcity, with the result of blackmailing the consumers’ commodities.

Srila Prabhupada; Purport, Srimad Bhagavatam 1.17.24