A Look on the Bright Side

    In the Internet Era, we see changes happening faster than ever, more impressive, bigger impact than in any other era in history. Except for the late 1800's when suddenly steam gave way to electricity, lights, refrigeration, modern medicine, mass global immigration and the falling of borders everywhere. (followed shortly by modern nationalism and modern warfare, and whoops, back up went the gates).

    The post-War period brought decolonization from East Asia to the Subcontinent to the Mideast to Africa to Latin America, a period nicely bookmarked by Mandela's release from prison in 1990 - similarly marked by the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Soviet Union's Communism. 45 years of transition and recovery across most of the world.

    In the 70's the US started shifting from Rust Belt to Sun Belt, while the US economy shifted largely from manufacturing to service while Asian production took over. Meanwhile the nature of the Internet-based economy took over along with new forms of production, from globalization to lean manufacturing to offshoring to down-sizing and more, with miniaturization collapsing Computers into mobile phones, wearables, and "Internet of Things" sensors.

    (Meantime, technology is no longer "paid for", but leased through nosy advertising and access to personal information. It's a level of trust in technology and government and corporations that couldn't have existed in the 60's or 70's, what with "Rollerball" and "Dave, I wouldn't do that Dave" and ITT black-ops.

    On a social level we had shifts in LGBT and black civil rights, new patterns in immigration, huge changes in demographics, even as the "Southern Strategy" gave way to the stratified Southern voting bloc. 

    There's been a lot of discussion about "evolving" on gay rights, especially gay marriage, but the fact remains the Stonewall Riots were in 1969, and LGBT history begins again from that date - for the positive.

    And while Obama's election didn't end racial discrimination, it provided a symbol of change, a new chapter. While #BlackLivesMatter protests didn't end police abuse, they spurred and consolidated the need for heavy heavy improvement in blacks' everyday physical safety especially from the police as a codified piece of the Democratic platform - no longer a fringe issue. I don't recall a period where asking black communities what they needed was the norm, including *listening* - and 10 years after Katrina, 7 years after the financial meltdown, it feels like a huge about-face. Perhaps as relevant, the black community is no longer seen as a homogenous bloc that votes in lockstep - more and more we see differentiation, different factions and viewpoints, which after all is the key to ending stereotypes and dehumanization.

    And while Hillary's candidacy prompted some regrettable "don't vote your sexual organs" response, as the campaign season has progressed, there's been more and more published, people addressing the fact that women still aren't treated very well in many or most workplaces, in physical security, in services that cater to basic female needs and rights - it seems a growing acceptance that there's a long list of issues primarily affecting women that need to be dealt with, both legally and through societal/interpersonal change. Even Trump deserves credit, with his "blood coming out of her wherever"-like Neanderthal comments and attitudes made public what the majority of women have to deal with in the office, campus, store, street, home. (or even the parks, as a recent expose on Grand Canyon abuse reports)

    This past year we came to the revelation that we've rounded the bend on renewables - that it's a question of when, not if they'll replace fossil fuels, brightening our future not just from global warming, but also the high cost of survival, dependence on geographies and sub-surface oil & gas, along with the transfer of these resources. And unlike the last gasp panic and fight we were expecting as the old way dried up & collapsed, the rise of fracking has absorbed much of the shock - there will be no fight for the last drop of oil as the "peak oil" scare subsided 5 years ago. 

    And if there's one thing that's been brought to the forefront by the GOP chaos, it's the anachronism of most of their ideas, including their cherished "US Exceptionalism". Indeed, one of the wonderful achievements to celebrate the last 5 years is that more than half the world now lives under democracy (vs. say 1/3 in the 1970's).

    And aside from a few African countries and Pakistan, we've largely solved global overpopulation and runaway population growth - 90% of the globe is under control. Disease-wise, we're also doing well, as this graph shows;

    But perhaps most impressive is our susceptibility to war. Despite the recent civil war in Syria and ongoing Iraq/Afghanistan deaths (since the large wars in Congo and Sudan, fatalities have been relatively small), we've basically cured war globally, and it only portends to get better. Lost in the Mideast news is that the Arab Spring did introduce new thoughts, behaviors, norms - not immediately, but in due course.

    As we update our prognosis on security, well-being, progress overall, it's worth considering how far we've come - since the late 1800's, since WWII, since the fall of the Wall, and the recovery up to now. The Future looks rather promising, despite all the political and economic doomsday reports. 

    Perhaps that's why so many appear out of touch - optimism is the only sane, statistically justifiable position. And it's no longer even a US-dependent movement - the US can do as it wants, and the rest of the world will continue on this rosy path.  A path, not acceptance of everything as it is now, but realization that we've been through much worse. Take a bow, folks - humanity's on the mend. It may be easy to get caught up with the warts, but there's a Prince or Princess inside.

    Comments

    Nice post PP. I too am of the opinion that there has been a steady progression in almost every way toward a better world. Though I'm not sure that will always continue.

    I'll add this link. In the face of massive increases in world population world hunger has decreased dramatically. Lots of interesting graphics.

    http://ourworldindata.org/VisualHistoryOf/Hunger.html#/title-slide

    Also this link with a powerful video about deaths in WWII with a portion showing the decrease in deaths in war in following years.

    http://www.fallen.io/ww2/


    Will check out the links. BTW, SMS/text messaging and twitter are basically a more efficient telegraph 150 years later. I just read that some big scammy businessman runs his supposedly divested business via SMS, and I'm reminded that telegraph made it possible for English financiers and businessmen to track their investments in America. Voice calls aren't that different from Graham Bell's, while still few people use video. The pace of the coming revolution sometimes seems glacial, though if I need some overhyped adrenalin I'll check out Kurzweil's singularity.


    Wow! This was a timely post. Thanks for sharing! 


    We should fight more.  I like this well done.


    Brilliant and uplifting, Peracles.


    This is gooood!

    At the turn of the 20th century, farmers (the primary labor force) died around forty years of age.

    I recall traveling with my friend to his parents' farm in early 70's.

    His dad drank whole milk and lots of meat and....the regular course.

    The guy died at 55?

    Genetics count of course, but damn the averages are astounding.

    We live longer.

    We have more of an ability to seek out new worlds of information; regardless of a talent at memory.

    We kill less peeps on the highway.

    We have Radio, TV, internet, and universal refrigeration for chrissakes.

    I just witnessed a doc on the Travel Channel and they took me to 1841 when a doctor obsessed with finding a cure for Yellow Fever discovered a way to freeze water down in Florida? It took another 60+ years for someone else to 'rediscover' air conditioning!

    I can find out what 3.14 x 766666789 equals in about half a minute.

    A higher percentage of those suffering from cancer will survive for the next ten years; a percentage much higher than just twenty years ago.

    There are studies that tell us that 100,000,000 peeps died in WWI & WWII. Maybe more if one includes terrible illnesses.

    Hell, Ben Franklin had big problems just pissing, for chrissakes. That type of malady is almost gone these days.

    Like Louis CK says:

    We can fly through the air on a chair nowadays.

    Old farts like myself can get credit for past things done and receive checks every month.

    The classics, up until 1927? are free. These classics are free to anyone who can pay the 22 bucks or whatever for basic internet.

    Birth rates have changed. Again, at the beginning of the 20th century a couple might breed twelve children in twelve years and five might survive.

    Yeah, it is getting better....

    And besides we can watch nekked peeps walking thru the woods for free on cable and without censorship!

    And we get to watch Kardasians for free (basic cable fees not included)

    And then of course there is Sarah Palin

     

    Oh well, we must take the good with the bad and the very bad.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    I can  


    Go ahead and say it, Dick - the oogli - U-G-L-I ugly. There, I feel better.


    No, no  no...

    THIS IS FISHBONE, FOR CHRISSAKES:

    We must all shine on harvest moon.

    WHAT?

    What the hell time is it anyway?

    Ask Mr. Smith

    Look, what time is it anyway, goddamnitall?


    Not what. Just time.

     

     

     


    You win!

    God I love this song!

    Ha!


    Major free early jazz release here from David A. Niven. Louis, Duke, Jelly Roll, etc. at Archive.org


    I read this again; you nailed it. there's reason for optimism. We have more going on for us than we appreciate at times. I have a friend from Nigeria who has really impacted the way I view some of the advantages we take for granted.

    Awesome! 


    Yeah, I only get my optimisim from comfy EU-land. Hearing from folks in Africa and other traditional backwaters to hear how real changes impact must be great. In general, we only hear when there's Ebola or Boko Haram, as if these are the only events over the last 20-30 years. Thank you.


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