17 reasons to be optimistic

[traineeinvestor]

Mathew Ridley has posted a list of 17 reasons to be optimistic on his blog http://www.rationaloptimist.com/blog...;s-digest.aspx

While I am not as optimistic as Mr Ridley for a number of reasons (global warming, debt/deficit issues, extinction of species, desertification, etc etc etc), it's a useful reminder that there are a lot of positive things including:

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1. We're better off now Compared with 50 years ago, when I was just four years old, the average human now earns nearly three times as much money (corrected for inflation), eats one third more calories, buries two thirds fewer children, and can expect to live one third longer. In fact, it's hard to find any region of the world that's worse off now than it was then, even though the global population has more than doubled over that period.

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12. We are the luckiest generation This generation has experienced more peace, freedom, leisure time, education, medicine, and travel than any in history. Yet it laps up gloom at every opportunity. Consumers do not celebrate their wonderful field of choice and, according to psychologists, say they are "overwhelmed." When I go to my local superstore, I do not see people driven to misery by the impossibility of choice. I see people choosing.

One thing I don't aagree with is the environmental comments - globally, my unscientific $0.02 is that things are continuing to deteriorate.

[brewer12345]

Reader's Digest? The toilet reading of the Merkin lumpenproletariat? Almost lost me right there.

But I think he is right, overall.

[clifp]

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Originally Posted by traineeinvestor One thing I don't aagree with is the environmental comments - globally, my unscientific $0.02 is that things are continuing to deteriorate.

Global you are probably right, although China is starting to take environmental issues seriously. But in the US, the environment is improving. I remember growing up in LA in the 60s and 70s and around 8 to 10 days a month they cancel PE class because of smog. This happens infrequently now a few days a year.

You also so promising things like both the Bald Eagle and the Green Sea Turtle population increase so much that they could be taken of the endangered species list.

[brewer12345]

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Originally Posted by clifp You also so promising things like both the Bald Eagle and the Green Sea Turtle population increase so much that they could be taken of the endangered species list.

And deer, gator, wild turkeys, etc. are so plentiful now that they have gotten to the point of nuisance levels. Not so just a few decades back.

[TromboneAl]

We're lucky that we eat 33% more calories? That's a good way to spin it.

[Walt34]

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Originally Posted by TromboneAl We're lucky that we eat 33% more calories? That's a good way to spin it.

I think it means we're lucky that we can eat 33% more calories. That's better than having to do with 33% less.

The fact that so many people do just because they can is a different issue.

[TromboneAl]

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Originally Posted by Walt34 I think it means we're lucky that we can eat 33% more calories. That's better than having to do with 33% less. The fact that so many people do just because they can is a different issue.

In any case, I think we'd be luckier if it weren't the case that 66% of us are overweight and 35% obese.

[WB52]

I love the optimism! We are certainly blessed to be born at this point in history. Too bad the only negative predictions and spin sell media stories. It is nice to see this summary of good news versus the Good O'l Days.

[Alan]

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Originally Posted by WB52 I love the optimism! We are certainly blessed to be born at this point in history. Too bad the only negative predictions and spin sell media stories. It is nice to see this summary of good news versus the Good O'l Days.

+1

Just read the article and it was really nice to see such optimism. We all know how much life expectabcies have increased but I was amazed to read that the average life expectancy in China has risen by 25 years over the last 50 years.

China's life expectancy is now 2nd only to Japan.

[MasterBlaster]

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It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way - in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.

Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities
English novelist (1812 - 1870)

[Bestwifeever]

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Originally Posted by TromboneAl In any case, I think we'd be luckier if it weren't the case that 66% of us are overweight and 35% obese.

I took the article to mean a global calculation of 33 percent more calories today than 50 years ago. That might be a good thing for parts of the world.

[W2R]

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Originally Posted by WB52 I love the optimism! We are certainly blessed to be born at this point in history. Too bad the only negative predictions and spin sell media stories. It is nice to see this summary of good news versus the Good O'l Days.

+2

It seems like we never see the positive side on the major media. How can we rationally assess anything if we only see one viewpoint? I thought the article was refreshingly independent.

[Alan]

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Originally Posted by TromboneAl In any case, I think we'd be luckier if it weren't the case that 66% of us are overweight and 35% obese.

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Originally Posted by Bestwifeever I took the article to mean a global calculation of 33 percent more calories today than 50 years ago. That might be a good thing for parts of the world.

I'm certain that it does mean globally.

Al, maybe a solution to the USA calorie intake problem may be to re-locate some "high calorie" folks to a part of the world that is under-nourished, and that should improve the figures of both regions.

[bld999]

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Originally Posted by Bestwifeever I took the article to mean a global calculation of 33 percent more calories today than 50 years ago. That might be a good thing for parts of the world.

IIRC, at the end of the 19th century, almost 50% of workers were involved in farming; it's something like 2% [usa] now.

[NYEXPAT]

The pessimist in me, see's more people living longer and possibly running out of money in their old age.
<<<<<HOWEVER>>>>>

The Optimist in me believes that this can never happen as the FED can print all the money we will ever need!

[Dreamer]

I feel blessed to be living at this time in history also. I am so very thankful for indoor plumbing and not having to use outhouses. I know that there are many wonderful places in the world, but I am also so grateful that I was born in the USA.

[ERD50]

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Originally Posted by NYEXPAT The Optimist in me believes that this can never happen as the FED can print all the money we will ever need!

The pessimist in me is afraid that is exactly what they will do!

<<<<<HOWEVER>>>>>

The optimist in me, like others have said, still thinks this is the greatest time in history to be alive. But it could be so much better!

-ERD50

[nvestysly]

Interesting article. My father was definitely a "glass is half full" person and I try to be the same although it's easy to get caught up in the gloom and doom stories.

In my opinion Warren Buffett is also a glass is half full (or even nearly full) person. I'm sure he'd admit there are plenty of problems in the world but our lives are so much better than in previous decades and if we keep working... we'll solve more of the problems that confront us today.

My frustration comes when I encounter people that are not making the most of their resources (time/money) and instead continue to do the things that put them into a bad situation.

This past weekend I gaves some copies of The Wealthy Barber, The Richest Man in Babylon, and The Millionaire Next Door to some family members hoping they will gain a better understanding of financial matters.

Back to the article... Maybe I'll send family members a link so they can take a look.

Thanks for posting.

[TromboneAl]

I find it hard to be optimistic given my impression of the typical American.

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