dansmith62 - 26 November 2012 08:10 AM

mid atlantic - 24 November 2012 02:08 PM

dansmith62 - 23 November 2012 05:41 AM

On the political side we can analyze how the European Union developed after WWII. There are a lot of good lessons learned. It is one of the greatest peace projects ever.

It probably won’t last much longer.

That’s what some people at Wall Street would like to see, so they can make a quick buck by betting on chaos and doom. US media love European doom too. Bad news is good news. Well, they underestimate the resolve of the European people. And when we look at the political stalemate in the US for the past 4 years, this makes the European commission look like a progress bar in hyperdrive

I agree that politics in Europe are more progressive and/or sophisticated then American politics; America is doomed.

The economic situation, and the social situation in the EU doesn’t look good from this angle, however. As it gets worse, the possibility of conflict will increase.

On a brighter note, as increasingly inexpensive sources of energy become established, there could be a resulting economic boom worldwide.

mid atlantic - 26 November 2012 04:58 PM

dansmith62 - 26 November 2012 08:02 AM

How do you explain that the average violence per capita ratio has gone down for the past thousand years?

I disagree that violence is decreasing because people have become more ethical over the past several centuries.

You disagree? My statement is based on the data presented by Matt Ridley. Yours?

“Matt Ridley argues that our progress is measurable, enduring, widespread and for the foreseeable future—unlimited. Who wouldn’t want to believe the slew of statistics he cites? We are becoming healthier, smarter, cleaner, kinder, happier and more peaceful. Since 1800, our life expectancy has more than doubled. Real income has multiplied more than nine times. Child mortality is down by two-thirds. Our IQs are increasing three points per decade. Food production is up by one-third per capita. Indeed, poverty has fallen more in the last 50 years than in the previous 500. We’re even getting more peaceful. Charles Kenny of the Center for Global Development says that military expenditure as a percentage of global GDP is about half of its 1990 level. Worldwide, combat casualties fell 40 percent, from 2000 to 2008 alone. Violent deaths per capita this past decade were the lowest in 50 years.”

http://www.traceybarnett.co.nz/commentary/optimism-the-new-dirty-word/

dansmith62 - 07 December 2012 06:42 AM

mid atlantic - 26 November 2012 04:58 PM

dansmith62 - 26 November 2012 08:02 AM

How do you explain that the average violence per capita ratio has gone down for the past thousand years?

I disagree that violence is decreasing because people have become more ethical over the past several centuries.

You disagree? My statement is based on the data presented by Matt Ridley. Yours?

“Matt Ridley argues that our progress is measurable, enduring, widespread and for the foreseeable future—unlimited. Who wouldn’t want to believe the slew of statistics he cites? We are becoming healthier, smarter, cleaner, kinder, happier and more peaceful. Since 1800, our life expectancy has more than doubled. Real income has multiplied more than nine times. Child mortality is down by two-thirds. Our IQs are increasing three points per decade. Food production is up by one-third per capita. Indeed, poverty has fallen more in the last 50 years than in the previous 500. We’re even getting more peaceful. Charles Kenny of the Center for Global Development says that military expenditure as a percentage of global GDP is about half of its 1990 level. Worldwide, combat casualties fell 40 percent, from 2000 to 2008 alone. Violent deaths per capita this past decade were the lowest in 50 years.”

http://www.traceybarnett.co.nz/commentary/optimism-the-new-dirty-word/

Violence may have decreased, but it’s not because of improved ethics - the assumptions are wrong to begin with.

Of course it has to do with improved ethics. Human rights isn’t a fringe idea. It’s become mainstream on an almost worldwide scale.