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Standard of living isn't always a great measurement.
A person working in a factory or developed city could have access to more material wealth than their ancestors, but most likely they have less authority over their capital, less freedom in how to use it, less ownership over one's own land, and no social culture or community like in the past.
Point being in modern economies were rent seeking are the primary methods of wealth creation. That doesn't create a more content or happy population.
Its propaganda when the elite say standard of living must go up.
I would very definitely prefer to live as an average person in the developed world today than as an average person in those same places in the pre-industrial era. There's not even any comparison, it is light years better now.
The media likes exaggerating events happening in the world but in reality not much is changing with the status quo strongly in place.
We don't live in interesting times, just business as usual.
I agree. On the contrary, this is the Golden Age.
I, a mere common idiot, have more than enough water, food, fuel, housing, electricity, sanitation, educational material, art and entertainment than I can shake a stick at.
And that goes for billions of other people on this planet, with the exception of those in dire circumstances such as war or natural disaster or piss-poor governance causing disruptions and blockages in provision of the basic amenities.
I'd argue Gilded Age. If I had to compare now to the 1920s and 1890s, I'd say we have more in common with 1890s, in terms of NYC now to then. Obviously Europe was different.
That's very simplistic world view. The fact that it used to be worse doesn't mean it's good today. Inequality has never been as steep as it is today and climate change is bringing everyone down.
That's very simplistic world view. The fact that it used to be worse doesn't mean it's good today. Inequality has never been as steep as it is today and climate change is bringing everyone down.
Not only that but power and production is being concentrated into a few mega corporations (mostly from the US) who are taking over the world at the detriment of local and domestic companies. For instance pretty much the entire world uses Google as their primary search engine, except for China which has Baidu, and Russia which has Yandex.
If you go back to the 60's and 70's, a lot of people thought we would have settled on the Moon and Mars by now. There was a certain level of optimism that seems to be sorely lacking nowadays.
If you go back to the 60's and 70's, a lot of people thought we would have settled on the Moon and Mars by now. There was a certain level of optimism that seems to be sorely lacking nowadays.
Innovation nowadays just isn't matching past trends. The only things we get excited over these days are just incremental developments on past breakthroughs like the latest igadgets, and other trivialities... No true paradigm and mold breaking discoveries
Firstly there are tree planting projects in countries such as the UK that don't involve Agroforesty, and are about increasing tree coverage. The national forsst in England, saw 9 million trees recently planted and Scotland has planted 22 million trees in recent years.
As for wood and paper, the vast majority is sourced from Europe in terms of the UK and is sustainable in other words it's managed, indeed usually at least twice as many trees are planted as cut down. There is some sawn hardwood and wood pulp imports as well as plywood and wood pellets from Brazil however overall this only accounts for a small amount of overall imports and could be easily replaced in a boycott scenario.
What is happening in the Amazon is mainly down to a right wing policies of President of Brazil Jair Bolsonaro, who cares little about the environment and this is coupled with the greed of those who see the rainforests as yet another disposable asset.
Again increasing woodland cover is not the same as increasing natural habitation.
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