When you read today’s news you get mired down in a sea of negativity and  and that is why today if you ask someone if our future is bright they are likely to say “no”. Well let’s look at some facts:

1. In the early 1800’s 95% of the world population was below the poverty line while today that number is 25% and by the way as recently as 50 years ago it was 60%;
2. In 1950 nearly 45% of the world’s population was undernourished and by 2015 that number has dropped to 10%;
3. In 1700 the life expectancy in the world was 29 years. When Social Security was created in the mid 1930’s the average life expectancy in the world was mid 40’s, and now it is in the 70’s;
4. The percent of the world’s population with access to good water 35 years ago was merely 50% and thanks to new infrastructure projects that number today surpasses 90%;
5. 100 years ago women’s right to vote was infant, today over 186 nations give women citizens the right to vote. Not yet 100% of the world but a major step forward; and
6. If we use 1970 as a benchmark year ( the year EPA was created) for pollutant emissions in the world, western nations have reduced total emissions as a percent of 1970 to 80% and by 2015 the number is down to 35%.

These are just some statistics that clearly show that the world is a better place today than it was in the past despite negative news. Yes humanity has made more progress in the past 50 years than in the rest of recorded history (about 10,000 years). Don’t lose hope but let’s continue to forge ahead. My expectation is that the next 20 years will make the progress in the past 50 seem puny. Go Millennials! Let’s continue to make the world a better place for all- despite what we may read.