@humanprogress (Twitter)

In 1981, the year Ronald Reagan became America's 40th President, 44.3 percent of the world lived in extreme poverty (i.e., less than $1.90 per person per day). Last year, it was 9.6 percent. That's a decline of 78 percent.

We are the luckiest generation that has ever lived. On average, we are longer living, richer, healthier, more educated, safer and, even, happier, than any other people who have ever lived.

If fusion makes energy “too cheap to meter,” we could make as much fresh water as we fancied, through desalination, to water the deserts. We could grow food indoors to release the countryside for nature. Africa could become as wealthy as America.

Great read

It's privileged, revisionist, and stupid (plus it doesn't pass ideological Turing test muster) to act like capitalism hasn't created vast amounts of wealth and innovation, helping unprecedented numbers of people rise out of extreme poverty. (@HumanProgress follows this)

Stat of the Day via @HumanProgress

In 1984, a cellphone weighed two pounds, was nothing but a telephone, and cost $10,277 in today's $. Today, a smartphone is also a camera, radio, television set, alarm clock, newspaper, photo album, voice recorder, map, and compass, and cost as little as $99 HT @HumanProgress

“For the first time since agriculture-based civilization began 10,000 years ago, the majority of humankind is no longer poor or vulnerable to falling into poverty.”

But I was told that capitalism and the Enlightenment were bad.

Thank you. I really think people are sick of the endless hate and anger online. I’m trying to focus on goodness in the world as much as possible. Just sat down with Marian Tupy from @HumanProgress who is doing great work in that regard. Will post this week.