Let's take a look at how things are really going in a few of the most important societal categories - violence and poverty.  

Please enjoy these excellent articles.

WHY CAN'T WE SEE THAT WE ARE LIVING IN A GOLDEN AGE- IF YOU LOOK AT ALL THE DATA, IT'S CLEAR THERE'S NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME TO BE ALIVE.

- Johan Norberg in The Spectator

VIOLENCE VANQUISHED - WE BELIEVE OUR WORLD IS RIDDLED WITH TERROR AND WAR, BUT WE MAY BE LIVING IN THE MOST PEACEABLE ERA IN HUMAN EXISTENCE.  WHY BRUTALITY IS DECLINING AND EMPATHY IS ON THE RISE.

- Steven Pinker in the Wall Street Journal

The full text of Steven Pinker's article is also available in the blog post that follows.