Steve Forbes: The Pernicious Lie Undermining Global Progress Since WWII

The Golden Age of Progress

• 💡 The narrative that the US has been taken advantage of since WWII is a pernicious myth that ignores 80 years of unprecedented global progress.
• 🌍 Despite human nature and historical conflicts, the post-WWII era has been a golden age, with remarkable advancements in human welfare.

Economic and Living Standard Improvements

• 📈 Global poverty has dramatically decreased, with the percentage of people living in dire poverty falling from two-thirds in 1950 to under one-tenth today.
• 💰 Median household income in the US has more than doubled in real terms since 1950, with significant improvements in purchasing power and access to consumer goods.
• 🏠 Housing quality and size have increased substantially, and home ownership expanded, though current affordability issues are attributed to government error.

Advancements in Health and Technology

• ❤️ Life expectancy has risen significantly, from around 65 in 1945 to over 77 today, due to medical breakthroughs like vaccines and advanced surgical techniques.
• 📱 The technological revolution, exemplified by smartphones and the internet, has transformed daily life, democratizing access to information, communication, and services.
• ✈️ Transportation has evolved from party-line telephones and expensive long-distance calls to instant global communication and accessible air travel.

Social and Educational Progress

• ⚖️ The civil rights movement dismantled segregation, expanding opportunities for minorities, and women have gained greater economic independence and legal equality.
• 🎓 Higher education has become widespread, moving beyond its previous status as a preserve of the few, though current issues focus on quality and cost.

The Danger of Forgetting Progress

• ⚠️ Understanding and appreciating past progress is crucial to avoid policies that could lead back to conditions like the Great Depression and world wars.
• 💥 The existence of nuclear weapons makes the potential consequences of repeating past mistakes even more frightening.