"The Greatest Achievement in Human History": The Global Reduction in Poverty

Townhall.com ^ | January 4, 2014 | Kevin Glass

[Kaslin]

American Enterprise Institute scholar Mark Perry highlights what he says "might qualify as the chart of the century because it illustrates one of the most remarkable achievements in human history."

.

Perry also points to Arthur Brooks' commentary on why this is happening across the globe:

It was globalization, free trade, the boom in international entrepreneurship. In short, it was the free enterprise system, American style, which is our gift to the world.

I will state, assert and defend the statement that if you love the poor, if you are a good Samaritan, you must stand for the free enterprise system, and you must defend it, not just for ourselves but for people around the world. It is the best anti-poverty measure ever invented.

That's not to say there isn't a long way to go in making progress on global poverty - not to mention poverty in the United States - but it's important to recognize how far we've come in the last fifty years.

I spoke with Zack Beauchamp on Bloggingheads.tv on this exact topic. In our 2013 round-up video, he highlighted this trend and said that 2013 was likely the best year in human history:

[Kaslin]

Thanks for your clarification. I appreciate it

[hosepipe]

Correction: The Global Reduction in Poverty BY CAPITALISM...

[Carry_Okie]

Me: "The reason we will always have the poor among us is that we won't keep His Law."

You: List.

My suggestion is that you spend a bit of time with Leviticus 26. Every single one of those blessings and curses is explainable by normal military, environmental, and economic metrics once one understands the Mosaic Law literally. Yes, even including the weather (although the explanation was sufficiently protracted that I had to write a book on the topic).

Yes, silly you.

[cloudmountain]

My suggestion is that you spend a bit of time with Leviticus 26. Every single one of those blessings and curses is explainable byc once one understands the Mosaic Law literally. Yes, even including the weather (although the explanation was sufficiently protracted that I had to write a book on the topic).

Jesus, another Jew, said: Love God and love each other. THAT took care of all explainable blessings and curses. He quoted His Old Testament quite frequently. You remember: THE GOLDEN RULE.

Believe it or not, I didn't have to read Leviticus 26 to learn that.
A--maaazing, innit? Just the "rewards of obedience."
No "haughty confidence" from ME.

[Balding_Eagle]

I think the discovery of antibiotics is the most important.

It has been, and may continue to be, but at this stage, GMO foods have to be moved to, or near the top of the list.

GMO foods have made it possible for those who are alive and well to stay that way by having affordable foods. Before GMO, many simply died of starvation.

[kvanbrunt2]

i think we need to stop printing our fake money.

[Carry_Okie]

THAT took care of all explainable blessings and curses.

A purely mystical exegesis. The Mosaic Law was of considerable practical value, but has been misunderstood because of its origins in a pastoral nomadic culture. You may be saved by your love for Him, but you will be judged by your works. He said so.

No "haughty confidence" from ME.

From what I can see, there is a ton of it.

[zeestephen]

RE: “9 out of 10 people died from infectious disease.”

It’s also important to remember that many of the deaths caused by infection were directly related to malnutrition, unsafe water, hypothermia, and accidental or violent injuries.

Even without antibiotics, the world would be much healthier today because of abundant food and clean water, better and more available shelter, and safer work places, transportation, and homes.

[trebb]

That’s amazing. Not only is our “recession” over, but we have just about eliminated poverty in the world. Of course it won’t really be eliminated until only the rulers have wealth and the subjects are all on the same dirt-floor playing field.