Quote:
Originally Posted by wdb
For just a second there you sounded like a certain candidate for a certain political office.
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I've already put together my slogan.
"Vote for Mr. USA. He's Awesome!".
It should handily win out against our current candidate circus.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Frank Lee
B.S.
It's here.
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Frank, I hate to burst your bubble, but you're gonna die of heart disease or cancer just like me (although doing something stupid is likely for me).
When you find a coroner that lists global warming, or over-population as a cause of death, I'll put your tin hat on.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jamesqf
Yes, insurance IS liability in case we screw up, at least for those of us who buy vehicles we can afford, instead of financing them.
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Many states in the US require uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance, which covers loss or injury caused by other drivers who don't have adequate insurance.
A few states allow liability only insurance, which is probably unwise for most people.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jamesqf
You really think so? Only if you get to define 'abundance' as having some high-tech beads and trinkets. Or (for some, at least) having such a plentiful supply of junk food that people can be simultaneously obese and malnourished.
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Based on my poor knowledge of human history, yes, I believe we're living better than ever as a whole.
In the past, war used to be a certainty for every male of a certain age, while it's relatively uncommon for most people nowadays. In the US, only 0.5% of the population serves in the military. As recently as WWII, 12% of the population served in the military.
Most people used to be farmers just 150 years ago because technology didn't allow for much abundance. Working from sun up until sun down, people could usually produce just a little more than they needed. Starvation was a threat to many people. Now obesity is a larger threat, even in relatively poorer countries. Mexico has overtaken the US as the most obese country.
Communication has connected all corners of the earth, so we are cooperating at an unprecedented level. For the most part, the world is engaged in mutually beneficial trade rather than war and conquest.
Sure, there are still enormous problems remaining, and horrible suffering and injustice, but I'd rather have the problems of our era than the problems encountered by the common person in biblical times and before. It's a luxury for us to worry about global warming, VW emission cheating, and imperfect autopilot systems in comparison to the problems faced by almost all of previous humanity.
"Everything was better back when everything was worse".