Yes, it's hardly the case that none of these things happened in 1959 - we just didn't know about it, and/or people never reported it. Sure, there were fewer cases, but the population was lower as well.
Poll:- life better now or in 1959?
- Thread starter JLM
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Yes, it's hardly the case that none of these things happened in 1959 - we just didn't know about it, and/or people never reported it. Sure, there were fewer cases, but the population was lower as well.
1959 I had the Mimico Jail Farm to play in. Riding the pigs, choking chickens , stealing corn, throwing pigeon eggs at cons all in all a fun time. 2009 I got property taxes, education taxes, provincial taxes, federal taxes.... Is it time to stop, no wonder I've got gray hair, high blood pressure & a loggy feeing of sluggishness all in all not a fun time.
Sometimes I wonder if we need all this information. There are times when it's nice to shut it all off and just live a little. As they say, ignorance is bliss.
On the other hand, not enough information is just as bad. Oh dear, striking a reasonable balance in anything is always a challenge.
Yeah, that's it. In actuality there were more rapes, more molestation etc. right? You think I said those events never happened?
You don't think I took things like reporting into consideration when I said what I said? :roll:
JLM, do you know for a fact that suicide rates and bankruptcy ate are more today compared to 1959? Or is that just your feeling? If you have any statistics, put them up and we will take a look at it.
However, I have posted statistics, on life expectancy, infant morality, personal income, standard of living, racial prejudice (and sexual and all kinds of prejudice). Statistics which clearly tell us that we are better off today compared to 50 years ago.
And even if suicide rate, bankruptcy rate is more today (and we don’t know that it is), it doesn’t prove a thing. Progress, prosperity comes at a price. In the old days, credit was not readily available; many people didn’t have credit cards. These days credit is easily available, so it follows that some people will get into trouble. If gambling is banned by law, nobody has a gambling problem. But once the casinos are made legal, some people will inevitable develop gambling problems.
So higher bankruptcy rate (assuming it exists) is just reflective of the availability of easy credit, nothing more.
Now you've thrown me a real curve- previously you've stated repeated that statistics are reliable, now you're telling me they wouldn't prove a thing. Personally I don't know for sure which way the statistics would lean on these two issues (I've a feeling that '09 would be worse) but whichever way they lean would be fairly convincing for me. I know one thing for sure - there's much more anecdotal evidence of bankruptcies and suicides today. Before we pursue this argument further you have to make up your mind which way it is with these statistics.
You asked "Or is that just your feeling?" I'd say that would have a lot to do with someone's level of happiness in '59 vs. '09, and thus deterimining which was better, in their own minds. And that would pretty much be the final decision point, in MY mind.
"So higher bankruptcy rate (assuming it exists) is just reflective of the availability of easy credit, nothing more."- Ooooooooooh S.J. , I'm afraid you've lost a little during your hiatus, you need a slight refresher in logic. Of course (goes without saying) it's reflective of easier credit, but that in no way precludes the easier credit from making life ultimately more difficult.
easy credit has been a huge weakness of everyday people and
greed for the banks and other loan companies, more people are
way over their heads in debt today than ever before, a very sad
picture of present day financial problems.
greed for the banks and other loan companies, more people are
way over their heads in debt today than ever before, a very sad
picture of present day financial problems.
I will have to see the statistics first JLM before I can comment on it. There is no point in hypothesizing, if statistics are one way it would mean this or if they are the other way it would mean that. Let us see the numbers first, then we will talk about them.
If you are talking based upon your personal experience, then that is where it stays.
Easy credit has been a huge plus, a huge strength for businesses, these days, most businesses run on credit. In fact, the reason for the economic meltdown was that banks had stopped lending to businesses. Easy credit is the fuel which runs the economic engine.
So there is nothing wrong with easy credit. It is just that it causes problems with some people. The solution is to educate the people to use the credit responsibly, not to get rid of easy credit altogether. Our economy will collapse without easy credit.
So obviously, it isn't a huge plus if the banks get cranky. Then easy credit seems to be a problem, right?
Whatever happened to selling shares as a way of bringing in money?
If there wasn't anything wrong with it, then how can it be a source of a problem?
"I will have to see the statistics first JLM before I can comment on it. "- You mean if they support your contention they are good and if they support mine they are invalid...................LOL
Yes, S.J. BUT easy credit based on a proven track record. You just don't lend some guy you don't know (and nobody else does) a million $ out ot the blue. You may lend him/her a couple of hundred to start with and see if/how they pay that back.
The topic is life in 1959 as opposed to life now.
Pollution is definitely better now, just look at China and the oceans.
Healthcare is better. Those that survive it are living much longer.
Cars are better, they fold up like $50,000 accordions when a 1959 jobbie runs into them. A $4.00 part takes $1400 in time and labor costs to install instead of $40 in time and labor.
People make waaaay more money these days, so they can give most of it to the gov'ts.
Music is better. We now have Twopack and Snoopydog instead of Eddy Arnold and John Lennon.
etc. ad infinitum
Pollution is definitely better now, just look at China and the oceans.
Healthcare is better. Those that survive it are living much longer.
Cars are better, they fold up like $50,000 accordions when a 1959 jobbie runs into them. A $4.00 part takes $1400 in time and labor costs to install instead of $40 in time and labor.
People make waaaay more money these days, so they can give most of it to the gov'ts.
Music is better. We now have Twopack and Snoopydog instead of Eddy Arnold and John Lennon.
etc. ad infinitum
And don't forget the food! We can now get strawberry jam with 10 ingredients instead of just 2 or 3 back in '59. And lots of other things too. One of my favourites is the "self-cleaning" breakfast cereals...those that contain trisodium phosphate, a chemical cleaner. Never had that back in '59.
Yep, there's a lot to be said for progress. :lol: