are things really getting worse?

some things definitely are worse now than they were years ago, but as a whole are things worse overall? this is a question my friends often casually discuss and occasionally debate.

i think some things appear worse than they are, because of increased news reporting. the world is smaller. it seems more chaotic. but that may partially be a horizon effect. we can see more at once now. that may mask a qualitative sense of how things really are trending.

as an example of how things might be getting better, read about the undelivered arms shipment to zimbabwe , for example. you could argue that neighboring countries just allied to prevent zimbabwe from re-arming themselves, but the issue has an international eye because of political unrest there and a global desire for stability. regional leaders are speaking out about the unrest in zimbabwe and the inability for the government there to release election results. not only that, but the dock worker unions in south africa refused to unload the 77 tons of munitions.

i have no specific evidence nor informed opinion, but doesn’t it seem that say just a hundred years ago that kind of scrutiny, conversation, and effort to reduce violence just would not have happened? in particular, the part small groups were playing outside of government decision making - like the labor unions - seems notable to me. i get the impression that the greater awareness both of what’s going on and the interdependence and effect of unrest is making a real difference for the better. anyone else have some evidence to that effect? or counter claims?

UPDATE: the ship was sent home to China.

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