We hear politicians talk about progress. Have we progressed in the last twenty years?

Question

What is meant by progress? More technology? A better society?

Answer 1

depends what you base it on,I grew up with a cold war,,heavy drug use in America,no cell phones but rotary phones,pinball and no video games,no CNN,no Rush Limbaugh,so I guess it really depends upon your point of view when answering the question,as far as a society,I think weve lost our morales and perseverance as to what makes this nation great and believe that the generations that have come after me have been fed with a silver spoon and dont see the world past their own selfishness

Answer 2

Much has changed in the world, much.

For every person, some of these changes have been beneficial and others have not, so the overall balance is very hard to draw.

But what about these top three statements:
1. You cannot argue that Eastern Europe or the world was more democratic 20 years ago
2. You cannot argue that more people had more gadgets, more useful electronic items, more technologically sophisticated stuff 20 years ago
3. New work practices involving shorter-term employment contracts, tougher targets and fewer fringe benefits have not suited those who were left with only occasional temp jobs when they used to have full time work and full time pay all year round, nor most others

Answer 3

Progress means all of those things which have improved our lives both in the home and at work. Twenty years ago, there were still many people who did not have a bathroom in their house. Government grants have enabled people to have one installed if they fall below a certain income.

My birth year is 1941 and can confirm that the quality of life today for the average citizen is many times better than it was then.

In c1953 when HM Queen went to her coronation at Westminster Abbey, my parents had no TV and neither did any of our neighbours. We had a street party instead and my dad got very drunk and so did lots of other people too.

The first TV I watched was when I joined the Army in 1957 aged 15.

In my parents house we had no bath, no washing machine, no fridge, no freezer.

In my detached house now, we have, a dish washer, two washing machines, a fridge, a freezer, an electric oven with hob, a microwave multi purpose oven, full central heating throughout the house, double glazing, mortgage paid off, a brand new car every three years, holidays abroad, etc. None of this was ever available to my parents. My dad went abroad, but only to fight the Germans.

Enough said.

Answer 4

Technological progress doesn't mean that humans have progressed. We are as primitive as we where thousands of years ago. We still have the death penalty in some countries, we have rich and poor and greed rules the world, and we still sell weapons to countries where millions are going hungry.
I remember the '90s being a lot more liberal than now! It was a lot more fun and creative.

Answer 5

Simple > more technology, worse society!
Everything designed to make life better has resulted in a society that Wants more all the time, everything has to be bigger or better!
People are also of a Not in my Backyard mentality. They want the mobile phones or the Electricity but listen to the screams when a mast or wind-farm is proposed!
We are no nearer to peace either. Racial hatred and Terrorism abound world-wide,so if anything in terms of 'Humanity' I think Regression rather than progress!

Answer 6

We have progressed imessurably in the last twenty years. We have had the human rights movement. We have moved closer and closer to inequality than ever before. This can be illustrated from the recognition of gay relationships to the internet, mankind is moving along faster than ever before due to the speed of communication and the availability and globality of travel in the 21st century. Mankind has not moved so fast so quickly since we discovered fire, and as such it's an incredibly exciting time to be alive and we should be eternally grateful we are here today to see what happens. Rock on man and take it easy, L.

Answer 7

It would be wonderful if progress meant that humanity is going forward and no peoply had to live in poverty or starv to death.
The truth is that more people are in need then ever so i guess that the main progress being done in the moment is technology.

Answer 8

In technology, we definitely have progressed. As far as everything else goes, I think we've regressed. Look at all the gang members and drug dealers today--they've more than tripled from 20 years ago. That's not progress. Look at all the people in jail--not progress. Look at all the people working for the minimum wage--progress???

Answer 9

We have progressed backward since the 1974 elections and the true beginning of the Free Trade Acts. Goodbye middle class, hello poverty.

Answer 10

NO! ! ! Chicago is a DEMOCRAT machine controlled City in a Democrat controlled state and that is why we are not only the most corrupt though also have the highest murder rate and strongest organized crime organizations. The Organized Crime is directly tied to our politicians, including Obama.