In the Internet Era, we see changes happening faster than ever, more impressive, bigger impact than in any other era in history. Except for the late 1800's when suddenly steam gave way to electricity, lights, refrigeration, modern medicine, mass global immigration and the falling of borders everywhere. (followed shortly by modern nationalism and modern warfare, and whoops, back up went the gates).

The post-War period brought decolonization from East Asia to the Subcontinent to the Mideast to Africa to Latin America, a period nicely bookmarked by Mandela's release from prison in 1990 - similarly marked by the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Soviet Union's Communism. 45 years of transition and recovery across most of the world.

In the 70's the US started shifting from Rust Belt to Sun Belt, while the US economy shifted largely from manufacturing to service while Asian production took over. Meanwhile the nature of the Internet-based economy took over along with new forms of production, from globalization to lean manufacturing to offshoring to down-sizing and more, with miniaturization collapsing Computers into mobile phones, wearables, and "Internet of Things" sensors.

(Meantime, technology is no longer "paid for", but leased through nosy advertising and access to personal information. It's a level of trust in technology and government and corporations that couldn't have existed in the 60's or 70's, what with "Rollerball" and "Dave, I wouldn't do that Dave" and ITT black-ops.

On a social level we had shifts in LGBT and black civil rights, new patterns in immigration, huge changes in demographics, even as the "Southern Strategy" gave way to the stratified Southern voting bloc. 

There's been a lot of discussion about "evolving" on gay rights, especially gay marriage, but the fact remains the Stonewall Riots were in 1969, and LGBT history begins again from that date - for the positive.

And while Obama's election didn't end racial discrimination, it provided a symbol of change, a new chapter. While #BlackLivesMatter protests didn't end police abuse, they spurred and consolidated the need for heavy heavy improvement in blacks' everyday physical safety especially from the police as a codified piece of the Democratic platform - no longer a fringe issue. I don't recall a period where asking black communities what they needed was the norm, including *listening* - and 10 years after Katrina, 7 years after the financial meltdown, it feels like a huge about-face. Perhaps as relevant, the black community is no longer seen as a homogenous bloc that votes in lockstep - more and more we see differentiation, different factions and viewpoints, which after all is the key to ending stereotypes and dehumanization.

And while Hillary's candidacy prompted some regrettable "don't vote your sexual organs" response, as the campaign season has progressed, there's been more and more published, people addressing the fact that women still aren't treated very well in many or most workplaces, in physical security, in services that cater to basic female needs and rights - it seems a growing acceptance that there's a long list of issues primarily affecting women that need to be dealt with, both legally and through societal/interpersonal change. Even Trump deserves credit, with his "blood coming out of her wherever"-like Neanderthal comments and attitudes made public what the majority of women have to deal with in the office, campus, store, street, home. (or even the parks, as a recent expose on Grand Canyon abuse reports)

This past year we came to the revelation that we've rounded the bend on renewables - that it's a question of when, not if they'll replace fossil fuels, brightening our future not just from global warming, but also the high cost of survival, dependence on geographies and sub-surface oil & gas, along with the transfer of these resources. And unlike the last gasp panic and fight we were expecting as the old way dried up & collapsed, the rise of fracking has absorbed much of the shock - there will be no fight for the last drop of oil as the "peak oil" scare subsided 5 years ago. 

And if there's one thing that's been brought to the forefront by the GOP chaos, it's the anachronism of most of their ideas, including their cherished "US Exceptionalism". Indeed, one of the wonderful achievements to celebrate the last 5 years is that more than half the world now lives under democracy (vs. say 1/3 in the 1970's).

And aside from a few African countries and Pakistan, we've largely solved global overpopulation and runaway population growth - 90% of the globe is under control. Disease-wise, we're also doing well, as this graph shows;

But perhaps most impressive is our susceptibility to war. Despite the recent civil war in Syria and ongoing Iraq/Afghanistan deaths (since the large wars in Congo and Sudan, fatalities have been relatively small), we've basically cured war globally, and it only portends to get better. Lost in the Mideast news is that the Arab Spring did introduce new thoughts, behaviors, norms - not immediately, but in due course.

As we update our prognosis on security, well-being, progress overall, it's worth considering how far we've come - since the late 1800's, since WWII, since the fall of the Wall, and the recovery up to now. The Future looks rather promising, despite all the political and economic doomsday reports. 

Perhaps that's why so many appear out of touch - optimism is the only sane, statistically justifiable position. And it's no longer even a US-dependent movement - the US can do as it wants, and the rest of the world will continue on this rosy path.  A path, not acceptance of everything as it is now, but realization that we've been through much worse. Take a bow, folks - humanity's on the mend. It may be easy to get caught up with the warts, but there's a Prince or Princess inside.