Is human progress slowing down?

I think that there's quite a gap in the ability to measure outcomes, based upon what presently exists.  Specific examples include the following:  (1)  My company is working on a solution that will greatly increase computer security, which should save money for reliance on foreign oil, among other resources; (2) People have quite a bit of "junk", for lack of a better term.  Think about 3-D printing and other technologies, to basically re-engineer, ones own self, present "junk" into something more useful.  After these become more popular, another decrease in reliance upon foreign oil.  So, companies will be forced into selling products better aimed at helping re-engineer what one already has, versus perhaps buying new products.  Another possible outcome might be for more closely situated re-engineering hubs to sprout up across the US, which would help cover fixed cost coverage for manufacturing facilities in the US, without having to decrease the cost of labor in the US.  As far as post-secondary re-education of those who've had difficulty with being unemployed and/or underemployed, I say that training people in re-engineering would be a fantastic long-term objective in training those presently having difficulty getting employed.  Just think of the savings of trying to dispose of so much unused "junk", because those materials are re-engineered, not simply dumped into landfills. 

Just think about the impact of the above two items on what have been a multitude of "trade deficits".   Less use of foreign oil, less use of plastics, decreased reliance upon various resources, along with the cost of what has been "conveniently" disposing of unwanted or unneeded items. 

Those who help re-engineer what presently exists, do a great service to our economy, in their skill, innovation, reducing what has been considered "waste", along with putting materials into a better state of utility. 

Rather than government level political games and such, perhaps the private sector can take the lead role in helping steer our economy into more productive utilities.  That does not seem to be a good fit for governmental entities.   

The core seed of growth is capital which results from that produced above that consumed and consequently saved. Collectively, the U. S is a broke nation, propping up a failing economy through monetary trickery and skewing economic data in a way to serve political agendas.

I am a believer in the model outlined in Harry Dents book, THE GREAT DEPRESSION AHEAD, which uses demographics to support declining spending in the economy due to a very large segment of the pouplation moving past peak spending years and into savings, if not onto Social Security and Medicare rolls. There is no way to stimulate this segment to spend. They are through buying high end cars, jewelry, lake houses, furniture, expensive dinners out, etc.. The government smply makes the problem worse by propping up the economy with entitlement spending, and pork projects, borrowing the money, and ultomately stalling the inevitable while creating bubbles in the market leading to collapses like we saw in 08.

In my opinion, our only hope is to revive manufacturing in this country to make products for export to mega markets like India, China, Brazil, and emerging countries. Taxes, government policy, regulations, unions, a declining educational system all conspire unwittingly to drive the smart money overseas to build plants near these markets and train a willing workforce with a better  education. The dumbing down of our educational system to accomodate minorties, immigrants, protect teacher unions is slowly but surely creating a large segment of the workforce marginally trainable, therefore relagated to low skill low wage futures-or to just add to the entitlement class that is already growing ar an alarming rate. The chinese go to school 6 days a week, 52 weeks a year, save upwards of 30% of their income. The U. S over the long term will continue to fall behind if we continue to allow things to continue as they are currently. I didnt even mention India which far exceeds even China i their focus on educational excellence- and not studies in ancient poetry and other worthless degrees for which there is no demand or market value.

These people, and there are more of them than you think, are headed for a career in fast foods or government assistance.

I am not optimistic as the solutions to our problems are painful and politically unpopular.   

ABS, Very Obvious to me...With the remarks you make, AND the wording you use....?

We are definetly dumbing down America....And in your case we are peddling backwards...

Yes, you have stopped Progress in it's tracks..And certainly not part of the FORWARD movement.

Maybe part of a bowel movement, the worst part.?

Careful now, don't sheet in your box....

Re Todd - Darkie deadbeats like you and Lilly are just that,  darkie, deadbeat , beggars and ---- useless NGGRS.

Did you somehow forget I could buy n sell you and NGGRESS too ?

LOL

Now hold up my lantern higher boy, higher !

ABS.....If it hadn't been for working, darkie, deadbeats like myself and Ms. Lilly; You might still be slithering around in the gutter, or in that dirty old box under the bridge....Yuk,yuk,yu​k.

(borrowed from crazy,yuk,yuk.)

Have you pulled any money in lately, with the shell game you run on the corner ?? yuk,yuk.

Still renting your kids out for that "third world" money begging scheme..?? On TV.

And isn't that your Missus on the Weight Watchers Ad...You know, the Big'un ??

The USA is quickly becoming a third world, who can expect "innovation " from beggars from sheetholes , here illegally ? Their mission is to bleed the country of every dime and send the money back to whatever sheethole they come from.

In addition , we have a third world born "president" elected by darkies, deadbeats, illegal's and beggars. His agenda is to redistribute wealth from the few poor slobs left working (the invisible 53%) and give it away to darkies, beggars and illegal's , you know his base

We are  DOOMED to become Mexico or Greece , take your pick

Water or fresh water shortages, will or could have a profound effect on the World populations or food source productions....Has for Centuries, so I really don't see that changing quickly..

Although with Oceans supposedly and slowly rising...I guess the most logical operation would include desalinization processes.

But stealing fresh water sources to be delivered to arid areas is not the answer...

Unless there is an un-needed abundance, such as seasonal floods; Thus it should be stored or rerouted on a "temporary basis" ONLY.