HOPE HAS BEEN ON THE WAY FOR QUITE A WHILE.

In the middle of a nasty political season, the politicians would have us believing that we are witnesses to the steep decline of civilization. No one can make ends meet or afford health care. Youth violence, drug use and teen pregnancy are rampant. Global overpopulation, poverty and starvation are at epidemic levels. Or is the truth actually something else?

The truth is simply this: In the course of human existence, there has never been a better time to be alive than right now. Period. Paragraph. Illustrating this are the following facts:

--In 1900 world life expectancy was 30 years old. Today it is 67 years.

--In 1970, 35% of the people living in developing countries were starving. By 1996 that number had shrunk to 18% and the United Nations forecasts that figure is still falling.

--Also according to the UN, global poverty dropped more in the last 50 years than in the previous 500 years.

--Life expectancy in the U.S. has increased significantly in all categories, with black men making the largest gain from 60 years old in 1970 to 68.2 years old in 2000.

--Despite all the publicity about the failure of public education in the U.S., Americans have never been better educated. In 1960 only 7.7% of the population held college degrees. Today, 25% of the population over 25 years of age have earned their degree.

--Partially due to more women entering the workforce, real household incomes rose dramatically between 1980 and 2000. White families rose 19% and black families 39%.

--Even with all the class warfare rhetoric in this years campaign, the fact is that 12.1% of American families are below the poverty line. In 1960 that number was 22.2%.

--Figures released by the FBI show the murder rate in the U.S. at 5.5 homicides per 100,000, down from a rate of 10.2 in 1980, almost a 50% decline in less than 25 years.

--Rates of teen suicide, teen pregnancy and youth violence have all shown steady decline during the past decade.

Overall, people are living longer, are safer, have more money to spend and having more fun then ever before. So turn off the news and the politicians and go enjoy yourself. Life has never been better. Source: Thanks to Mike Glasior.

So turn off the news and politicians and go enjoy yourself. Life has never been better.

Will Hepburn, CFP is a private investment manager who specializes in active investment strategies. He owns the Prescott Center for Adaptive Market Strategies, and is President of Hepburn Capital Management, LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor. He may be reached at, 2069 Willow Creek Road, Prescott, AZ 86301, or by calling (928) 778-4000 or emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Copyright 2004. Permission to copy granted given the above attribution is included. The information contained in this newsletter is derived from sources believed to be accurate. You should discuss any legal, tax, or financial matters with the appropriate professional. Neither the information presented nor any opinion expressed constitutes a solicitation for purchase or sale or any security.