On the Beach

Currently watching the movie "On the Beach" with Gregory Peck (I forgot he was in it!) for the second time. I'd read the book before ever seeing the movie. It reminds me of a tough time in our nation's history.

While kids today have legitimate concerns about school shootings and terrorism, the fact remains the odds are with them. Such things are very rare. The Cold War and threat of nuclear annihilation was very real. Post-Cold War history has revealed a few times when the world came close to WWIII.

Even though there is still conflict and violence in the world, the world has increasingly become better during my life. In WWII, America lost about 450,000 citizens in less than four years. In Korea, about 40,000 American deaths in two years. Vietnam, over 58,000 in ten years. Afghanistan and Iraq, about 6,900 in 17 years. Do the math. Despite the tragedies of each death, the fact remains the world has become more peaceful, more prosperous (a point I haven't addressed directly) while simultaneously becoming larger.

Have faith. Our world is becoming better. One reason is because most people are good people. They may look different, may talk different and have different beliefs, but they are all human and we all share a common quality of goodness.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Beach_(novel)

 

Looking around this forum, I'd say many people may disagree with your assessments.

 

Agreed, and capitalism has largely been the vehicle for improving those lives.

 

While your observation appears to be true, let's not forget that 1) political forums are a subset of a subset of Americans. Do you really think the average American is as biased and radical as most posters on political forums? Hint: look at their individual demographics.

2) How many people that you know are as rude, biased and aggressive as you see on political forums? If less, then how much less? If so, why?

 

Agreed. While there are pros and cons to everything, the fact remains that capitalism has fueled more freedom than any other human system in history.

 

I remember that movie well. But even the fact is in 1959 all the big nuclear countries had too much to lose. At this point in time the big worry is some small *iss ant dictator like Un could start a war.

 

When this movie came out, I was in the Navy at the time. We went up to San Francisco to see the movie. When it was over, I remember people walked out of the theater very quietly, without hardly talking at all.

 

Ha! You people always forget a little thing called the industrial revolution.

 

How that go for the ussr?

 

Not so well because of a lack of trains.

 

I may have seen It 10 times at least

The world is not getting better

If we take one step forward somewhere its two steps back somewhere else

 

Those bikers near the Afghanistan border believed the same thing, but unlike them, I doubt you’d go out and try to prove this to yourself. It’s just a lot easier and safer to signal egalitarianism online from a gated white suburb.

 

And why not? Becoming Brazil is a bad thing, and that’s where this is heading.

 

Not really. Western culture and European civilizations have produced this. Go ask a Chinese laborer living in a dog kennel in the basement of his factory how well capitalism is improving his life.

 

With a few differences

Brazil speaks Portuguese

Libs want America to speak spanish

 

Unlike north koreans working in china the chinese guy is free to return to his socialist village and eat dogs

 

Sounds like a lateral move to me.

 

Perhaps you need to stock up on food and ammo and head for the hills.

 

It was a lack of trains that caused the USSR to suck for 70 years?

 

Yep..Lack of trains...

 

You do realize don't you that the events in "On the Beach" novel, movie or television adaptation were never even remotely possible.

 

You don't have a clue about economics. The Second Industrial Revolution is the epitome of why capitalism works to lift everyone from poverty.

Think, railroads, steel, telegraph/telephone, electricity, oil, autos, and aircraft for starters. The USSR had none or very little of that. The U.S. out produced Germany in WWII.

The Second Industrial Revolution peaked after the Sherman Anti-Trust Act marked the beginning of government regulations here in the U.S. During the Obama admin, THOUSANDS of regulations were being created and the economy STAGNATED.

Steve

 

The USSR did have it because the Tsar installed it before he went on vacation.
The economy stagnated because of sequestration, which is the opposite of stimulus which is what we have now, enjoy the first trillion dollar deficit...

 

Stop believing the lying liberal media's CRAP and you won't be SURPRISED! again in future elections.

Steve

 

I voted for Strumpet I bet he gets re-elected...If he survives the jungle..