2014 - The Best?

Kyle Ruth            

December 28th, 2014

 We probably say it every year that "this year was the best year ever." But is there reason to believe that 2014 really was better than others? 2014 was a good year and sure, plenty of terrible things happened. The rise of ISIS in the Middle East, the violence in Ferguson, widening economic inequality, and the killing of schoolchildren in Pakistan. But these things are part of the struggle of being alive and will continue to happen in one form or another for a long time to come. That doesn't mean there is no good to be found. But even if none of this resonates with you, just consider these statistics: while 56 million people died around the world in 2014, 136 million people were born. That means life is winning, that more hope was born this year than died, which is a plus.

                On top of that, divorce has been a widening issue for many families and has increased each year, and in 2014 were at its lowest since 1970.  For a worldly matter, worldwide poverty has decreased heavily, as the United Nations estimated that it has dropped more recently than it has the past 500 years.  Even the poorest regions in Africa grew at a decent rate.  Bottom line on that, the poor are becoming less poor.  Internet connection improved as well, making it easier to connect to other across the world and collaborate, something actually incredible if you take the time to think that you’re talking to someone around the world at just your fingertips.

 For us in the United States, cancer mortality rates have dropped by 20 percent, due to better technology and better equipment in hospitals.  Gas prices have dropped dramatically, whereas when the year started they were three dollars and change, and now in some cities are below two dollars.  Travel has been made cheaper, as airfares have dropped as much as 50 percent and has actually never been safer.

                So for every New Year that we say "that was a great year," 2014 had the stats to back up that statement.  In every country and state around the world, you are less likely to be hungry, more likely to live until you're old, and more connected to the ones you love than you were ten years ago. This change in modern society is only getting better and in 2014 that was evident.  Perhaps this constant change for the better will continue in years to come and make 2014 look bad, but the world has been lucky enough that some of the struggles we’ve had in the past are on their way to diminishing.