Where are we going and why are we in this hand basket?

[Martinus]

Ok, so between Russo-Ukrainian war, the ISIL/ISIS menace, uncontained Ebola outbreaks, Hong Kong protests, the Arab Spring being a long forgotten memory, Turkey going authoritarian, etc. are we experienced the shittiest year in decades or is this no worse than usual?

[Eddie Teach]

Not as bad as next year will be. 

[MadImmortalMan]

What do you mean? The Arab Spring is still going on. 

[crazy canuck]

During the Cold War we lived in constant fear of nuclear war and millions lived under the oppression of Soviet domination.  But it did give some stability to the world.  When the Wall came down in '89 all things seemed possible.  It was going to be a new prosperous peaceful world.  Hasnt worked out so well.  It would be an interesting discussion as to whether the current state of things was inevitable or whether, with better policy decision, a peaceful world really was possible.

[CountDeMoney]

Not as bad as next year will be. 

I sat in on a leadership meeting not too long ago, and got to listen to Suit From Downtown^tm pontificate on how the world has become a more dangerous place.   Really?  And when, exactly, was it ever a less dangerous place?

[Martinus]

During the Cold War we lived in constant fear of nuclear war and millions lived under the oppression of Soviet domination.  But it did give some stability to the world.  When the Wall came down in '89 all things seemed possible.  It was going to be a new prosperous peaceful world.  Hasnt worked out so well.  It would be an interesting discussion as to whether the current state of things was inevitable or whether, with better policy decision, a peaceful world really was possible.

Yeah it seems to me we are entering into a new cold war era, with slightly differently drawn lines. In a sense it does lend a certain stability to the world - people tend to forget fighting over lesser things.

[Barrister]

I'm really struggling to see how 2014 is any worse than any other year.

Seriously.  Pick a year - any year, since 1991, and it has more or less the same levels of violence and mayhem going on.

Let's pick... 2004.  Ten years ago.

http://www.infoplease.com/year/2004.html

Highlights included terrorist attacks in Spain, and the Beslan shoolchild massacre in Russia.  Unrest and massacres in Darfur, Sudan.  US troops go on the offensive in Falluja, Iraq.  Protests over fraudulent election in Ukraine.  Oh yeah, and a massive tsunami killed 200,000 people.

[derspiess]

It's not really that bad.

[The Brain]

I'm really struggling to see how 2014 is any worse than any other year.

Seriously.  Pick a year - any year, since 1991, and it has more or less the same levels of violence and mayhem going on.

Let's pick... 2004.  Ten years ago.

http://www.infoplease.com/year/2004.html

Highlights included terrorist attacks in Spain, and the Beslan shoolchild massacre in Russia.  Unrest and massacres in Darfur, Sudan.  US troops go on the offensive in Falluja, Iraq.  Protests over fraudulent election in Ukraine.  Oh yeah, and a massive tsunami killed 200,000 people.

Please. In the 90s the worst thing that happened was the POTUS having sex.

[Darth Wagtaros]

More dangerous than 1919?

[Barrister]

I'm really struggling to see how 2014 is any worse than any other year.

Seriously.  Pick a year - any year, since 1991, and it has more or less the same levels of violence and mayhem going on.

Let's pick... 2004.  Ten years ago.

http://www.infoplease.com/year/2004.html

Highlights included terrorist attacks in Spain, and the Beslan shoolchild massacre in Russia.  Unrest and massacres in Darfur, Sudan.  US troops go on the offensive in Falluja, Iraq.  Protests over fraudulent election in Ukraine.  Oh yeah, and a massive tsunami killed 200,000 people.

Please. In the 90s the worst thing that happened was the POTUS having sex.

Let's go back another 10 years.  1994.

-genocide in Rwanda, killing 100s of thousands
-Serbs shelling Sarjevo
-Russia attacks Chechnya
-OJ kills his wife

[The Brain]

I'm really struggling to see how 2014 is any worse than any other year.

Seriously.  Pick a year - any year, since 1991, and it has more or less the same levels of violence and mayhem going on.

Let's pick... 2004.  Ten years ago.

http://www.infoplease.com/year/2004.html

Highlights included terrorist attacks in Spain, and the Beslan shoolchild massacre in Russia.  Unrest and massacres in Darfur, Sudan.  US troops go on the offensive in Falluja, Iraq.  Protests over fraudulent election in Ukraine.  Oh yeah, and a massive tsunami killed 200,000 people.

Please. In the 90s the worst thing that happened was the POTUS having sex.

Let's go back another 10 years.  1994.

-genocide in Rwanda, killing 100s of thousands
-Serbs shelling Sarjevo
-Russia attacks Chechnya
-OJ kills his wife

BUT Sweden finished third in the World Cup.

[crazy canuck]

-OJ kills his wife

  typical prosecutorial bias.

[Liep]

I'm really struggling to see how 2014 is any worse than any other year.

Seriously.  Pick a year - any year, since 1991, and it has more or less the same levels of violence and mayhem going on.

Let's pick... 2004.  Ten years ago.

http://www.infoplease.com/year/2004.html

Highlights included terrorist attacks in Spain, and the Beslan shoolchild massacre in Russia.  Unrest and massacres in Darfur, Sudan.  US troops go on the offensive in Falluja, Iraq.  Protests over fraudulent election in Ukraine.  Oh yeah, and a massive tsunami killed 200,000 people.

Please. In the 90s the worst thing that happened was the POTUS having sex.

Let's go back another 10 years.  1994.

-genocide in Rwanda, killing 100s of thousands
-Serbs shelling Sarjevo
-Russia attacks Chechnya
-OJ kills his wife

BUT Sweden finished third in the World Cup.

Brolin easily outweighs OJ on that list.

[citizen k]

During the Cold War we lived in constant fear of nuclear war and millions lived under the oppression of Soviet domination.  But it did give some stability to the world.  When the Wall came down in '89 all things seemed possible.  It was going to be a new prosperous peaceful world.  Hasnt worked out so well.  It would be an interesting discussion as to whether the current state of things was inevitable or whether, with better policy decision, a peaceful world really was possible.

Yeah it seems to me we are entering into a new cold war era, with slightly differently drawn lines. In a sense it does lend a certain stability to the world - people tend to forget fighting over lesser things.

This time you guys will be on the right side of the battlelines. Welcome to the winning team.