Being open-minded about our situation today makes it easier to find solutions. To be open-minded means to not only take note of the following facts, but also draw conclusions from them. For example, we can read that the average life expectancy in Germany was 37.2 years in 1855, whereas it was 74.6 years in 1985, an exact doubling. Further, not only do we have twice as many years, we also have twice as many good years. Our nutrition is more assured and better than ever before.
Infectious diseases are largely under control.
We work half as long as our ancestors and generally under better conditions. Economically, with some exceptions, we can afford many more things. Information of all kinds, obtained through numerous television and radio channels, an overabundance of print media, museums, libraries, concert halls, and unversities all over the world is available to all of us as never before. Dozens of generations before us have striven for a long life. We have it.