In life we see a general conflict between two sorts of minds. One mind-set is preoccupied with the past. Grievances, bitterness, conspiracies, and gloom, clouds the outlook of this group. They are prey to utopian fantasies and ignore the reality of the five senses. A second mind-set is reality based. This group sees the world for what it is, wishes to improve it, is progressive, energetic and lives in the real world, not much interested in fantasy ideologies.



The second group is responsible for the history of progress and innovation. It is this group that has invented the productivity saving appliances and systems that dominate the modern world. It was this group that created agriculture and domesticated livestock; engaged in trade and currency development; set up public buildings; created democratic governance; devised the ancient plumbing systems of Carthage and Rome; calculated geometry in ancient Greek Syracuse; developed iron and steel works; or founded rational science in the 17th century AD. One does not suppose that the creators and innovators of history had much time for crying, complaining and demanding grievance payments.

A history of innovation should be an integral part of any high school curricula. For the most part, schools do not much care about teaching young minds about innovation, productivity or how the modern world was created. For most ?educators? reality is not that interesting since nothing matters and all is relative. Modernity apparently happened by accident. Instead of focusing on how civilization and modernity was created, and what people can do to further reality-based progress, most schools devolve into grievance-mongering; historical rewriting; and teaching abstract nonsense that does nothing to enhance intelligence.

There are three main benefits from technology and innovation. The first is obviously an improved life-style and a longer life. The second is the wealth created by producing more with less and adding more value with higher quality inputs. The third is the moral development of a society which recognizes that man is more than a beast, better than an animal, but [to stop overwhelming pride which leads to a fall], certainly less than a god. In this regard moral development is linked to what Max Weber would call the protestant work ethic.

An improved life and longer life-span has many benefits for society at large ? as well as obvious challenges. Over a longer life the human can spend more time creating, building, developing and understanding. This leads to innovation, an exchange of ideas, a refinement of higher culture and learning, and a commitment to life. The life-cult and the defense of life is directly tied to the innovative and productive impulses of society.

On the other hand a longer life-span presents problems. Instead of building up society someone can spend more time, whining, crying, demanding, and in grievance mongering. The reality and progressive group has improved the world for all, yet this group must carry the crying remainder on its back.

In any modern state about 60% of the total working age population actually works. This means that less than half of the total population is producing economic and social wealth for the majority. This is one reason that taxes are so high and spending is so out of control. To make social peace politicians use cheap ideas [tax the rich] and cheaper promises [programs for all!].

This is one reason why the second main benefit of the reality group has to be productivity. Producing ever more with less is necessary. As populations increase this is even truer. In the future as Western populations decrease from low natural birth rates the increase in productivity will mean that future living standards will remain high, even as the economy adjusts to take into account a reduction in people. Contrary to the doom-and-gloomers a declining population does not mean poverty for all.

Productivity is the economic key to life. A rate of 3.5 % produces higher value jobs and forces economic realignment. As sectors rise and fall, a healthy productivity rate ensures that enough jobs are created in new rising sectors to offset those in declining sectors; and that enough corporate and private wealth is being created to stimulate new firm and industry creation. Areas such as Europe with low yearly productivity don't produce enough jobs and suffer from social unrest, bad finances and high debt loads.

A third benefit of innovation and productivity is the moral aspect. Ever wonder why Muslims in India don't kill more Hindu's? Being part of the global supply chain is one reason. Innovation precludes other activities such as destruction; rape; hate; and idle chatter which leads to utopian philosophies; hatred; conspiracy theories and bizarre ideas. Islam and Greater Arabia are prime examples of the poverty of this approach. An innovative society should be a moral, aware society ? conscious that humans are higher than the beasts, but so deeply flawed that only the truly moronic and self-delusional carry on as little gods.

In essence innovation and productivity like so much in life, come from culture. The group in society that embraces reality and the world of the five senses is not much interested in the low culture of idiotic pop-music; mindless comedy or the self-aggrandizing grievance mongering from the latest populist politician vying for votes with tears in his eyes. The innovative group understands the real world and desires to improve it. It is this group that the grievance-mongerers plunder to satiate their selfishness.

As one wit stated, ?anyone who talks about saving the world, really desires to rule it.? The innovative group of society understands this. This is why they are so skeptical of government; pan-national institutions and millenarians crying about impending catastrophe.

People should remember what group created the modern world before bowing their heads in obedience to men like Al Gore and institutions like the UNO.