Gratuitous Common Sense

Living Forever is the subject of the current poll, on the right side of this page.

In 1900, the life expectancy for newborn babies in the United States was 46 for males and 48 for females. By the year 2000, life expectancy had increased by an average of 64% to 74 for males and 80 for females. Even a modest increase at half that rate over the next century would put average natural life expectancy above 100 years of age. If our civilization continues at the current rate, it will be over 125 years by the year 2100.

With the exponential growth of scientific advancement over the last half century, we might even expect an increase in that rate. Some scientists are saying that the first person that will live to see 200 is alive today. Some are saying we’re on the brink of flat out reversing the aging process. Crazier ones are purporting that the scientific discoveries and possibilities offered by gene/DNA manipulation will allow us to live as long as we want.

But what kind of social consequences does that have, if we just won’t die? How long would you want to live? 200 years? 500 years? 1000 years?

If you think our current life expectancy is ‘just right’, then what do you think the people alive in 1900 thought? What age will the first generation of the 22nd century think is ‘just right’?

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Another gem from the “Impossible to Predict” Department…

Are we through with this mess yet? Are we really going to endure this “evaluation period” for 3 more months?

It never ceases to amaze me how much our president reminds me of a 6 year old. He’s been told to stop playing the video game, repeatedly. “5 more minutes,” he negotiates without taking his eyes off the screen. And Congress, like the pushover parent that should’ve bent him over her knee a long time ago, acquiesces. No doubt, his threat to throw a presidential-sized tantrum made the passive parents avoid the confrontation.

But now he’s been told to stop again, this time by some (republican) parents that he usually respects. Will this make him stop?

Can we please stop using our troops as some sort of cover that’s supposedly keeping the terrorists from coming here?

Can we please stop putting them in harm’s way just for the sake of having them in harm’s way?

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Cannot… compute… head… hurts…

This is one of many questions from a survey by Newsweek, conducted June 18-19, 2007. Yes, 2007! The people who answered this question are over 18, and part of the voting public.

Yes, that’s a warning.

Not only are 41% of people completely ignorant, but that’s up 5% since 2004.

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Gallup has released an annual poll that finds the perception of moral values in America at an all time low. And more than 80% think morality is getting worse.

I found the results not all that surprising, but there were some interesting caveats worth mentioning.

For example, the death penalty (in this so-called “Christian nation” ) enjoys widespread support, with 66% saying that it is morally acceptable for the state to commit revenge killings under the euphemism of ‘punishment’. But hey, at least that’s down from last year’s high of 71%.

At the same time, doctor assisted suicide is only morally acceptable to 49%. And even more baffling is the fact that suicide, without doctor assistance, is only acceptable to 16%. Can anyone tell me why it’s waaaayy more acceptable to ask a doctor to help you commit suicide than it is to just do it by yourself?

I can’t figure that one out.

But on a more positive note, stem cell research is up in the polls:

And in further trending away from scripture as a moral guide, the gays are up in the polls too:

Things look bleak for the likes of Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani, though. Polygamy and adultery are down in the single digits of moral acceptability. The homosexuals are more moral than these guys, and they’re running for president? I think Atheists even enjoy more support for our morally unacceptable - or “Filthy,” as one Christian put it - position.

Just over 1,000 adults were surveyed for this annual Values and Beliefs poll.

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I am creating this post for the purpose of comments on the current poll. Just in case anyone would like to qualify their answer or discuss the various implications.

The current poll is a question about Ron Paul:

Will Ron Paul run independently when he fails to get the Republican nomination?

Feel free to comment or discuss here, if you would like to.

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