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Amid Thanksgiving mayhem, positive trends: Our view

The economy. A cure for hepatitis C. A more educated America. Decline in obesity. And progress on climate.

The Editorial Board
USA Today

Bad news isn't hard to find these days. Abroad, it's in the Paris attacks, the advance of the Islamic State terrorist group, and the saber-rattling of China and Russia. At home, it's in America's hyperpartisan political culture and an economy plagued by income inequality. At debates and campaign rallies, billionaire presidential candidate Donald Trump likes to declare that "our country is going to hell."

Volunteers hand out food Nov. 24, 2015, to prepare Thanksgiving meals in New York.

But not all the news is bad. In fact, the world is full of positive trends that also deserve attention. Advances in technology and health care are happening at a dizzying rate. Ten years ago, for instance, smartphones didn’t even exist. Ten years from now, we will wonder how we lived without some newly invented device or app. Positive social and economic trends are not hard to find, either.

While such a sweeping statement might seem Pollyannaish, consider this: The first half of the 20th century saw impressive gains in income, education, health care and life expectancy, as well as the widespread development of the telephone, the automobile, radio, television and air travel. And all this took place amid two world wars, the Great Depression and several lesser economic downturns.

So, all is not mayhem and destruction. Here are a few reasons to be thankful as a holiday dedicated to giving thanks approaches:

The U.S. economy. Yes, the economy! It deservedly takes its lumps for not growing faster and for 15 years of stagnant wages. But what might be most remarkable is its resilience in the face of recession, or near recession, throughout much of the world. It has created 13 million jobs in five years, pushing the unemployment rate down to 5%. The employment number is impressive even though it's partly the result of a shrinking workforce.  Weekly unemployment insurance claims — fewer than 300,000 in 39 of 43 weeks so far this year — are spectacularly low and suggest more employment gains ahead. Meanwhile, not one of the dire predictions made with great certainty a few short years ago — another depression, rampant inflation, a debased dollar — has come to pass.

A cure for hepatitis C. A disease affecting roughly 2.7 million Americans, and up to 150 million people worldwide, has met its match. In recent years, several drugs have hit the market that are remarkably effective in ridding people of a chronic and debilitating liver disease acquired mostly from intravenous drug usage, blood transfusions or unsanitary hospital conditions. These drugs, many of them coming from relatively new companies, are some of the most tangible results so far in a biotech revolution that could soon roll out a variety of new treatments for cystic fibrosis, AIDS, breast cancer and even brain diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. To be sure, the hep C drugs are massively overpriced. But they constitute a one-time cost and, as more come onto the market, the price is likely to drop.

A more educated America. From 1990 to 2013, the number of people enrolled in college increased by nearly 50%. Then, in the past couple of years, the numbers dipped slightly. Believe it or not, both trends are seen as positive by people who follow education. The big increase in college enrollment shows how young Americans recognize that education is essential to prospering in a high-tech and rapidly changing economy. The recent dip is seen as a result of fewer people taking refuge in school because they can’t find a job. Much of the gains since 1990 have been among Hispanic- and African-American students. A diverse, more educated workforce is not only good for the people earning their degrees, it also will help power the entire economy forward.

A decline in obesity. The obesity rate for children ages 2-5 dropped by an astounding 43% in the decade ending last year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. No one knows for sure why, but healthier foods offered in day care centers and preschools is one of the top explanations. A drop in sugary drinks might also be a factor. Obesity has been one of the more intractable public health problems because of a barrage of advertising for unhealthy foods and because eating, unlike smoking, can't be cut out entirely.The news is not all good. Obesity rates for teens and adults are not falling. But getting the rate down for kids is the key to long-term advances, as they are likely to continue many of their eating habits as they get older.

Progress on climate. Despite noisy opposition in some places, including Capitol Hill, progress is being made on cutting the greenhouse gas emissions that are warming the globe at an alarming rate. Carbon emissions have been coming down in the USA, Europe and even China. The drops are the result of a variety of factors. In China, the world's leading emitter, the government has launched an aggressive campaign to improve its air quality and curb its carbon emissions. In other places, the drops have come from a combination of modest government action and free-market innovations. Automakers have found ways of making more efficient cars. New drilling techniques have made natural gas an economical replacement for dirtier coal. Even better news could emerge next month from Paris where, undaunted by the terror attacks, about 150 world leaders are to gather to discuss ways to save the planet.

USA TODAY's editorial opinions are decided by its Editorial Board, separate from the news staff. Most editorials are coupled with an opposing view — a unique USA TODAY feature.

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