Absolutley No Absolutes.

To say everything, or for that matter, even most things are absolute in this world would be quite a bold and incorrect statement to make; as far as I'm concerned, absolutely nothing in this world is absolute.
I'm assuming you all need an example?

Alright, example number 1: The general consensus tells us that most of the North American populace believe the entirety of Africa is going to the shits (excuse my blatant French) and that most, if not all of the African populace live in irreversible poverty.
Ok, yes; Africa does have a majorly impoverished populace, but along with the fact that a majority of these so-called 'poverty condemned' people are incredibly happy, there are also a good chunk of rich, influential people who assist in national development in countries such as Ethiopia, Sudan, Senegal, and South Africa.
Why is it, then, that the seemingly beat-down, subjugated, and starving people of places such as the Congo are able to stay quite content and happy with both themselves and their lives? Is it because they haven't known anything else? Are they unaware of the luxuries of the West such as iPods, HD Plasma Screen TV's, and things such as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2?
Or is it because they don't need these things to keep happy and entertained?
I don't claim to know the answer to any of these questions, but I'm sure a big chunk of them have seen and are aware of things like X-Box 360's, jacuzzis, and memory foam beds, but they're either indifferent to them due to lack of personal experience, or they simply just don't care.

Also, geographically speaking, not all of Africa is heading down hill on a never ending slippery slope; as a prime example, I'd like to point out Egypt, which not only has one of the richest histories in the world, it's also, by far, one of maybe 2 of the continents most developed countries (the other being South Africa). Yes, it has its issues, but what successful country doesn't?

A comparative to Africa would be its economic opposite: Europe.
When I say opposite, I really do mean nearly an exact opposite considering the fact that a majority of the continent is economically developed, yet small enclaves of economic despair do exist quite prominently, although mostly concentrated in Eastern Europe. Places such as Serbia and Kosovo seem to be stuck in perpetual states of economic downfall, although not quite to the extremes that are met by countries such as Sierra Leone or Senegal.
Another thing to note is that, despite the majority consensus of happiness among Europeans, there are also a good chunk of people who are incredibly depressed despite the ease at which they can access and/or obtain different things (like clean, running water, satellite TV and radio, as well as video games and junk food); once again, another good example that their are no absolutes in this world of ours.

When people ask 'why are end time prophecies like 2012 beginning to pop up everywhere just as the world seems to be going to Hell?' they obviously don't understand the simple fact that it only seems as if its going to hell due to the concentration of the media on the negatives, as well as the plain and obvious fact that things as negative have been happening just as often all around the world since the time of civilizations beginning; the only difference is that there was no one to report it all on a global scale, and as such, most weren't aware of things such as mass murders in the far east until colonialism reached Asia's doorstep and had quick access to local knowledge in which they learned of a massacre 50 to 500 years after it occurred.

Also remember, this applies on a smaller scale as well; just because a place may be strife with poverty and crime, doesn't mean the entirety of the area is. Just look for the neon signs when your in a place such as that.