STEMMING THE DECLINE OF
MORAL STANDARDS

Today we are all faced with widespread evidence of a deepening moral crisis.

Intolerance: Racial and ethnic hate crimes, even genocide remain rampant, with religious, cultural and ethnic divisions fueling most conflicts.

Greed: Corporate theft and employee and consumer fraud total trillions of dollars globally, with US businesses losing some 5 percent of revenue, or $1.3 trillion annually, to occupational fraud.

Immorality: Nearly one in ten websites worldwide—over 4 million sites—is pornographic, with child pornography among the fastest-growing online businesses. For every dollar of software installed legitimately, more than half a dollar’s worth is obtained illegally. Then again, 70 percent of American high school students have cheated on exams.

Criminality: As much as $2 trillion is laundered each year by drug dealers, arms traffickers and other criminals.

Drug abuse: Some 300 million people consume illegal drugs.

Self-respect: Each year, 10 to 20 million individuals attempt suicide; about 700,000 die by suicide.

Environmental irresponsibility: The more than 80 percent increase in climate-related natural disasters since the 1980s has been attributed to weather-related incidents resulting from rising greenhouse gases. Half the world’s hospital beds are occupied by people suffering from illnesses linked to contaminated water.

With no apparent solutions, many are taking to the streets in open revolt against their governments. Yet riot and revolt are not the answer.

At the root of this crisis is a lack of basic morals and values. The Way to Happiness is helping to reverse this decline and restore integrity and trust to humankind.

L. Ron Hubbard authored the 21 precepts of The Way to Happiness to provide a road map any individual may follow to make choices leading to a happier, more decent and fulfilling life. Because it is entirely nonreligious, this common sense moral code can be embraced by anyone of any race, culture or creed.

By presenting copies of The Way to Happiness to friends, associates and even strangers, anyone can help those around them survive better, thereby improving one’s own survival. In turn, those who receive the booklet pass it on to those they influence, guiding others to treat their fellows with kindness, compassion and respect. In these ways and many more, the Way to Happiness movement is uplifting every sector of society.