A few predictions for the next 50 years

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Darth_Erebus
The future can be hard to predict though many have tried throughout history. I don't know what the future holds but here's a few things I think have a real good chance of happening in the next half century.

1)Countries will cease to exist for the most part. A few large global corporations will control everything as governments and national borders become obsolete. The middle class of the Western World will completely disappear leaving only a small wealthy elite ruling over the rest of us.

2)The oil based energy economy will collapse in the next 20 years. Alternative fuels will mean an eventual recovery but not until irreperable damage has been done to the environment and hundreds of millions face economic hardship.

3)A rogue country such as Iran or North Korea will use a nuclear weapon against on of it's neighbors instigating a large regional though not global war. The US, China, or Russia will retaliate in kind but it won't result in a global nuclear war.

4)Terrorists will detonate a dirty bomb in either the US, Europe, or Israel but it won't be a full blown nuke which is much harder to do than most people think.

5)The catastrophic effects of global warming will be felt. The polar ice cap will break up altering ocean currents playing havoc on weather patterns around the world. Because of the loss of the gulf stream Europe's climate will now resemble Siberia's. Many heavily populated low lying regions of the world will start to flood.

6)Mass extinctions of the world's plant and animal species will accelerate far beyond than the already high rate that it is. All the big cats, all elephants, all the great apes, all species of rhino, polar bears, many of the worlds amphibians, most of the worlds corals, and millions of other plant and animal species will disappear completely or remain as token populations in captivity only.

7)The human population will eventually start to decline due to overpopulation, overuse of natural resources, famine, pollution, and disease.

8)As conditions detereroate there will be a mass revival of middle eastern religions which will eventually turn to a backlash when "God" doesn't show.

A gloomy picture I know but it's how I see the future based on trends I see now.

Robtard
All that in 50 years? You're a 'Glass is half empty' kind of guy I see..

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en-commons/thumb/8/88/180px-Glass-of-water.jpg

Darth_Erebus
Originally posted by Robtard
All that in 50 years? You're a 'Glass is half empty' kind of guy I see..

A LOT can happen in 50 years, especially in this era. A lot of it's underway already.

debbiejo
Look what has happened in the last 50 years.............Hard to say what way it shall go.......I only hope for the best cause by that time my Alzheimer's should kick in.........and I won't care...... no expression

VanillaCocaCola
Originally posted by Darth_Erebus
The future can be hard to predict though many have tried throughout history. I don't know what the future holds but here's a few things I think have a real good chance of happening in the next half century.

1)Countries will cease to exist for the most part. A few large global corporations will control everything as governments and national borders become obsolete. The middle class of the Western World will completely disappear leaving only a small wealthy elite ruling over the rest of us.

2)The oil based energy economy will collapse in the next 20 years. Alternative fuels will mean an eventual recovery but not until irreperable damage has been done to the environment and hundreds of millions face economic hardship.

3)A rogue country such as Iran or North Korea will use a nuclear weapon against on of it's neighbors instigating a large regional though not global war. The US, China, or Russia will retaliate in kind but it won't result in a global nuclear war.

4)Terrorists will detonate a dirty bomb in either the US, Europe, or Israel but it won't be a full blown nuke which is much harder to do than most people think.

5)The catastrophic effects of global warming will be felt. The polar ice cap will break up altering ocean currents playing havoc on weather patterns around the world. Because of the loss of the gulf stream Europe's climate will now resemble Siberia's. Many heavily populated low lying regions of the world will start to flood.

6)Mass extinctions of the world's plant and animal species will accelerate far beyond than the already high rate that it is. All the big cats, all elephants, all the great apes, all species of rhino, polar bears, many of the worlds amphibians, most of the worlds corals, and millions of other plant and animal species will disappear completely or remain as token populations in captivity only.

7)The human population will eventually start to decline due to overpopulation, overuse of natural resources, famine, pollution, and disease.

8)As conditions detereroate there will be a mass revival of middle eastern religions which will eventually turn to a backlash when "God" doesn't show.

A gloomy picture I know but it's how I see the future based on trends I see now. Stop bitching and predicting and do something about it.

debbiejo
I'll still be eating French Fries...........eat

If I remember I like them..... confused

Darth_Erebus
Originally posted by VanillaCocaCola
Stop bitching and predicting and do something about it.

Well, I drive a compact car that gets 35 mpg. All the lights in my house are CFL high efficiency ones. I recycle everything I can. All of which helps fight global warming.


I try to avoid shopping at chains like Wal Mart which promote globalism and free trade.

I try to encourage people to vote for third party candidates, especially the green party, and do so myself.

I give financial support to institutions who's aim is preserving wildlife and it's habitat.

I am not reproducing myself beyond the one child I already have thus adding to the population problem.

Beyond that I can't do much more than an individual in my position can.

So, all knowing one, what do you suggest beyond your well articulated argument to "quit bitching and do something".

KidRock
1. A cure for aids will be found

2. World Terrorism will be on a complete decline

3. many types of cancers will be cured

4. Racism will be gone, and not even an issue to discuss

5. new environment efficent fuels will be discovered and used to stop the increase threat of global warming in its tracks.

6. no more liberals.

See..good and bad things may happen in the next 50 years.

Alliance
There will still be liberals. Liberalism is perhaps the greatest philisophical movement of all time.

KidRock
Originally posted by Alliance
There will still be liberals. Liberalism is perhaps the greatest philisophical movement of all time.

Yeah, if your a terrorist.

Imperial_Samura
Hmmm. Well I guess with global communications, quick transport and the potential for weapons and positive sciences to effect people on such a large scale a lot can indeed happen in 50 years, especially when compared with the time frames of history. However, how much can and/or is ready to occure is questionable. Just because your car can do 250 km/hr doesn't mean you can.


Originally posted by Darth_Erebus
1)Countries will cease to exist for the most part. A few large global corporations will control everything as governments and national borders become obsolete. The middle class of the Western World will completely disappear leaving only a small wealthy elite ruling over the rest of us.

I think it is quite possible we are moving away from the traditional nation state model, but I don't believe that the states will be mostly gone in 50 years. I believe, from trends and the flow of powers that they have at least another century in them. As to the disappearance of the middle class - no. With manufacturing going to China and India and the gradual and eventual decline of certain natural resource sectors a lot of theorists predict more people will get into things like Law, medicine, Science and military. Service careers that lend themselves to middle class lifestyle. Likewise, the shift of money from private holdings into the coffers of large multinationals and transnationals will change the face of parts of the upper class.



Possible. Predictions from most are certainly dire on this front, and since oil is a cornerstone of some of richest companies, and thus the economy, it will get messy. Much better to dedicate research to finding an alternative, so the transport systems and industry can weather the storm.



I still don't know. Sure, they are portrayed as unstable and insane, but often a dictator, due to the nature of their system, has to be extremely cagey, cunning and careful. Everyone knows what will happen if they use nukes, including the Iranians and N. Koreans. I just don't think they'd be that stupid.



Far more likely.



Possible, quite possible. Also possible we will be unable to do anything about it because it is either natural and unavoidable, or the damage we have done is irreversible - for now.



Possible, but conservation efforts are moving in the right direction. I have reason to hope there isn't another mass extinction on the horizon.



Possible. Though in the west it is predicted an aging population will make itself known in the next 50 or such years that will lead to immagrant influxes. It will change dynamics for sure.



Why Middle Eastern religions? Do you mean Egyptian or Zoroastrian? Or do you mean Islam?

VanillaCocaCola
Originally posted by Alliance
There will still be liberals. Liberalism is perhaps the greatest philisophical movement of all time. Liberals are also less likely to have children, and will eventually just die off because the conservatives raise families whose views are carried along smile

Originally posted by Darth_Erebus
Well, I drive a compact car that gets 35 mpg. All the lights in my house are CFL high efficiency ones. I recycle everything I can. All of which helps fight global warming.


I try to avoid shopping at chains like Wal Mart which promote globalism and free trade.

I try to encourage people to vote for third party candidates, especially the green party, and do so myself.

I give financial support to institutions who's aim is preserving wildlife and it's habitat.

I am not reproducing myself beyond the one child I already have thus adding to the population problem.

Beyond that I can't do much more than an individual in my position can.

So, all knowing one, what do you suggest beyond your well articulated argument to "quit bitching and do something". How are you sure you can't do more?

Imperial_Samura
Originally posted by KidRock
1. A cure for aids will be found

Quite possibly. Thank you science.



Somehow I really doubt it. Unless there is a vast improvement in the lives of those likely to turn to fanatacism then you will have terrorists. And don't say all this military action will prove fatal. It seems to mean the terrorists have taken a lot of what the west has thrown at them, and they are still there, and still capable of operating. If anything I worry world terrorism will be on the rise.



Quite likely. Thank you science again.



Wow. And people call me an idealist. What magic bullet is waiting that will kill this spectre that has plagued humanity for, well, nearly forever?



Depends.



I fear, if this is your greatest wish, you are doomed to be disappointed. The liberal stance will persist. It always has. And the world can be thankful for that, even if your not.

Darth_Erebus
Originally posted by Imperial_Samura




I think it is quite possible we are moving away from the traditional nation state model, but I don't believe that the states will be mostly gone in 50 years. I believe, from trends and the flow of powers that they have at least another century in them. As to the disappearance of the middle class - no. With manufacturing going to China and India and the gradual and eventual decline of certain natural resource sectors a lot of theorists predict more people will get into things like Law, medicine, Science and military. Service careers that lend themselves to middle class lifestyle. Likewise, the shift of money from private holdings into the coffers of large multinationals and transnationals will change the face of parts of the upper class.

The trend towards globalization is already underway. What do you think these free trade treaties are about? Sure, some regions of the world may take longer than others to lose their identities as countries but it will eventually happen. Free trade also means that manufacturing sectors will be able to shift globally at will. China and India are strong now, but that is because they have the cheapest labor. Twenty years from now Africa might be what China and India are to manufacturing today. Another trend of corporations now is rather than hire their own employees they subcontract more and more to companies who employ low paid temporary workers. The gap between rich and poor is widening, and the middle class is losing ground. Will that trend reverse itself? Time will tell








Possible. Predictions from most are certainly dire on this front, and since oil is a cornerstone of some of richest companies, and thus the economy, it will get messy. Much better to dedicate research to finding an alternative, so the transport systems and industry can weather the storm.


It's not just transportation. Plastics are made from petroleum, so are many other products. Tramsportation only accounts for about 40% of oil usage worldwide


I still don't know. Sure, they are portrayed as unstable and insane, but often a dictator, due to the nature of their system, has to be extremely cagey, cunning and careful. Everyone knows what will happen if they use nukes, including the Iranians and N. Koreans. I just don't think they'd be that stupid.


Never underestimate someone who feels they have nothing to lose. If they feel an invasion is imminant or if their regime is truely in danger then the worst becomes very possible












Possible, but conservation efforts are moving in the right direction. I have reason to hope there isn't another mass extinction on the horizon.


Conservation numbers aren't always as rosy as they seem. Often local officials inflate the results to make themselves look good as if to say "We are getting results, send more money". India is a good example of this. India is home to the largest population of wild tigers left on earth (and that isn't saying much). Indian officials claim there are about 4,000 wild tigers left in the country. Most independant conservation groups believe the number is closer to 1,500-2,000. And this is only one example









Why Middle Eastern religions? Do you mean Egyptian or Zoroastrian? Or do you mean Islam?


I mean mainly Christianity and Islam and to a lesser extant Judaism, all of which have their origins in the middle east.

Darth_Erebus
Originally posted by VanillaCocaCola
L

How are you sure you can't do more?


I guess I'm not. I am trying though and I am aware of what I do and how I live. I'm always open to any positive idea anyone has.

Shakyamunison
You will get older.

Penelope
Well first off, i must say that i did enjoy reading that.

Grand_Moff_Gav
People who have such a negative view of human life don't deserve to have one...

BackFire
Death, and lot's of it.

Also life, and lot's of it.

TV's will get bigger. people will get fatter, gas prices will go up, then eventually an alternative to gas will be found.

America will have a black president, but not a woman one.

Aliens WON'T visit us.

McDonalds will become 'gormet' food.

The Simpsons will end.

Video games will be the most popular entertainment medium, the Playstation 16, Xbox 5784, and the Nintendo Diiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii will be battling it out.

Prices for movie tickets will be over 50 dollars.

Other, scary diseases will exist that make AIDS look like a head cold.

And most importantly, there will be sex robots, realistic, cheap sex robots. Consequently, the number of people getting married will drop 89%.

GCG
Originally posted by BackFire


And most importantly, there will be sex robots, realistic, cheap sex robots. Consequently, the number of people getting married will drop 89%.

I wil drink to that

Bardock42
Originally posted by VanillaCocaCola
Liberals are also less likely to have children, and will eventually just die off because the conservatives raise families whose views are carried along smile

Nah, the movement is so reasonable and smart it will stick around and happen eventually...

Darth_Erebus
Originally posted by Grand_Moff_Gav
People who have such a negative view of human life don't deserve to have one...


A negative view of human life? Just look at history. And these predictions are based on current trends. And who are you to dermine who deserves to have a life and who doesn't?

Grand_Moff_Gav
I am me, Gavin Scott, and that my friend is what gives me the right to determine who does and doesn't deserve life.

VanillaCocaCola
Originally posted by Darth_Erebus
I guess I'm not. I am trying though and I am aware of what I do and how I live. I'm always open to any positive idea anyone has. Find a political movement besides the two parties that exist and support them.

sithsaber408
Originally posted by VanillaCocaCola
Liberals are also less likely to have children, and will eventually just die off because the conservatives raise families whose views are carried along smile




stick out tongue LOL!!!

Along with all teh ghey's!!!




Seriously, I don't know what will happen in the next 50 years.

I think the centuries old war between Islam and Christianity (cuz that's what we're in, whether you're a Christian or not, America has always been a Christian country, and that's how they {Islamic raddicals} view us) will finally come to a head, be bloody and fought out, Islam will lose, and it will die down to a few minor skirmishes here and there.

We will have fought in Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Lebannon, and of course Iraq and Afghani/Paki stan for over 15 years, and while losing millions of troops, have desimated 2 generations of terrorists in such a way that those who don't want to "just get along" will be so under-funded, under-equipped, and depressed about thier side losing that they give it up.


Also, the American people will push The Administration (whichever side of the aisle it is) to come up with alternative fuel.

There will be mass demonstrations and boycotts, until a president sets it as America's next big goal (like Kennedy and the Space Program) that millions of dollars and work-hours go into until it is found.

There will be a liberal pres. either after George W. or after his successor, who makes all the "conservatives are on the wrong page" crowd happy, but our country will be attacked again during that prez.'s term and we will have mostly conservative leaders in the years after.

Abortion and gay marriage will be made legal and illegal at least twice in that time period.

Or Christ will come back and we won't have to worry about any of it.

Darth_Erebus
Originally posted by VanillaCocaCola
Find a political movement besides the two parties that exist and support them.

I do. I'm a registered independant but usually vote Green party

Darth_Erebus
Originally posted by sithsaber408




Or Christ will come back and we won't have to worry about any of it.

In that case I think you'll have to worry about it.

sithsaber408
Not really, I'm a believer.

smile

Quiero Mota
I can't imagine what cars will look like in 50 years! droolio

But then again as a car enthusiast, it sickens me to know that pieces of shit like the '98 Cavalier and the '96 Escort will ACTUALLY BE ANTIQUES. sick

Darth_Erebus
Originally posted by sithsaber408
Not really, I'm a believer.

smile


Doesn't make you right.

VanillaCocaCola
Originally posted by Darth_Erebus
I do. I'm a registered independant but usually vote Green party Libretarian is basically the best of both sides.

debbiejo
You know what I hope happens.........Transporter beams...eek! .........umm...well too many Sci Fi movies I guess.

Darth_Erebus
Originally posted by VanillaCocaCola
Libretarian is basically the best of both sides.

Absolutely not. Libertarians want to privatize everything . They want unlimited free trade which will totally destroy the middle class and which will ultimatly give corporations absolute power over everything. I really wish I could respond to this properly now but I'm out of time till later.

Rapscallion
Originally posted by KidRock
Yeah, if your a terrorist.

ummmm what?? most middle eastern terrorists are extreme consrvative. and it isn't the liberals who have these bullsh*t "red and orange alerts" and broadcast fear mongering news casts to scare people into a state of dependency. now tell me who's truly guilty of inflicting terror on american people

The Dark Cloud
Bump

Mindship
The discovery of extraterrestrial life.
Jewish/Asian/Hispanic president.
Limited practical fusion.
Quantum computers.
Smarthouses.

The MISTER
America's education system is overhauled to increase ability to compete with better educated countries like Japan.

Symmetric Chaos
Originally posted by Mindship
Quantum computers.

We already have those.

Stoic
I was reading the Trumpet a couple years back, and according to what was written, Germany will become a major Super Power once again, and make war with Iran. I remember it stating that Germany would win the war, and in doing so will make the US look impotent. It stated that the US would be made to look weak, and helpless because of their lack of bringing certain war criminals to justice, or their inability to route left wing groups, such as the Taliban.

The prediction, or prophetic vision was centralized on a direct strike on Southern Europe (likely Italy or Spain). I believe that Germany is the next country to hold power in the European Union. Once this happens Germany, and it allies (Europe) would launch a counter strike so fierce, that it may wipe out Iran, which was referred as the Southern King.

Mindship
Originally posted by Symmetric Chaos
We already have those. Practical, functional? Being used for Big Questions? Or still experimental?

Symmetric Chaos
Originally posted by Mindship
Practical, functional? Being used for Big Questions? Or still experimental?

Practical? No.
Functional? Yes.
Experimental? Kinda. Made it factor the number 15. Built a quantum computer based universal-Turing machine. (didn't work very well but the universal Turing machine is the basis of computing)
Big questions? That will always depend on what you count as a Big Question.

Mindship
Originally posted by Symmetric Chaos
Made it factor the number 15. Built a quantum computer based universal-Turing machine. Kewl. As for the Big Questions: what're the Crays doing these days? I would think w/in 50 years, we'll have Quantum Crays humming away.

leonidas
i'd agree with quantum computing, though i'm not sure what it's limits will be. nanotech will be big in the next 50 years i think as well. i'm less sure about major societal change--people tend to be pretty unchanging in the ways that really matter.

leonidas
Originally posted by Mindship
The discovery of extraterrestrial life.
Jewish/Asian/Hispanic president.
Limited practical fusion.
Quantum computers.
Smarthouses.

ET? hmm, still don't think it will happen. what form of life are you predicting?

a woman will come before those others methinks....

fusion, eh? i can go along with that in a limited sense. thumb up

smarthouses. thumb up just don't think 50 years will be enough to see them affordable to the average person--though again i can see it happening in a limited sense to the general public.

china's population will begin seriously declining--too many men is already a problem over there. that could spill over into some aggression that may cause the world further problems down the line....

what won't happen? a cleveland team will NOT win a championship in anything that matters and the lions STILL won't win a superbowl.... sad

Symmetric Chaos
Originally posted by leonidas
nanotech will be big in the next 50 years i think as well.

Another thing we already have!

The way that history gets filtered down to us makes it seem like new developments will burst visibly onto the world stage the moment they're in working order. But with a few exceptions (like the lightbulb) the reality is that it gradually becomes ubiquitous. We've be working on the scale of atoms since the 1970s when my grandfather worked at Bell Labs with devices that set down single layers of them. Nano-scale transistors are the basis of the iPhone. Science site report on nanotech not as a speculative area of study but as practical, if very young, field of engineering.

We're living in the future and most of us don't even know it!

Consider that in 2002 the film Minority Report had a computer interface controlled by gestures. That bit of science fiction technology involved special glove. In 2010 you can go guy a Kinect, a toy that lets you interface with a computer screen based on your gestures with no need for special equipment beyond the camera. (yes Cracked made this observation first, but it was a good one)

leonidas
i didn't say it would be discovered, silly. big grin i know it's around and i know some of the limits. what i meant was that it would become far more prevalent and much more ..... public? especially in combatting the energy crisis and the environmental concerns. MIT is really pushing the area i think. it should be much more practical in the next few decades.

though according to freeman dyson, the environment and global warming really isn't much of a problem.....

Symmetric Chaos
Originally posted by leonidas
i didn't say it would be discovered, silly. big grin i know it's around and i know some of the limits. what i meant was that it would become far more prevalent and much more ..... public? especially in combatting the energy crisis and the environmental concerns. MIT is really pushing the area i think. it should be much more practical in the next few decades.

I don't see nanotech becoming more public in the near future. The real advances I expect will be in material engineering. We'll use nanoconstruction to tailor materials to the specification we want with incredible accuracy, the highest quality products might have proprietary molecules as part of their design. It will make medical testing tremendously faster, early "lab on a chip" products are already in the works.

Mindship
Originally posted by leonidas
ET? hmm, still don't think it will happen. what form of life are you predicting?Not sure. I would think signs of, or actual, Martian microbes would be first to be discovered. But it seems we're also getting very good at detecting extrasolar planets that are more and more Earthlike. At some point (hopefully in our lifetime), we will be able to analyze atmospheric content, and along with other parameters, conclude whether or not a target planet has life.

I'm not optimistic about any kind of prime-number signal from the stars.

a woman will come before those others methinks....Agreed. But after that...I'm going with one of those three.

King Kandy
Outside of technology developing, I don't think we can predict the future very well at this point; social and political landscapes could transform in any number of ways, depending on how they react. I would guess that the US will continue to become more conservative relative to international standards.

Darth Jello
I feel like some of what's going on is reruns with variations. I'll throw my hat in the ring.

1. The global economic situation and standard of living will continue to deteriorate with several European nations spared of the crisis almost entirely.

2. As corporate power tightens, a series of leaked exposes such as wikileaks and strikes will invigorate protests globally. Governments, including in the United States will respond lawlessly and violently.

3. This will be followed by a period marked by a series of high profile attacks and assassinations against politicians and captains of industry which will be condemned by the media but publicly popular.

4. A true reformer president will be elected who will stand up for the peoples' interests. He will be assassinated leading to an extreme cultural backlash against the right wing. The vice president will take over and aggressively renegotiate trade policies leading to a manufacturing boom in America. Universal healthcare and many other European style socialist policies will become reality. Several politicians from past administrations face serious criminal charges but most die or are ruled unfit to stand trial before justice is served.

5. After initial tensions, as America rises, China realizes that much like France and Germany, it's economy is too intertwined. This results in better relations and liberalization of Chinese government and culture.

6. The government of Iran collapses and is replaced by a secular democratic government called the United Republic of Persia. Its resources make it a major economic power creating tension with Israel. Israel goes through massive reforms as much of the old government is voted out and changes the way it treats its Arab and Persian Jewish/Mizrahi population. This results in a loosening of tensions between Iran and Israel.

7. With the development of nanophotovoltaics and increased use of vegetable materials for the manufacture of plastics, petroleum becomes nearly worthless leading to many Arab countries liberalizing in order to survive. Terrorist groups lose their funding as monarchies collapse.

8. Russia becomes fascist. Belarus collapses and is united in a union with Ukraine, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. A Russian invasion of Europe is halted by Belarus launching a secret arsenal of unaccounted Soviet ICBM's taking out many military bases and destabilizing the government, leading Siberia and Chechnya to declare its independence.

9. North Korea collapses and is absorbed by the south.

10. As female empowerment and gay rights increase in prevalence globally, birth rates stabilize and overpopulation becomes far less of a concern.

Stoic
Originally posted by Symmetric Chaos
We already have those.

Quantum computing, or quantum encryption?

The Dark Cloud
Darth Jello, aren't we the dreamer. You have too much faith in humanity. The only one of your predictions I agree with is #9.

King Kandy
Originally posted by The Dark Cloud
Darth Jello, aren't we the dreamer. You have too much faith in humanity. The only one of your predictions I agree with is #9.
That's such a fatalistic attitude. Of course if everyone thinks things will inevitably be awful, they will be. The future depends on what you put into making it better.

King Castle
an old, drug abusing reckless celebrity will die and it will shock the world...

http://ww1.prweb.com/prfiles/2005/07/16/262656/ProphetYahweh.jpg

http://weblogs.variety.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/10/19/bettywhite_2.jpg

The Dark Cloud
Originally posted by King Kandy
That's such a fatalistic attitude. Of course if everyone thinks things will inevitably be awful, they will be. The future depends on what you put into making it better.

I call things like I see them.

King Kandy
Originally posted by The Dark Cloud
I call things like I see them.
That's not very helpful. If that's how you see it then why aren't you trying to change it?

The Dark Cloud
Originally posted by King Kandy
That's not very helpful. If that's how you see it then why aren't you trying to change it?

I don't see how I can get humans to stop reproducing and overusing the earths resources.

King Kandy
Originally posted by The Dark Cloud
I don't see how I can get humans to stop reproducing and overusing the earths resources.
You don't need people to stop reproducing for DJ's predictions to be accurate...

jaden101
1: China, India and eventually Brazil will invest largely in infrastructure projects to increase their global power and as such will become 3 of the major economies of the world with China outstripping the US and the European Union. With India and Brazil both taking over Japan to become the 4th and 5th largest economies.

2: Tensions over Taiwan will surface between East and West with the eventual decision being that their respective economies are far more important than the relatively small so called "Tiger" economy. Deals will be struck and manufacturing will be moved elsewhere from Taiwan.

3: Oil production in the traditional middle eastern countries will begin to falter and development will shift to Africa (Nigeria and South Africa). Technological developments will also allow more efficient harnessing of tar sand fields leading to Canada having a larger part to play in oil production.

4: Scotland will win the World Cup

5: The Rolling Stones will still be touring.

inimalist
imagine someone trying to answer this in 1911

Symmetric Chaos
Originally posted by inimalist
imagine someone trying to answer this in 1911

1. Germany tries to take over the world. Twice!

skekUng
Originally posted by Darth Jello
I feel like some of what's going on is reruns with variations. I'll throw my hat in the ring.

1. The global economic situation and standard of living will continue to deteriorate with several European nations spared of the crisis almost entirely.

2. As corporate power tightens, a series of leaked exposes such as wikileaks and strikes will invigorate protests globally. Governments, including in the United States will respond lawlessly and violently.

3. This will be followed by a period marked by a series of high profile attacks and assassinations against politicians and captains of industry which will be condemned by the media but publicly popular.

4. A true reformer president will be elected who will stand up for the peoples' interests. He will be assassinated leading to an extreme cultural backlash against the right wing. The vice president will take over and aggressively renegotiate trade policies leading to a manufacturing boom in America. Universal healthcare and many other European style socialist policies will become reality. Several politicians from past administrations face serious criminal charges but most die or are ruled unfit to stand trial before justice is served.

5. After initial tensions, as America rises, China realizes that much like France and Germany, it's economy is too intertwined. This results in better relations and liberalization of Chinese government and culture.

6. The government of Iran collapses and is replaced by a secular democratic government called the United Republic of Persia. Its resources make it a major economic power creating tension with Israel. Israel goes through massive reforms as much of the old government is voted out and changes the way it treats its Arab and Persian Jewish/Mizrahi population. This results in a loosening of tensions between Iran and Israel.

7. With the development of nanophotovoltaics and increased use of vegetable materials for the manufacture of plastics, petroleum becomes nearly worthless leading to many Arab countries liberalizing in order to survive. Terrorist groups lose their funding as monarchies collapse.

8. Russia becomes fascist. Belarus collapses and is united in a union with Ukraine, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. A Russian invasion of Europe is halted by Belarus launching a secret arsenal of unaccounted Soviet ICBM's taking out many military bases and destabilizing the government, leading Siberia and Chechnya to declare its independence.

9. North Korea collapses and is absorbed by the south.

10. As female empowerment and gay rights increase in prevalence globally, birth rates stabilize and overpopulation becomes far less of a concern.

That's pretty specific. May I ask why you have reached some of these conclusions?

King Castle
in the next 50 yrs Caucasian race will become the minority in the US.
indigenous brown ppl will once again be the overwhelming population the turn over will change many US policies this will be one of the 1st steps to the end of euro occupation of the americas..

in this new world black ppl will still be the minority and asian jokes will still run rampant.. White women will still be sought after especially the blond blue eyed...

the borders will close to prevent further euro immigration

skekUng
Originally posted by King Castle
in the next 50 yrs Caucasian race will become the minority in the US.
indigenous brown ppl will once again be the overwhelming population the turn over will change many US policies this will be one of the 1st steps to the end of euro occupation of the americas..

in this new world black ppl will still be the minority and asian jokes will still run rampant.. White women will still be sought after especially the blond blue eyed...

the borders will close to prevent further euro immigration

Do you really think that will ever happen? You're leaving out a lot. How many decades do you think this will take?

King Kandy
I predict Marijuana will be entirely legalized in the US within 50 years. I'd be surprised if it took that long, actually.

King Castle
Originally posted by skekUng
Do you really think that will ever happen? You're leaving out a lot. How many decades do you think this will take? yes. historically no invading army has ever bn able to decisively conquer or usurp an entire country so far away from the main body due to shrinking gene pool.... plus it's pretty much a exaggerated view of the future using some polls...
evil face
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26186087/ns/us_news-life/

plus the prison rate will drop significantly but the rise of white Caucasians prisoners and blue collar crime will increase exponentially..

the police suspect of criminal stereotype's will be focus more on kaki wearing Caucasians and college kids not so much inner city youths.

so speaks bastardamus

http://www.newsofap.com/userfiles/nostradamus.jpg

Deano
Originally posted by Darth_Erebus
The future can be hard to predict though many have tried throughout history. I don't know what the future holds but here's a few things I think have a real good chance of happening in the next half century.

1)Countries will cease to exist for the most part. A few large global corporations will control everything as governments and national borders become obsolete. The middle class of the Western World will completely disappear leaving only a small wealthy elite ruling over the rest of us.

2)The oil based energy economy will collapse in the next 20 years. Alternative fuels will mean an eventual recovery but not until irreperable damage has been done to the environment and hundreds of millions face economic hardship.

3)A rogue country such as Iran or North Korea will use a nuclear weapon against on of it's neighbors instigating a large regional though not global war. The US, China, or Russia will retaliate in kind but it won't result in a global nuclear war.

4)Terrorists will detonate a dirty bomb in either the US, Europe, or Israel but it won't be a full blown nuke which is much harder to do than most people think.

5)The catastrophic effects of global warming will be felt. The polar ice cap will break up altering ocean currents playing havoc on weather patterns around the world. Because of the loss of the gulf stream Europe's climate will now resemble Siberia's. Many heavily populated low lying regions of the world will start to flood.

6)Mass extinctions of the world's plant and animal species will accelerate far beyond than the already high rate that it is. All the big cats, all elephants, all the great apes, all species of rhino, polar bears, many of the worlds amphibians, most of the worlds corals, and millions of other plant and animal species will disappear completely or remain as token populations in captivity only.

7)The human population will eventually start to decline due to overpopulation, overuse of natural resources, famine, pollution, and disease.

8)As conditions detereroate there will be a mass revival of middle eastern religions which will eventually turn to a backlash when "God" doesn't show.

A gloomy picture I know but it's how I see the future based on trends I see now.

yes that is why there is a plan to create a one world government and to reduce the world population by 80%. the people who control this planet are not stupid and they have there goals in sight

Robtard
Originally posted by King Castle
in the next 50 yrs Caucasian race will become the minority in the US.
indigenous brown ppl will once again be the overwhelming population the turn over will change many US policies this will be one of the 1st steps to the end of euro occupation of the americas..

in this new world black ppl will still be the minority and asian jokes will still run rampant.. White women will still be sought after especially the blond blue eyed...

the borders will close to prevent further euro immigration

I don't think there will be that that many Native/American Indians, not even if they quadrupled their ****ing over the next 50 years.

Caucasians will still have the money and money = control. Does it really matter if there's a non-white puppet in the White House or the seats in Congress? If you want to know what I'm referring to, Chris Rock did a skit on the difference between being rich and being wealthy.

Odd point you bring up about 'white women', there are those that say the reason why non-white men seek white-woman as partners is because of the controlling white-aspect. ie I want what those guys have. In your future if control is replaced, then the desire would be replaced as well, no?

Robtard
Originally posted by Deano
yes that is why there is a plan to create a one world government and to reduce the world population by 80%. the people who control this planet are not stupid and they have there goals in sight

Question: How do you kill around 5 billion people?

The Dark Cloud
Originally posted by Deano
yes that is why there is a plan to create a one world government and to reduce the world population by 80%.


I agree with you on the one world government but I'm skeptical about reducing the population by that much though it would be a good thing.

Robtard
Originally posted by The Dark Cloud
I agree with you on the one world government but I'm skeptical about reducing the population by that much though it would be a good thing.

5<+/-> billion dead people is a good thing? How so?

King Castle
fertilizer. big grin

aside from that reduce carbon and other gasses from the worlds atmosphere reduction of ppl equal reduction of animal life stock which equals less deforestation and raping of mother earth

Robtard
Originally posted by King Castle
fertilizer. big grin

aside from that reduce carbon and other gasses from the worlds atmosphere reduction of ppl equal reduction of animal life stock which equals less deforestation and raping of mother earth

The amount of people isn't so much the problem as the practices humanity uses in regards to pollution.

Same goes for living space and resources, the planet has plenty of room and supplies; it's how humanity uses these is the problem.

Planet could support 10x, with proper and thoughtful control.

King Castle
i refuse to recycle and eat algae as my main food supply no expression

Robtard
Originally posted by King Castle
i refuse to recycle and eat algae as my main food supply no expression

You should recycle; considering you're one of those "mother Earth" aholes, you should really recycle. But pollution goes beyond recycling; you know this.

50+% of food is thrown out, spoils while in storage and/or is ruined in transit. There isn't a food shortage in the world, just morons and greedy shit-strains.

King Castle
i am not!!jr_shakefist

seriously we have a plastic recycle bin.... and i am a eugenics type enthusiast and survivalist respectful of animals and nature not really a "mother Earth" type.

i just have overlapping ideas from time to time...

Goobers
http://dudetruth.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/haight-hippie.jpg

http://cdn-www.cracked.com/articleimages/ob/seagal/conservationist.jpg
me:
http://ctpatriot1970.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/militia.jpg

The Dark Cloud
Originally posted by Robtard
5<+/-> billion dead people is a good thing? How so?


The earth is extremely overpopulated now and it's only getting worse. Ultimately it will not sustain the current population much less a larger one. A population of a billion or so would make what resources we have go much further and create a better quality of life for those that would be here.

The Dark Cloud
Originally posted by Robtard
The amount of people isn't so much the problem as the practices humanity uses in regards to pollution.

Same goes for living space and resources, the planet has plenty of room and supplies; it's how humanity uses these is the problem.

Planet could support 10x, with proper and thoughtful control.

The earth doesn't need 10X the human population it has, it needs less.

Symmetric Chaos
Originally posted by The Dark Cloud
The earth is extremely overpopulated now and it's only getting worse. Ultimately it will not sustain the current population much less a larger one. A population of a billion or so would make what resources we have go much further and create a better quality of life for those that would be here.

Alternatively we could improve our necessary technologies so that they pollute less (working on that!), develop/incentivize ways of cleaning up the environment (working on that!), encourage less population growth (apparently a natural consequence of a stable health care anyway) and improve international infrastructure so that the massive supplies of unused food the West has can be sent to poor nations (followed up by an aggressive education plan so they can be independent within fifty years).

Once you've got an all powerful one world government it wouldn't be that hard to set up.

Robtard
Originally posted by The Dark Cloud
The earth is extremely overpopulated now and it's only getting worse. Ultimately it will not sustain the current population much less a larger one. A population of a billion or so would make what resources we have go much further and create a better quality of life for those that would be here.

There is no "over population", there's plenty of room and plenty of resources. It's how humanity uses the space and resources are where the problems reside.

So a mass killing isn't the solution, as humanity would eventually end up back where it started. It's better to change ideas and practices than to kill 5 billion people, no?

Originally posted by The Dark Cloud
The earth doesn't need 10X the human population it has, it needs less.

I didn't say it "needed", I said it could support, with proper practices of course. But feel free to jump off a bridge if 'less population' is what you see as being necessary.

The Dark Cloud
I never said I wanted to kill 5 billion people...I said the earth would be a much better place with a sigificantly smaller human population....and it would.

You are wrong about the overpopulation thing and I'm not going to spend the next several hours typing 10,000 words and posting a hundred links proving it but the earth can no longer sustain the American lifestyle for America...much less China, India, Brazil, and everyone else that now wants it....we are all in serious trouble.

I'll also argue that all the other forms of life that share our planet have a right to be here also without us apprpriating every single resource there is.

King Castle
want to add to my prediction that in the year 2050 to 60 the business language will shift from english to chinese many seeing this will coax their children to learn it as a second language

so speaks Bastardamus

Robtard
Originally posted by The Dark Cloud
I never said I wanted to kill 5 billion people...I said the earth would be a much better place with a sigificantly smaller human population....and it would.

You are wrong about the overpopulation thing and I'm not going to spend the next several hours typing 10,000 words and posting a hundred links proving it but the earth can no longer sustain the American lifestyle for America...much less China, India, Brazil, and everyone else that now wants it....we are all in serious trouble.

I'll also argue that all the other forms of life that share our planet have a right to be here also without us apprpriating every single resource there is.

Fair enough.

So I'm wrong, yet you can't be bothered. Okay. Though you go on to support what I said, it's "lifestyles", ie practices that are the problem, not just 'X' amount of people. Change the 'lifestyles', you fix the problem.

Agreed, which is why I'm for being sensible about how 'we' use resources and such, control pollution etc.

Symmetric Chaos
Originally posted by The Dark Cloud
I never said I wanted to kill 5 billion people...I said the earth would be a much better place with a sigificantly smaller human population....and it would.

You are wrong about the overpopulation thing and I'm not going to spend the next several hours typing 10,000 words and posting a hundred links proving it but the earth can no longer sustain the American lifestyle for America...much less China, India, Brazil, and everyone else that now wants it....we are all in serious trouble.

So which is it? The population size or the population's lifestyle?

The Dark Cloud
Originally posted by Symmetric Chaos
So which is it? The population size or the population's lifestyle?


Human nature being what it is.....it's the population size.

King Kandy
Originally posted by Deano
yes that is why there is a plan to create a one world government and to reduce the world population by 80%. the people who control this planet are not stupid and they have there goals in sight
Society is a construct of individuals. It has no power to control anyone as long as people empower themselves over society.

The Dark Cloud
Originally posted by King Kandy
Society is a construct of individuals. It has no power to control anyone as long as people empower themselves over society.

But why do only those with money and to a lesser extant those who control religion have all the power? Democracy is a farce.

Symmetric Chaos
Originally posted by King Kandy
Society is a construct of individuals. It has no power to control anyone as long as people empower themselves over society.

My buddies and I beg to differ. *hefts club*

Bardock42
Originally posted by King Kandy
Society is a construct of individuals. It has no power to control anyone as long as people empower themselves over society.

...that's nonsense.

753
Originally posted by King Kandy
Society is a construct of individuals. It has no power to control anyone as long as people empower themselves over society. you mean provided everyone including cops rebel against it in the same or ast least compatible fashions

RE: Blaxican
Kandy lives in a dream world filled with kush.

benking
I predict that ppl realized the ipad is nothing but a big iphone and it becomes obsolete.

inimalist
Originally posted by RE: Blaxican
Kandy lives in a dream world filled with kush.

can you blame him though?

King Kandy
Originally posted by 753
you mean provided everyone including cops rebel against it in the same or ast least compatible fashions
Right. You need a majority, at least.

inimalist
Originally posted by 753
you mean provided everyone including cops rebel against it in the same or ast least compatible fashions

Mao would call it the "fish" and the "sea"

the revolutionary "fish" need to move in the "sea" of the general population so that they can remain unseen, so the "sea" must at least tacitly support the "fish"

I don't think there would need to be a majority of "fish" though, and in cases like the American Revolution, they certainly were not

King Kandy
Originally posted by inimalist
Mao would call it the "fish" and the "sea"

the revolutionary "fish" need to move in the "sea" of the general population so that they can remain unseen, so the "sea" must at least tacitly support the "fish"

I don't think there would need to be a majority of "fish" though, and in cases like the American Revolution, they certainly were not
OK, no, i don't think you need a majority either. That was oversimplification. You do need a significant portion.

The Dark Cloud
Originally posted by King Kandy
I predict Marijuana will be entirely legalized in the US within 50 years. I'd be surprised if it took that long, actually.

Back in the 70s many thought Marijuana would be legal by the 90s or 2000. We are long past that and the one state that did once have legal MJ, Alaska, made it illegal in 1990, under heavy pressure from the federal government. Now the feds are targeting medical Marijuana states and I wouldn't be surprised to see that go away in the next few years. They can always use extortion like they did with the drinking age and the legal intoxication limit.

Likewise the one state that does have some form of legal prostitution, Nevada (in some rural counties), will likely do away with that soon.

Sadly, in many ways this country is regressing

King Kandy
I disagree. With delaware we now have 16 medical states, and many more on ballots next year... the number of states considering bills removing their medical, is far less.

The Dark Cloud
Originally posted by King Kandy
I disagree. With delaware we now have 16 medical states, and many more on ballots next year... the number of states considering bills removing their medical, is far less.

It isn't the states or voters wanting to get rid of it....it's the federal government forcing the issue. In the past the feds basically haven't gotten involved much beyond verbal rhetoric but now they're starting to step things up. If they start denying states federal monies (as they did with the drinking age and legal intoxication limit) unless the states overturn their medical MJ laws then just watch how fast the states quickly fall in line.

Is it right? Hell no, but uness there is mass public outcry at the national level, and I don't see that happening, against the feds here I fear the progress that has been made will be erased.

Another thing is the public's attitude about it. I live in Nevada which has had medical MJ since 2000. Twice in the last ten years it made it to ballot referendum to fully legalize it. One in 2002 would have legalized up to 3 ounces. One in 2006 would have legalized up to an ounce. Both failed by fairly large margins and this in a state with casinos everywhere, 24 hour booze, and legal prostitution in rural counties (though I fear the days of this are numbered).
The public still believes it's bad for the most part, and even if they didn't right now most voters are far more concerned about the economy to even make this an issue.

King Kandy
I welcome the feds to do that, because that would force a confrontation on the issue, and finally get it into the public attention.

Cali came close last year to legalizing it and with measures in Oregon and Washington coming up I think both have a strong chance of passing. I think in 2012 we could see a fully legal state.

Bicnarok
Well I read somewhere of another "end of the world" thing comming up (21 May 2011), people have been crying this wolf through history mind so not to be taken seriously.

http://www.ebiblefellowship.com/outreach/tracts/may21/

But an interesting prediction if it come about, wouldn´t want to miss "The End" even if it is a bit final.

The Dark Cloud
Originally posted by King Kandy


Cali came close last year to legalizing it .

California proposition 19 failed by a 57 to 43 margin. It wasn't that close.

The Dark Cloud
Originally posted by Bicnarok
Well I read somewhere of another "end of the world" thing comming up (21 May 2011), people have been crying this wolf through history mind so not to be taken seriously.

http://www.ebiblefellowship.com/outreach/tracts/may21/

But an interesting prediction if it come about, wouldn´t want to miss "The End" even if it is a bit final.

I saw another article on the very same thing. It said somebody asked these people for their money because "they wouldn't need it" by May 22. The people refused....what does that tell you? laughing

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