A few predictions for the next 50 years

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.

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

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.

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...... 😐

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.

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

If I remember I like them..... 😕

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".

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.

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

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

Yeah, if your a terrorist.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Far more likely.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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".

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

Quite possibly. Thank you science.

2. World Terrorism will be on a complete decline

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.

3. many types of cancers will be cured

Quite likely. Thank you science again.

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

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?

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

Depends.

6. no more liberals.

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.

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.

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.

You will get older.

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

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

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%.

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