Prediction: What will the USA look like in 20 years ?

[3catcircus]

Originally Posted by Bubblehead1980

Interesting answers from all.

Really difficult to say because things have grown so unpredictable. Never would have predicted 2016 and was surprised Biden defeated Trump in the manner he did. I find the mass mail in vote suspect but if they had evidence, feel it would have been out there. Would take one massive conspiracy for courts to ignore evidence, especially the Trump appointed Judges.

Barring some catastrophe I believe will be better off but much different. Mainly due to the advances in technology and frankly, as large numbers of less open minded people who tend to be older die off. The current group of 18-22 years are much maligned and their social habits annoy me immensely, but since began teaching, they are actually an inspiring bunch overall. They are socially conscious and act on these convictions, something I did not see among the rank and file of my generation ( I am 35) for the most part. This generation is not one which will tolerate going through life not being paid a living wage nor watching others suffer same fate, or a nation without universal health coverage, vacation, sick leave, parental leave, you know things most of the civilized world have. They are willing to take on corrupt institutions such as wall street. With automation becoming a major factor in our economy in next twenty years, a Universal Basic Income such as that proposed by Andrew Yang will not doubt become a necessity. There will be growing pains and plenty of ugliness but believe it will work out fine in the end.

On the other hand, can see us being a in a pseudo 1984 by then. Difficult to tell really.

Originally Posted by ikalugin

The issue is that the road to hell is paved with best intentions and highly cooperative people tend to be a key component in totalitarian regimes as they form the outer party.

In general my concern is that identarianism is being used by the elites to distract from the real underlying problems of society (such as stagnating wages despite rising productivity).

So I am not optimistic, I believe that public movements who’s work is required to achieve positive outcomes (such as UBI that is considered by some to be the answer to automation) are being subverted by the powers that be and atomised.

And lack of leaders rather than influencers is going to make those movements impossible to control eventually, leading to mass public strife.

We are, I think, at a crossroads one more time in history.

Like the change from hunter-gatherer nomads to living in permanent locations, the implementations of democracy, the end of the Roman Empire, the transition away from feudalism, the Renaissance, the industrial revolution, and the invention of the transistor.

Think about it in terms of modern computing. I'm old enough to remember when the home computer was an expensive novelty. The industry exploded with the invention and large-scale sales of the miniComputer. DEC, Data General, IBM, Wang, over 100 companies involved. Then came the Apple II, Commodore 64, Atari 400, IBM PC, etc. It was a glorious time when the games industry followed - new hardware meant better games which forced the invention of new hardware in a continuous spiral of development. Guys making games actually understood what was going on in the silicon and could write microcode and machine language to interface directly with the hardware to make their games better. Now - computers are a commodity item, most people use toolkits and development suites so they don't have to understand the hardware, and new developments are now incremental and not necessarily an improvement (such as the various flavors of iphone introduced every other year...) For all of the "advancements," the industry is stagnant. Gameplay is forsaken in favor of flashy graphics and the games are quickly played because of our ever shorter attention spans.

*That's* where we are at as a planet right now - all flashy graphics and the attention span of a gnat.

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by skidman

Social control is happening on Sunday morning in every church when science is portrayed as sin, abortion becomes murder, evolution never happened, God decides who will die from covid, and the highest possible amount of fear is put into every worshipper. Masks? Ridiculous!

As pointed out, church is voluntary. In fact, over the past year by and large church services have been conducted over youtube, FB and the like. Also voluntary to tune in or tune out. It does show that a actual structure is not necessary, however, the human interaction is gone as well. Something that everyone needs.

I don't know of any churches putting fear into their parishioners. It appears this is all you see churches do? The reality of it is church helps people through times like this. Fear, anxiety and uncertainty. The hell fire evangelical are very few in number. Beyond that, the outreach programs conducted by churches are incredible. Looking after the homeless, elderly(take care of their homes/food), human trafficking outreach, drug interdiction, to name a few.

[Rockstar]

Originally Posted by 3catcircus

Social control? What do you think requiring masks and lockdowns is when the science points away from it as being effective outside of the clinical setting, but a trial run.
.

Shaping public opinion through media is social control. Expecting the population to wear masks to help slow the spread of a deadly virus. Is in my opinion a very reasonable request that makes a lot of sense.

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by Bubblehead1980

As we well know, United States is a complete and total cluster at the moment, and has been for a long time. Believe we are descending into a 1984-esque dystopia? Believe things about to progress rapidly into a better society ? , or stay somewhat the same with better technology? Interested in others predictions.

Last couple of semesters I have taught a class as an adjunct and require a paper as part of my course discussing this very topic. Naturally, require some sources i.e. evidence to support such predictions/ Just curious as to the views of the diverse group of people here.

I see no progression into a better society. I see two classes. The haves and have-nots. No middle class ATM machine to feed the federal government money(tax). Socialism is on the table. The current group in DC are feeding into this by use of promising money. Larger stimulus checks. College loans paid off. What is next? People are being groomed to rely on the government for everything. Gas powered vehicles are gone. Already begun. VW,GM and Ford all have made it known that combustion engines are being fazed out. Keystone pipeline. Done. Fracking on federal land. Done. The Green New Deal will solve everyone's problems. The USA manufactures nothing. Truly a society made of services(restaurants, healthcare, etc.). China will manufacture everything. The USA is just about there in this respect.
I see less freedoms. The Constitution ignored(happen already). Companies such as Amazon will be the only go to for purchases. Stores will be closed(already happening. Sears, JC Penny are on the way out. Walmart eventually).

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by Rockstar

Shaping public opinion through media is social control.

Never a truer statement and well demonstrated over the past 4 years.

[3catcircus]

Originally Posted by Rockstar

Shaping public opinion through media is social control. Expecting the population to wear masks to help slow the spread of a deadly virus. Is in my opinion a very reasonable request that makes a lot of sense.

Even when clinical studies conducted multiple times point to the problems of an untrained public wearing masks? Medical personnel trained in PPE is one thing. Joe 6-pack wearing the same mask multiple times over the week, trapping bacteria, taking it off to scratch his face, typing in his pin code at the grocery store point of sale and then touching his mask - these are not effective when used this way, which is how the majority are using masks.

The basics are most likely 90% sufficient because they work with every other virus that spreads the same way: stay home when you are feeling sick; cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, wash your hands after touching things other people have touched.

But you'd never know this because of the media continuing to bleat the same message about masks, deflecting when confronted with study results, and reporting based upon medical advice from "experts" who have proven that they have a political agenda instead of just the science itself.

[Skybird]

^
sigh

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by 3catcircus

Even when clinical studies conducted multiple times point to the problems of an untrained public wearing masks? Medical personnel trained in PPE is one thing. Joe 6-pack wearing the same mask multiple times over the week, trapping bacteria, taking it off to scratch his face, typing in his pin code at the grocery store point of sale and then touching his mask - these are not effective when used this way, which is how the majority are using masks.

The basics are most likely 90% sufficient because they work with every other virus that spreads the same way: stay home when you are feeling sick; cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, wash your hands after touching things other people have touched.

But you'd never know this because of the media continuing to bleat the same message about masks, deflecting when confronted with study results, and reporting based upon medical advice from "experts" who have proven that they have a political agenda instead of just the science itself.

I don't know about you but....
1. My mask(s) is washed regularly.
2. Under no circumstances to I touch my face/mask while in a store.
3. After entering my PIN and completing the transaction I spray my hands with 72% alcohol.
4. My mask remains on until I reach my vehicle. After loading I spray my hands again then remove my mask.
5. I have visited several restaurants. After touching the menu I spray my hands. I have done this even before the virus.

The point being, masks are only one portion of keeping the virus at bay. Statistically proven, families having a visit are the largest spreaders of the virus. No masks, hugging, touching and close proximity. Number 5 spreader on the list is restaurants.

[mapuc]

Will USA still be a super power, the most powerful country in the world or will USA drop several steps down the ladder and become an ordinary country, where China has become the most powerful country and EU has overtaken second place.

Markus

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by mapuc

Will USA still be a super power, the most powerful country in the world or will USA drop several steps down the ladder and become an ordinary country, where China has become the most powerful country and EU has overtaken second place.

Markus

No, I do not believe the USA will not be a super power any time soon.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by mapuc

Will USA still be a super power, the most powerful country in the world or will USA drop several steps down the ladder and become an ordinary country, where China has become the most powerful country and EU has overtaken second place.

Markus

I mean no disrespect Markus but that reference to the EU

[3catcircus]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

I don't know about you but....
1. My mask(s) is washed regularly.
2. Under no circumstances to I touch my face/mask while in a store.
3. After entering my PIN and completing the transaction I spray my hands with 72% alcohol.
4. My mask remains on until I reach my vehicle. After loading I spray my hands again then remove my mask.
5. I have visited several restaurants. After touching the menu I spray my hands. I have done this even before the virus.

The point being, masks are only one portion of keeping the virus at bay. Statistically proven, families having a visit are the largest spreaders of the virus. No masks, hugging, touching and close proximity. Number 5 spreader on the list is restaurants.

That's you. That's me. That's not everyone. Most people have no idea what their risk factors are and the social control via media and incompetent authorities based upon gut feel instead of science has resulted in people not being allowed outside in fresh air and sunshine, unnecessary deaths of vulnerable people in nursing homes, and weakening of peoples' immune systems due to isolation.

When you have a press representative taking people they still need masks and distancing even if vaccinated but has no idea why she is saying what she is saying, when you have a Dr. Who freely admitted he put out false information to prevent a run on masks and purposely lied about herd immunity percentages, it makes it extremely difficult for people to believe anything that is presented by authorities or media.

The inability of authorities and media to tell the truth and only report the facts is one of the reasons why we will become a 1984-esque dictatorship unless we are able to throw them out of office - especially the ones which have been in office for decades with nothing done for their constituents.

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by 3catcircus

That's you. That's me. That's not everyone. Most people have no idea what their risk factors are and the social control via media and incompetent authorities based upon gut feel instead of science has resulted in people not being allowed outside in fresh air and sunshine, unnecessary deaths of vulnerable people in nursing homes, and weakening of peoples' immune systems due to isolation.

When you have a press representative taking people they still need masks and distancing even if vaccinated but has no idea why she is saying what she is saying, when you have a Dr. Who freely admitted he put out false information to prevent a run on masks and purposely lied about herd immunity percentages, it makes it extremely difficult for people to believe anything that is presented by authorities or media.

The inability of authorities and media to tell the truth and only report the facts is one of the reasons why we will become a 1984-esque dictatorship unless we are able to throw them out of office - especially the ones which have been in office for decades with nothing done for their constituents.

Yes not everyone is you or me and how we handle staying COVID free. But that is the key, we make best practice to not contract COVID from those marching around like their is no virus. I have seen this crap with my own BIL. My wife and I act accordingly with his nonsense. Act accordingly knowing there is a bunch if misinformation concerning the virus. You can't fix stupid.

However, for the 1984 type deal I possibly see a COVID vaccine card required to enter a building or participating in something. Never happened with the flu vaccine offered yearly. But....one never knows.

You are speaking term limits. I agree on limits for those in all offices on Capitol Hill.

[August]

Originally Posted by 3catcircus

The only way to not end up 1984 is to get rid of every single elected official and CEO and put different people in their place. Term limits for all elected office is a good start. Preventing the government/industry/lobbyist revolving door is another good start.

I completely agree but unfortunately it's never going to happen. Those in power now will prevent it just like they saw to it that outsider Trump was a one term president. The establishment has reasserted their control of the government and I don't think they will loosen their grip on it ever again. I truly feel that by the time Platapus kicks off in 30 years our civil liberties will be just a memory.

[Cybermat47]

Originally Posted by 3catcircus

Term limits for all elected office is a good start.

I usually disagree with you, but this right here is a damn good idea.