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

[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.

[bstanko6]

Here is what it will look like

[Skybird]

The whole Western sphere, as a culture and civilization, is imploding, collapsing. Rivalling powers like China and Islam just just need to wait, and later pick up the remains comfortably, without much of a fight. Specifically the American fate: it will go down like the British Empire. And the denial of that reality will continue to be the narrative for as long. Extremist Christian sects will regionally establish fascism-like regimes, so will the rich and powerful in an attempt to stick to power for a bit longer. The skin of the old society and culture and its value system will break open, like with insects undergoing their metamorphosis, and the new rules will break out of it. But new must not mean better. I would not want to live in a Sineo-controlled nor Muslim regulated world. Age is on my side there. My timing to exist, may priove to have been perfect: after the big wars, in an era of relative peace and wealth and self-reflection, before the following deep darkness. I consider myself to be very, very lucky. I witnessed maybe the climaxing of the West. The price is to also be aware and see the beginning of its fall too doom. What goes up, must come down. Everythign runs in cycles. In a millenia or two, maybe the new Islamic darkenss will be brought tio an end again. Or maybe man will not survive long enough, considering how determined we make sure to send this world to hell. The ecological destruction maybe will betray early the new rulers for their prey and fortune.

"For there to be betrayal, there would have to have been trust first. Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favour!." - The Hunger Games.

[Sonicfire1981]

Originally Posted by bstanko6

Here is what it will look like
]

You have issues, man...

On topic. You could not have picked a time where this was more difficult to predict, with the possible exception of the cuban crisis and a couple others. I of course don't believe the future in 2040 will look like the future of the 80ies. The US is in a difficult position, with big oil on decline and a lot of people not stomaching that so well. A key driver for innovation would be a sharp rise in energy pricing (because innovation never happens unless it has to). So a train of thought would be to think of the economic effect when US is left behind and still relies on fossiles when they get scarcer and scarcer.
I also hate to bring up this parallel, but you may want to take a look at the weimar republic, which was a naive democracy with little safety features against people who wanted to rise to absolute power. Could this happen to a US society? dividing it into "we" and "them", ~burning~ media that is not pleasant to ones cause, using peasants with torches to scare opposition, repeating lies in public until it practically becomes truth. Making the ordinary man believe that everything in ones power is done to improve his situation.

I'm sorry for this unordered list, which wasn't my intention as I started writing. but, for an academic, this "could this happen in the US" might be an interesting thesis.

[bstanko6]

I think you guys gave up on life!

I think it’s cute you’re writing down your ideas, poetry, Marxist lies. But we saw what happened to Marxist ideas… They fail.

The US rose up against a gigantic superpower Britain, and did just well. It even fought 2 world wars, it came out better for it. It can stand the test of time to Muslim extremists, and Communist China. I’m not worried about countries that can’t even provide power to its people on a daily basis. Much less a state like California trying to run this country as it is right now when they can’t even do the same thing.

Now I’m just a simple man, I can’t write poetic Marxism like you guys can, but I know what true America looks like. I live here and I enjoyed every day. I fought for it and currently protect it.

What I do know is, the people here will not put up with this Biden crap for long.

They will not allow this to happen much longer. The time is turbulent and the violence is increasing evermore every day. Something will break, and the machine will slow, but we will get up and we will be running again.

In the words of Calvin Candy from Django unchained “There have been a lot of lies told around this table, but that one you can believe!”

[Sonicfire1981]

Originally Posted by bstanko6

I think it’s cute you’re writing down your ideas, poetry, Marxist lies. But we saw what happened to Marxist ideas… They fail.

Fun fact: more democracies have failed than marxistic.... uhm. societies.

Now I’m just a simple man,

You're absolutely entitled to be. the consequence is: not every question is for you.

What I do know is, the people here will not put up with this Biden crap for long.

It's not about that.

In the words of Calvin Candy from Django unchained “There have been a lot of lies told around this table, but that one you can believe!”

You must be smart. you can quote... things.

[Buddahaid]

I'll be 84 if I'm still kicking and probably won't care as long as my meals are on time! Oh, and my nurse is a cute brunette....

[Bubblehead1980]

Originally Posted by bstanko6

Here is what it will look like

LMAO

[Catfish]

Originally Posted by bstanko6

Here is what it will look like

Isn't this the murderer from "The silence of the lambs"?

[mapuc]

I think the most important question would be:

Will there still be a Subsim forum 20 years from now ?

Markus

[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).

[Bubblehead1980]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

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).

I do not disagree entirely but perhaps the way things are done and have been done for a long time are why there is no longer a strong middle class. Capitalism has failed far too many people for too long and when that happens, people become open to socialism or socialist ideas. I dislike it immensely and Trump but I have accepted we live in a global economy now so frankly our economic system must adjust for us to survive. Manufacturing is never coming back as we would like i.e. enough to provide the strong middle income working class we once had, China and other countries where they can pay slave wages for the foreseeable future in horrid conditions, that is where majority of things will be made. The US will be a consumer nation for most part, more than we are now, so we must progress especially as technology rapidly advances this decade and beyond. Andrew Yang was the only Presidential candidate to talk about it, because he is aware of that. Like it or not, a Universal Basic Income will become a necessity. A living wage for those who are employed must be paid. All of this with an American "twist" of course.

Far as leaving the combustion engine behind, that is a great thing. Oil is not an infinite resource and while we are not completely responsible for climate change, we certainly contribute to polluting the earth and the consequences, so if can move the country and thus the world off this technology. Why not? Fracking is not exactly great for the environment either. I've seen some of the issues first hand.

I see less freedoms as well, not a totalitarian state or dystopia but as tech advances, it becomes easier to restrict freedoms. A major political battle will be to reign in big tech such as Google, Facebook, Amazon etc. As I mentioned, a lot of growing pains, we are in a bit of a transitional time.

However, I still see an overall better society. One that joins the rest of the western world and provides basic services , protections such as universal health coverage, living wages, paid sick leave, paid parental leave, better overall labor laws which will foster a better working life for those stuck in the working class, most people. People's eyes seem open or be opening to many problems that once were not discussed such as systemic brutality by law enforcement along with the jail-prison industrial complex that allows the US have the largest number of incarcerated persons in the WORLD.

So again, growing pains yes, but strong evidence to believe we will be better off.

Also, you mentioned college loans. You are against any relief?

[3catcircus]

Originally Posted by Bubblehead1980

I do not disagree entirely but perhaps the way things are done and have been done for a long time are why there is no longer a strong middle class. Capitalism has failed far too many people for too long and when that happens, people become open to socialism or socialist ideas. I dislike it immensely and Trump but I have accepted we live in a global economy now so frankly our economic system must adjust for us to survive. Manufacturing is never coming back as we would like i.e. enough to provide the strong middle income working class we once had, China and other countries where they can pay slave wages for the foreseeable future in horrid conditions, that is where majority of things will be made. The US will be a consumer nation for most part, more than we are now, so we must progress especially as technology rapidly advances this decade and beyond. Andrew Yang was the only Presidential candidate to talk about it, because he is aware of that. Like it or not, a Universal Basic Income will become a necessity. A living wage for those who are employed must be paid. All of this with an American "twist" of course.

Far as leaving the combustion engine behind, that is a great thing. Oil is not an infinite resource and while we are not completely responsible for climate change, we certainly contribute to polluting the earth and the consequences, so if can move the country and thus the world off this technology. Why not? Fracking is not exactly great for the environment either. I've seen some of the issues first hand.

I see less freedoms as well, not a totalitarian state or dystopia but as tech advances, it becomes easier to restrict freedoms. A major political battle will be to reign in big tech such as Google, Facebook, Amazon etc. As I mentioned, a lot of growing pains, we are in a bit of a transitional time.

However, I still see an overall better society. One that joins the rest of the western world and provides basic services , protections such as universal health coverage, living wages, paid sick leave, paid parental leave, better overall labor laws which will foster a better working life for those stuck in the working class, most people. People's eyes seem open or be opening to many problems that once were not discussed such as systemic brutality by law enforcement along with the jail-prison industrial complex that allows the US have the largest number of incarcerated persons in the WORLD.

So again, growing pains yes, but strong evidence to believe we will be better off.

Also, you mentioned college loans. You are against any relief?

The issue isn't capitalism. It's crony capitalism entwined with leftist politics.

The robber-barons of the past may have been ruthless in business, but they then engaged in philanthropy on a massive scale, regardless of the political beliefs of those they helped.

The current tech barons do not appear to be so civic-minded unless their wealth is used to advance their personal beliefs. They treat employees as disposable or exploitable - with the blessing of the government they bought and paid for to allow H1B visas. The agricultural industry buys government to look the other way while they exploit illegal immigrants.

No way are you ever going to get industry to pay a bigger wage and more benefits and not pass the costs on to the consumer. Try doing that and taxing the middle class for all of these benefits and you'll end up with even more people who are worse off than before. Biden's $15/hr minimum wage will help 1 million people - while costing 1.4 million people their jobs.

As to student loans? Mine are paid off because I studied a field that leads to a good paying job that ensured I would be able to pay it back. Too many people end up going into debt for a degree in a worthless field of study - taxpayers shouldn't subsidize their poor decision - or the decision of the bank to issue the loan - this is the exact same situation as the housing market in 2008 when banks were issuing mortgages to people who would never be able to pay them.

[Torvald Von Mansee]

Hard to guess, but I'm guessing as a society we'll still be functioning as an defacto aristocratic corporate plutocracy.

[Rockstar]

As phenomenon grows, business booms for cancel culture consultant

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/feb/8/phenomenon-grows-business-booms-cancel-culture-con/

Ruin and ostracism have been part of human society for centuries, as have the jail time and stigma that go with convictions for actual crimes. But the current atmosphere, in which people live in fear a stray remark or long-ago post on Facebook could crash their world, is relatively new and growing.