How much longer do you think you will live, and what accomplishments, discoveries, cures do you really think might happen before you die?

I think that we will return to a more realistic way of life in which the antiques of our ancestors will serve us best. Unfortunately, our need to make everything temporary and disposable in order to maintain corporate order, will ultimately prevent us from having these useful items. I also think that we will realize that the most important thing is human connection, but only after we loose all trace of it. Pretty glum, but I really think something is going to happen. I mean, things happen all the time- but something is going to happen that makes computer chips, front load washers, and frequent flyer miles irrelevant.

The two party political system in the US will be changed. People are growing tired of the back and forth and somthing’s gotta give…If people get motivated to actually make it happen. it seems fewer people are willing to stand up for anything,

Medicine will be needed less as people realize that it’s more about what you consume and how often you stretch your body or are physically active. However, as basic needs change, the idea of health and survival may change.

Maybe I have been reading too many post-apocolyptic books…my predictions seem a bit glum. I was picturing The Road while tying this….

@KhiaKarma Right on! I hadn’t heard of that movie, but I can’t wait to see it with my boy!

@RealEyesRealizeRealLies I think 97 (while very possible) is still wishful thinking. I’m 10 years younger than you and I still do not see peace in the middle east during my lifetime (even if I live to 100). I do however believe Iran may turn into a more secular democracy. A cure for cancer is possible, it will probally be a much cheaper drug than the typical chemo drugs that will most likely work by completely blocking the cancer cells ability to use glucose for energy while not harming the healthy cells (or blocking their ability to use glucose). I think HIV/AIDS will be completly cured. The common cold will be cured. A possible manned trip to Mars may happen (probally will be an international operation). I think the Republican party will eventually self-destruct with the Libertarians taking the place of the GOP. I think the Democratic Party will survive but be much smaller than it is now, a similar party (that will most likely be conservative on social issues but liberal on fiscal issues), maybe a new party that calls itself “communitarian” will be the most competitive party against the Libertarians. I think an atheist/agnostic U.S president is likely. You are probally right about a Hispanic president as well. I think you are right about mainstream religion (in the U.S) falling apart and being replaced with “spiritual but not religious” or more atheist/agnostics. Most low-skilled labor will become obsolete (because of automation and workers from developing nations doing most of this work). The internal combustion engine will become obsolete as well. Dependence on any oil will be way down. California may split from a massive earthquake. Will the world be better in the future? I do not know.

Can’t argue with most of your predictions @Jabe73. I like the concept of a “Communitarian” party. The establishment may indeed reinvent itself, if not only for the reason of separating itself from the legacy dogma.

Though I cannot disagree with your prediction of low-skilled labor becoming obsolete, I wonder what will be the fate of low-skilled labor. Are we to expect a further widening of the social classes because of this? What will become of them?

@RealEyesRealizeRealLies it’s a better book, but the movie is good too. Really depressing and violent.

@RealEyesRealizeRealLies Migrant workers are doing most of the jobs average Americans do not want to do already. Most of my life has been spent working in factories. As a maintenance tech I definitely see the automation trend. You should take a look at some of these newer state-of-the-art facilities, they look like something out of a science fiction movie. Most newer manufacturing facilities only need a few machine operators and technicians to run these plants (because of all the newer automation/robots).

Politically the U.S. is gradually becoming more liberal (whether conservatives want to hear this or not). Despite the fustration of many with the Bush Administration the fact that a very liberal mixed race candidate even won a few southern states should say something. I see this liberal trend on many other issues as well (including religious beliefs). This in my opinion will eventually be the far-right current trend of the Republicans destruction. There will be more Ron Paul type Republicans in the future. This is why I see the Libertarian Party (or something similar) replacing the Republican Party (in the distant future). This is also why I believe the Democrats will stick around.

Republicans= fiscally conservative/socially conservative.
Libertarians= fiscally conservative/socially liberal.
Democrats= fiscally liberal/socially liberal.
Communitarian type future third pary=fiscally liberal/socially conservative.

More centrist type political parties will prevail in the future rather than the current far right Republicans and far left Democrats. Maybe the Centrist or Whig type political party will also be in major contention for major political offices as well. However Communitarianism (societies needs first) vs Libertarianism (individual liberties more important) would still be polar opposites of each other. Add maybe a surviving Democratic party in there with a more Centrist geared party. I think either way there will be more choices politically for Americans in the future.

A friend from India filmed a movie about the American political system. Running with Dick was about the common man trying to compete against Dick Gebhardt in Missouri. Very interesting if you can find it.

But one of the issues that my friend Shrikant Chellapa (writer/director) had difficulty understanding was how the American system could survive only on two parties… essentially. Apparently in India, there are more than 70 different political parties with separate agendas and ideologies.

Can you imagine the onslaught of TV ads? Yikes!

@RealEyesRealizeRealLies I forgot one, I will whisper this. I do not know if you ever heard of a scientist named Ron Pearson, well he claims he has the mathematical proof to back up his evidence of an afterlife existance and an eternal conscious agent throughout the universe. The same mathematical data that Sir Crookes and others lacked over a hundred years ago. I guess we can’t be pissing off the orthodox scientists and religious leaders with these findings so most will not hear about this for a while but perhaps in the distant future.