I see a future where the divide between the haves and have nots continues to grow. As new biotech becomes available, it will be largely in the service of the wealthy. There will be a new class distinction: the genetically privleged and everybody else.
Imagine-- an overclass of disease resistant, quick witted, sharp eyed, youthful managers and bureaucrats.
Money means access to clean water, fresh food, and fortified compounds where "American life" seems as idyllic as it ever has. Areas of scenic wilderness will become the private preserve of the few. Recreational and travel opportunites will abound.
None of this is all that different from today, but I think the quality of life for the people outside the compound is going to deteriorate percipitously.
Privitization of security forces, educational opportunites and government services will leave most people without the means to insulate themselves from the harsh realities of "the market". I imagine the average American worker will have more in common with a Sri Lankan than the people on the "good" side of town. Access to quality medical care will be a distant memory.
The perception that the less well off are of a naturally criminal class, requiring wide spread surveilance and controls on their movements will become "common sense".
The major media will direct its message to the overclass, assuring them that all is as it always has been, that access to their ranks is freely available to one and all through "hard work". That "American democracy" represents the pinnacle of human achievement, and that they are blessed because they deserve it.
Then google for "peak oil is a myth" and decide who you believe.
Either the geologists, engineers, economists and petrochemical scientists or the whackos ... the trouble is, the whackos are on the 'myth' side of the fence.
It'll scare the shit out you, because the problem starts when we pass 'peak oil' production. When oil becomes uneconomical to produce (as in, the supply starts to peter out) THAT's when it gets nasty ... for really obvious reasons supported by people that should know.
But not to worry, that won't happen until 2002, so we've got ages yet!
I reccomend everyone renting or buying Katsuhiro (AKIRA) Otomo's "Memories", a trilogy of animated shorts on certain views of the future and the near future. My favorite was "Stink Bomb". Won't go into details...it'll spoil them...see them yourself...
Then google for "peak oil is a myth" and decide who you believe.
Either the geologists, engineers, economists and petrochemical scientists or the whackos ... the trouble is, the whackos are on the 'myth' side of the fence.
It'll scare the shit out you, because the problem starts when we pass 'peak oil' production. When oil becomes uneconomical to produce (as in, the supply starts to peter out) THAT's when it gets nasty ... for really obvious reasons supported by people that should know.
But not to worry, that won't happen until 2002, so we've got ages yet!
One expert on the radio said that oil production is less relavant to today?s situation than the actual gas production. Which has functionally peaked bucause no new refineries are being built.
One expert on the radio said that oil production is less relavant to today?s situation than the actual gas production. Which has functionally peaked bucause no new refineries are being built.
In my corner, a bunch of tin-foil hats like the following:
Matthew Simmons, energy adviser for President Bush (?We need a wake up call. We need it desperately.")
Jon Thompson, current president of ExxonMobil Exploration Company ("We estimate that world oil and gas production from existing fields is declining at an average rate of about 4 to 6 percent a year ... the industry will have to add about 100 million oil-equivalent barrels a day of new production ... in addition, the cost associated with providing this additional oil and gas is expected to be considerably more than what industry is now spending).
Dr. Colin J. Campbell, executive VP Fina, 1985 - 1989 ("Peak oil is a turning point for Mankind. The economic prosperity of the 20th Century was driven by cheap, oil-based energy; everyone had the equivalent of several unpaid and unfed slaves to do his work for him. These slaves are now getting old and wont work much longer. This may herald the end of the US economic and cultural hegemony.")
Jean Laherrère, head of TOTAL's exploration activities in the Sahara, Australia, and Canada ("Only when the supply becomes short and quotas useless will OPEC accept to report real estimates. It will take about a decade!").
And loads more, but I won't quote them because they're academics at places like Cornell and they're obviously communist activist Bush-hating green-lobbeyists.
In your corner: "One expert on the radio." Way to go Scott. This shit's real, and even Bush's boy agrees. But you heard "one expert on the radio" so it's all gravy.
I bet that the next hundred years are going to be very very important for humanity, either we will be able to tell that humanity will be gone, or we will lose our technology, or will humanity be propelled to even greater heights than we can imagin
Comments
Originally posted by Exsulent
Take care,
Exsulent
WTF are you talking about?!?!?!
no !, actually . . . I DON'T WANT to know . . .
. . . . and he doesn't even use a Mac . . .
. . . goawaygoawaygoaway . . . . . . .
I see a future where the divide between the haves and have nots continues to grow. As new biotech becomes available, it will be largely in the service of the wealthy. There will be a new class distinction: the genetically privleged and everybody else.
Imagine-- an overclass of disease resistant, quick witted, sharp eyed, youthful managers and bureaucrats.
Money means access to clean water, fresh food, and fortified compounds where "American life" seems as idyllic as it ever has. Areas of scenic wilderness will become the private preserve of the few. Recreational and travel opportunites will abound.
None of this is all that different from today, but I think the quality of life for the people outside the compound is going to deteriorate percipitously.
Privitization of security forces, educational opportunites and government services will leave most people without the means to insulate themselves from the harsh realities of "the market". I imagine the average American worker will have more in common with a Sri Lankan than the people on the "good" side of town. Access to quality medical care will be a distant memory.
The perception that the less well off are of a naturally criminal class, requiring wide spread surveilance and controls on their movements will become "common sense".
The major media will direct its message to the overclass, assuring them that all is as it always has been, that access to their ranks is freely available to one and all through "hard work". That "American democracy" represents the pinnacle of human achievement, and that they are blessed because they deserve it.
In the future, everybody's black.
Then google for "peak oil is a myth" and decide who you believe.
Either the geologists, engineers, economists and petrochemical scientists or the whackos ... the trouble is, the whackos are on the 'myth' side of the fence.
It'll scare the shit out you, because the problem starts when we pass 'peak oil' production. When oil becomes uneconomical to produce (as in, the supply starts to peter out) THAT's when it gets nasty ... for really obvious reasons supported by people that should know.
But not to worry, that won't happen until 2002, so we've got ages yet!
Originally posted by Harald
If you've not googled for "Peak Oil" do it now.
Then google for "peak oil is a myth" and decide who you believe.
Either the geologists, engineers, economists and petrochemical scientists or the whackos ... the trouble is, the whackos are on the 'myth' side of the fence.
It'll scare the shit out you, because the problem starts when we pass 'peak oil' production. When oil becomes uneconomical to produce (as in, the supply starts to peter out) THAT's when it gets nasty ... for really obvious reasons supported by people that should know.
But not to worry, that won't happen until 2002, so we've got ages yet!
One expert on the radio said that oil production is less relavant to today?s situation than the actual gas production. Which has functionally peaked bucause no new refineries are being built.
Originally posted by Scott
One expert on the radio said that oil production is less relavant to today?s situation than the actual gas production. Which has functionally peaked bucause no new refineries are being built.
In my corner, a bunch of tin-foil hats like the following:
Matthew Simmons, energy adviser for President Bush (?We need a wake up call. We need it desperately.")
Jon Thompson, current president of ExxonMobil Exploration Company ("We estimate that world oil and gas production from existing fields is declining at an average rate of about 4 to 6 percent a year ... the industry will have to add about 100 million oil-equivalent barrels a day of new production ... in addition, the cost associated with providing this additional oil and gas is expected to be considerably more than what industry is now spending).
Dr. Colin J. Campbell, executive VP Fina, 1985 - 1989 ("Peak oil is a turning point for Mankind. The economic prosperity of the 20th Century was driven by cheap, oil-based energy; everyone had the equivalent of several unpaid and unfed slaves to do his work for him. These slaves are now getting old and wont work much longer. This may herald the end of the US economic and cultural hegemony.")
Jean Laherrère, head of TOTAL's exploration activities in the Sahara, Australia, and Canada ("Only when the supply becomes short and quotas useless will OPEC accept to report real estimates. It will take about a decade!").
And loads more, but I won't quote them because they're academics at places like Cornell and they're obviously communist activist Bush-hating green-lobbeyists.
In your corner: "One expert on the radio." Way to go Scott. This shit's real, and even Bush's boy agrees. But you heard "one expert on the radio" so it's all gravy.
The situation today is constrained by gas production not oil production.
Today is not 20 years from now.
I found it interesting so I mentioned it here.
"The Lord will send a revival to flow... "
Wow WTH was that all about? Nevermind. Don't tell me.
Back on topic... if the future isn't like Snow Crash, its just not going to be nearly as much fun as I'm anticipating.
Originally posted by Scott
The future's so bright I have to wear shades.
You mean the rose-colored ones?