Survey: Contemplating Mankind’s Medium-Term Future: 2011 – 2050
Are you familiar with our surveys here, in which we ask readers to weigh in on the important topics of the day?
Please consider and comment on the following set of ideas, which I’ll send out as soon as I get it finalized, to get your take on where we’re headed as a species. I intend to get folks to provide their level of agreement on a scale of 1 – 5, on the following propositions:
◊ The global economy will probably recover after the resolution of the U.S. recession, the European debt crisis, and other immediate woes — and a period of sustained growth is likely to follow.
◊ Technological innovation will outpace population growth, the depletion of resources, and man’s impact on the natural environment.
◊ Mankind will gain a better understanding of the impact it’s made on the natural environment, which will significantly raise awareness of our need to reduce, re-use, and recycle – as well as drive innovation in clean tech.
◊ We’re likely to enter an indefinite period of negative economic growth, created by our civilization’s having “hit the wall” with respect to scarcities in energy, water, and food, which are likely to have horrific consequences in the forms of wars, social chaos, and class divisiveness.
◊ Yes, such scarcities are likely, but they will force everyone, rich and poor, to do more with less. But that’s really not such a bad thing, as it will force us all closer to nature, hard work, and the roots of true happiness.
◊ We’re very likely to experience one or more cataclysms of Biblical proportions between now and 2015: a huge nuclear accident, clear evidence of a runaway rise in Earth’s temperature and sea levels, a complete meltdown in the international banking system, “World War III,” or something of that scale.
◊ Though things may get bad, human dignity and kindness will prevail, as exemplified by the aftermath of 9/11, where the incidence of mutual support was hundreds of times greater than that of looting. I.e., in situations like these, people are far more likely to help one another than to take advantage of them.
One thing in the description of the USA’s work force has stood out to me for quite some time. That is the phrase “hard work”, or “hard working Americans”. We often hear it from politicians, economists, sellers, et. al., when pandering to their minions. It serves to turn my awareness off in regard to any substantive meaning of what may follow.
If you “work hard”, you are probably insane.
You may have placed the meaning of money above your true happiness or perhaps you have subjected your persuit of happiness to a meaning outside yourself. Either way, if it appears hard, it is not in your best interests. I have written the POTUS about this, along with attention to a politicians tendancy to ask for Gods blessing. This later is the viewpoint of a guilty mind, not being aware that we are already blessed with all the Loving provision an all providing mind can effect.
In my life, I recall that I may have worked dilligently, aggressivly, tactfully, demeaningly, purposefully, joyfully, and with many other adjectives depicting how I may see how I work, But “hard”, I hardly think so.
…….If you really want to appreciate the work of others, it may serve better to depict it as joyful, exacting, happy, or just as it is; “paid”.(expectantly and hopefully).