Which of these things will happen in the next fifty years?

[Nickel D]

At this time, this poll has attracted 98 voters and absolutely none of them think the Israelis and Palestinians will achieve a peaceful resolution to their situation within the next 50 years.

And yet, the U.S. continues to give millions and millions of dollars to non-taxpaying foreigners who are of a specific religious belief so that they can continue to wage war and exacerbate the conflict with no end in sight.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch...we have taxpaying natural-born citizens living in poverty.

You don't necessarily have to go, but you must indeed figure...

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Nickel D

At this time, this poll has attracted 98 voters and absolutely none of them think the Israelis and Palestinians will achieve a peaceful resolution to their situation within the next 50 years.

And yet, the U.S. continues to give millions and millions of dollars to non-taxpaying foreigners who are of a specific religious belief so that they can continue to wage war and exacerbate the conflict with no end in sight.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch...we have taxpaying natural-born citizens living in poverty.

You don't necessarily have to go, but you must indeed figure...

Yeah, I find that really intriguing. There's no confidence at all that the problem will be solved, and my vote falls in that group, too.

So is there any endgame? Are people going to hate and murder each other over there forever? If so, why are we investing money? Would our side lose if we didn't, and we're just funding with the goal of a stalemate?

It makes me wonder if the people making the policy have a goal in mind. We the people seem to feel that there's not a positive outcome that's feasible.

[bevischief]

In.

[displacedinMN]

You have too much time on your hands.

The current American affliction got to me. I got bored and was unable to read past the half way point.

[vailpass]

At the risk of sounding like the women you've known...your poll is too long.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by vailpass

At the risk of sounding like the women you've known...your poll is too long.

You'd be surprised how often I hear that.

[Why Not?]

Chiefs win Super Bowl. Clearly the most realistic option. Right?

[cdcox]

A human celebrates his or her 130th birthday

They would have to be > 80 now. Too much deterioration.

A mile-high skyscraper is built somewhere in the world.

Too far to go. The ascent curve is too flat. Too big of a terrorist target.

A single war produces more than 20 million deaths

Yeah.

A third party holds the US Presidency

I voted no, but it wouldn't surprise me.

A U.S. president is assassinated

Yeah, we are way over due, not that I want it to happen.

Anti-gravity is brought into everyday use

pfft.

Artificial intelligence routinely conducts media interviews

This is a job humans would want to do. I don't think it will become a thing.

At least one dinosaur will be alive

Too tempting of a target to pass up.

At least one human will have their brain transplanted into a cloned version of their own body

Someone will be rich enough to try it. Tech leap isn't that great.


Brick and mortar stores will cease to be the major means of purchases in the U.S.

Certainly.

Chiefs win a Super Bowl

I'm an optimist.

Cure for cancer (Late-stage survival rates > 97%)

Too many varieties.

Earthquake of Magnitude 8.3 or greater strikes somewhere in the continental U.S.

Similar to presidency.

Evidence of a pre-Ice Age civilization is discovered

You can tell that youtube guy is a nut even before you hit play.


Faster than light travel is achieved (human transport)

Star Trek says 2063, I say no.

Flying cars

Jetsons say yes in 2062, I say no.

Food shortages lead to permanent ban on consumption of meat in at least one country (population > 10 million)

Not unless it precedes the war where 20M people die.

Households manufacture all necessary goods themselves, purchasing only raw materials and plans for 3D printing

Seems very reasonable given existing 3D printer technology.

Human sets foot on Mars

Yes.

Humans can communicate directly with at least two species of animals.

If it were just a math problem (signal processing) we could already do it. I think the basis upon which we perceive reality are too different.

Implantable computer/phone/internet devices are in 80+% of Americans

Plug me in.


Large scale nuclear bomb dropped or launched in a hostile act

Nukes are passe.

Major epidemic kills 10% or more of the US population

Odds are against, but it could happen.

Major epidemic kills 25% or more of a nation’s population (nation > 10 million people)

Odds are against. World wide the 1918 flu wiped out up to 80M, but 10M in one country would be a lot.

Major meteor strike or other interplanetary event kills 1 million or more people

Nope, odds are against.

One-world government is established

No way that will happen.

Prenatal selection of certain traits will be possible for the middle class (e.g., height, nose shape, eye color)

Tech now exists.

Peaceful resolution to the Israel-Arab conflicts is achieved

Nope.

Permanent cessation of Islamic extremism and terrorism

Nope.

Permanent human presence on Mars

Economics don't work out.

Permanent human presence on the moon

See Mars.

Poverty is eliminated in the U.S., based on minimum standards of living that are achieved

We will always have lazy people and greedy people, so no.

Proof of extraterrestrial life is confirmed

I think it is out there. I probably should have marked yes, but it will be though a radio signal or something.

Race is no longer an issue of conflict, contention, or policy in the U.S.

Nope.

Robot labor means that humans do not have to work to obtain basic needs (food, clothing, shelter)

Tech is possible. Social issues are tougher, but I voted yes.

Robot labor provides household servants for the middle class (maid, butler, etc.)

For sure.

Small-scale radiation dirty bomb set off in hostile act

I voted no, but probably should have voted yes.

Space tourism becomes a feasible option for the American middle class

Seems very feasible given the number of private space companies.

The US Senate OR House becomes majority female

Could happen, but I voted no.

The world ends as described in the holy book of your choice

Nope.

Time travel to the future (more than one day)

Nope. If time travel were possible we would already have visitors from the future,

Time travel to the past (more than one day)

See above.

U.S. adds at least one new state from territory that is not part of a current state

We are no closer to doing this than we were 50 years ago.

U.S. is no longer the world’s most powerful nation

Almost certain. China is growing like mad.

U.S. no longer needs petroleum products as energy source

Not that far away.

U.S. splits into two or more countries

Nope.

[kysirsoze]

Originally Posted by cdcox

Major epidemic kills 25% or more of a nation’s population (nation > 10 million people)

Odds are against. World wide the 1918 flu wiped out up to 80M, but 10M in one country would be a lot.

I think he means the nation's total population equals 10 million. so 2.5 million are killed. I could have misread.

[cdcox]

Originally Posted by kysirsoze

I think he means the nation's total population equals 10 million. so 2.5 million are killed. I could have misread.

You are correct, but 25% in a single country would be a very concentrated death rate for comparable flues.

[kysirsoze]

Originally Posted by cdcox

You are correct, but 25% in a single country would be a very concentrated death rate for comparable flues.

I see. Thought you were saying 10 million dead in one country. I don't know anything about any of that so I'll take your word for it.

[vailpass]

Originally Posted by cdcox

You are correct, but 25% in a single country would be a very concentrated death rate for comparable flues.

So I need to get rid of my fireplaces?

[cdcox]

Originally Posted by vailpass

So I need to get rid of my fireplaces?

"Flus" looks like it should rhyme with bus.

[Mr_Tomahawk]

Originally Posted by cdcox

A human celebrates his or her 130th birthday

They would have to be > 80 now. Too much deterioration.

A mile-high skyscraper is built somewhere in the world.

Too far to go. The ascent curve is too flat. Too big of a terrorist target.

A single war produces more than 20 million deaths

Yeah.

A third party holds the US Presidency

I voted no, but it wouldn't surprise me.

A U.S. president is assassinated

Yeah, we are way over due, not that I want it to happen.

Anti-gravity is brought into everyday use

pfft.

Artificial intelligence routinely conducts media interviews

This is a job humans would want to do. I don't think it will become a thing.

At least one dinosaur will be alive

Too tempting of a target to pass up.

At least one human will have their brain transplanted into a cloned version of their own body

Someone will be rich enough to try it. Tech leap isn't that great.


Brick and mortar stores will cease to be the major means of purchases in the U.S.

Certainly.

Chiefs win a Super Bowl

I'm an optimist.

Cure for cancer (Late-stage survival rates > 97%)

Too many varieties.

Earthquake of Magnitude 8.3 or greater strikes somewhere in the continental U.S.

Similar to presidency.

Evidence of a pre-Ice Age civilization is discovered

You can tell that youtube guy is a nut even before you hit play.


Faster than light travel is achieved (human transport)

Star Trek says 2063, I say no.

Flying cars

Jetsons say yes in 2062, I say no.

Food shortages lead to permanent ban on consumption of meat in at least one country (population > 10 million)

Not unless it precedes the war where 20M people die.

Households manufacture all necessary goods themselves, purchasing only raw materials and plans for 3D printing

Seems very reasonable given existing 3D printer technology.

Human sets foot on Mars

Yes.

Humans can communicate directly with at least two species of animals.

If it were just a math problem (signal processing) we could already do it. I think the basis upon which we perceive reality are too different.

Implantable computer/phone/internet devices are in 80+% of Americans

Plug me in.


Large scale nuclear bomb dropped or launched in a hostile act

Nukes are passe.

Major epidemic kills 10% or more of the US population

Odds are against, but it could happen.

Major epidemic kills 25% or more of a nation’s population (nation > 10 million people)

Odds are against. World wide the 1918 flu wiped out up to 80M, but 10M in one country would be a lot.

Major meteor strike or other interplanetary event kills 1 million or more people

Nope, odds are against.

One-world government is established

No way that will happen.

Prenatal selection of certain traits will be possible for the middle class (e.g., height, nose shape, eye color)

Tech now exists.

Peaceful resolution to the Israel-Arab conflicts is achieved

Nope.

Permanent cessation of Islamic extremism and terrorism

Nope.

Permanent human presence on Mars

Economics don't work out.

Permanent human presence on the moon

See Mars.

Poverty is eliminated in the U.S., based on minimum standards of living that are achieved

We will always have lazy people and greedy people, so no.

Proof of extraterrestrial life is confirmed

I think it is out there. I probably should have marked yes, but it will be though a radio signal or something.

Race is no longer an issue of conflict, contention, or policy in the U.S.

Nope.

Robot labor means that humans do not have to work to obtain basic needs (food, clothing, shelter)

Tech is possible. Social issues are tougher, but I voted yes.

Robot labor provides household servants for the middle class (maid, butler, etc.)

For sure.

Small-scale radiation dirty bomb set off in hostile act

I voted no, but probably should have voted yes.

Space tourism becomes a feasible option for the American middle class

Seems very feasible given the number of private space companies.

The US Senate OR House becomes majority female

Could happen, but I voted no.

The world ends as described in the holy book of your choice

Nope.

Time travel to the future (more than one day)

Nope. If time travel were possible we would already have visitors from the future,

Time travel to the past (more than one day)

See above.

U.S. adds at least one new state from territory that is not part of a current state

We are no closer to doing this than we were 50 years ago.

U.S. is no longer the world’s most powerful nation

Almost certain. China is growing like mad.

U.S. no longer needs petroleum products as energy source

Not that far away.

U.S. splits into two or more countries

Nope.

This.

[kysirsoze]

I could see the meat ban, only because there are so many countries whose meat intake is small as it is. 50 years is a fairly long time and there are so many things that can go wrong with a food supply.