The World In 2050

[Africa]

http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/node/1669

Why do you suppose US population is rising so rapidly vis a vis other 1st world countries (Germany and Japan in particular)? Is this trend good or bad for the world/for the US?

Why do you suppose population is rising so rapidly in India and not much at all in China? Why is population rising so rapidly in Africa and S. Asia? What are the consequences for those regions and/or the world? Is this uneven growth sustainable?

[coheneran]

It's rising because of immigration and lack of government-funded abortion clinics, obviously.

[Africa]

Hardy har! Osmosis Osmosis

[coheneran]

Hardy har! Osmosis Osmosis

Only if you taught the potato about implementing capitalist economic principles within the starch.

[Africa]

Hahahahahaah

?

[DekWannaBFlea]

I think growth will have alot to do with AIDS treatment and economic growth.

[Mr. Ron]

I think there will be a cure for AIDS by then, I hope.

[coheneran]

And dreams of being a big Hollywood star like Antonio Banderas.

[Electronic Wolf]

Most of Asia is gonna be underwater thanks to global warming.

[HaVIC5]

Why do you suppose population is rising so rapidly in India and not much at all in China? Why is population rising so rapidly in Africa and S. Asia? What are the consequences for those regions and/or the world? Is this uneven growth sustainable?

The reason why population growth in China is stunted is because of government mandates that impose stiff taxes on families that have more than one child. It becomes economically impossible in the pseudo-communist system for anybody to have a large family.

[Zesty Mordant]

call it idealistic, but I think that a hydrogen-based economy could very well be in place by 2050 (at least in the West) and this will definately help out populous developing nations like China, India, etc.

The theorizing right now behind HEWs is pretty unreal.

[CardCheat]

Most of Asia is gonna be underwater thanks to global warming.

I think most people that study global warming agree that it wouldn't be causing that kind of damage for well over a hundred years...assuming something drastic doesn't happen.

As for US population growth, if it keeps up and people keep overpopulating the cities/urban areas, the government will probably make some law that requires people to fill land in Montana, South Dakota, and all those other uninhabited states in the west.

[Hababi]

I think most people that study global warming agree that it wouldn't be causing that kind of damage for well over a hundred years...assuming something drastic doesn't happen.


You're correct. Realistically, if we do nothing to curb global warming, then within 100 years, Manhattan will be under water. But the whole gloom and doom, everyone's dead, Dennis Quaid movie thing is over the top.


As for US population growth, if it keeps up and people keep overpopulating the cities/urban areas, the government will probably make some law that requires people to fill land in Montana, South Dakota, and all those other uninhabited states in the west.

Haha. Actually I think that will occur naturally. Montana's beautiful and sooner or later, folks are gonna find it out.

[coheneran]

It was too late to do anything about global warming twenty years ago.

[Africa]

Wait Manhattan under water in 100 yrs? I gotta see that.

[Zesty Mordant]

mass paranoia aside, I think that most scientists/experts predict that global warming effects won't be felt for another 50-75 yrs. However, the thing with most ecological problems is that they come slow but hit hard and fast.

But, if the shift to a decentralized hydrogen economy goes smootly, GHGs could very well be a thing of the past (in the future, that is).

[Electronic Wolf]

I think 50 years is not long from now, and I care about what happens to the people that live after me.

[coheneran]

Wasn't that summer when people died of flooding or heatstroke in Europe caused by global warming? And Hurricane Katrina?

[Electronic Wolf]

Yes.

[CardCheat]

And Hurricane Katrina?

Yeah, a lot of scientists believe that the increasing temperature of the water makes hurricanes stronger and more powerful.

[Smokey D]

Haha. Actually I think that will occur naturally. Montana's beautiful and sooner or later, folks are gonna find it out.

Montanna can't sustain large populations.

[italic zero]

well I don't know about 2050, but

In the year three thousand and thirty everybody wants to be an mc
In the year three thousand and thirty everybody want to be a dj
In the year three thousand and thirty everybody want to be a
producer
In the year three thousand and thirty
everybody want to tell ya the meaning of the music





http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/node/1669

Why do you suppose US population is rising so rapidly vis a vis other 1st world countries (Germany and Japan in particular)? Is this trend good or bad for the world/for the US?

Why do you suppose population is rising so rapidly in India and not much at all in China? Why is population rising so rapidly in Africa and S. Asia? What are the consequences for those regions and/or the world? Is this uneven growth sustainable?
India is growing rapidly because it's a relatively poor country and I believe that large families are culturally normal. The Chinese government imposes restrictions on its population due to its past struggles with overpopulation. Africa and South Asian countries are growing rapidly for the same reason as India, namely poverty (of course, there must be enough wealth to prevent mass starvation). The tiny growth rates in Japan and Western Europe are a distinctly modern phenomenon in that they are the smallest in world history that are limited by individual choice rather than disease or food shortage.

And yeah, the US has Mexico feeding it (which is good for the economy).

[StrangeVision]

Yeah, a lot of scientists believe that the increasing temperature of the water makes hurricanes stronger and more powerful.

The increase in tropical activity is due to a naturally occuring trend that will be here for the next decade or two.

[Hababi]

Montanna can't sustain large populations.

And Nevada can? What makes you think Montana wouldn't?

[Africa]

Okay let's kick it up a notch, even though this thread is about population, what will the year 2,300 be like googogogo!

[-1up!-]

In 2300? My prediction is, capitalism will have crashed and burned by then.

(And anarchy will prevail lolololol omg.)

[Knifeboy]

I think there will be a cure for AIDS by then, I hope.


I'm guessing you plan to have alot of unprotected sex the next 44 years?

[Phatstrat]

In 2300? My prediction is, capitalism will have crashed and burned by then.

(And anarchy will prevail lolololol omg.)

Seriously, we are way overdue as compared to countries who walked the same path as America. We have lasted the longest with this type of government. But anarchy? :lol: Hate to be the cup is half empty guy, but we are also overdue for another depression, and it took a war to end the first one.

And Nevada can? What makes you think Montana wouldn't?

ehhhh....don't worry about it, we will have already establised moon colonies. I can see it now......MTV cribs.....moon edition! just kiddin'

[Smokey D]

And Nevada can? What makes you think Montana wouldn't?

The book Collapse by Jared Diamond.

No, Nervada can't either.

[griftadan]

Wasn't that summer when people died of flooding or heatstroke in Europe caused by global warming? And Hurricane Katrina?

yeah but then we had this year, a near record low hurricane season.

[Hababi]

The book Collapse by Jared Diamond.

No, Nervada can't either.

Looking at it, environmentally, I think Montana and the Dakota's are much better equipped to handle an influx of population than Nevada ever has been.

[Mr. Ron]

I'm guessing you plan to have alot of unprotected sex the next 44 years?

I was thinking more of "it would be cool if thousands of people were not dying from it every year". But yeah, that would be cool too.:p

[HaVIC5]

Has anybody read the book "Empire" by Orson Scott Card? It predicts a second American civil war within a decade or so. Yes, its somewhat far-fetched, but still a good read.

[Mr. Ron]

Who is fighting in this civil war?

[Hababi]

Who is fighting in this civil war?

Gays against the rest of America when they fail to get national gay marriage. The PURPLE REVOLUTION :D

[griftadan]

Who is fighting in this civil war?

hopefully hte government vs. everyone else, except for some reaosn the marines rebel with us. that would rule.

[Mr. Ron]

hopefully hte government vs. everyone else, except for some reaosn the marines rebel with us. that would rule.

Awww hell yeah

[CarnageFairy]

Cities will be so crowded and noisy like in those cyberpunk sci-fi movies. Think 5th Element.

And everyone will be Mexican.

[HaVIC5]

Gays against the rest of America when they fail to get national gay marriage. The PURPLE REVOLUTION :D
The president and vice president are assissinated by terrorists, causing a temporary power vacuum in which a militant leftist organization funded by a billionar organizes an armed rebellion in response to threats of a right wing coup in the military. Several states recognize the leftist authority as the legitimate authority of the US rather than the more extreme right elements poised to take control of the government, and thus "civil war" breaks out.

The point of the novel isn't actually to warn of civil war here in the US, but what comes from it. Card's idea is that America isn't like Rome on the eve of the fall of Rome's Empire, but rather, Rome on the eve of the fall of Rome's Republic. The entire book is somewhat of a modern retelling of history, where the republic falls into civil war after a power vacuum, and out of that rises a benevolent dictatorship.

[Hababi]

The president and vice president are assissinated by terrorists, causing a temporary power vacuum in which a militant leftist organization funded by a billionar organizes an armed rebellion in response to threats of a right wing coup in the military. Several states recognize the leftist authority as the legitimate authority of the US rather than the more extreme right elements poised to take control of the government, and thus "civil war" breaks out.

The point of the novel isn't actually to warn of civil war here in the US, but what comes from it. Card's idea is that America isn't like Rome on the eve of the fall of Rome's Empire, but rather, Rome on the eve of the fall of Rome's Republic. The entire book is somewhat of a modern retelling of history, where the republic falls into civil war after a power vacuum, and out of that rises a benevolent dictatorship.

Well one thing: I agree that it's far fetched :p

If, God forbid, both the president & vice president were assassinated, I think there would be an orderly, peaceful transfer of power to the speaker of the house....Nancy Pelosi??!!!! :eek:

Hmmm that right wing coup just got a lot better sounding :lol:

[Amit]

everyone will be part chinese, part indian, and part hispanic

[Electronic Wolf]

I'm already part Chinese and Indian and Hispanic and giraffe.

[Apollyon]

I think growth will have alot to do with AIDS treatment and economic growth.

I think growth will have a lot to do with increasing AIDS infection rates. The US is growing too much, too fast because we don't have strict enough border policies and a lack of sex education due to it's repression in the classroom by the Conservative party.

[Electronic Wolf]

You're right, Apollyon/Jared.

[Krabsworth]

Gays against the rest of America when they fail to get national gay marriage. The PURPLE REVOLUTION :D

yeah if gays have to fight just to get married "oh noes" than America probably will sink it stupidity

[DekWannaBFlea]

Another U.S. civil war is one of the most far-fetched ideas one can think of..............

[pedro durruti]

Maybe not in the near future, but anything can happen in 50 years.

[DekWannaBFlea]

I think growth will have a lot to do with increasing AIDS infection rates. The US is growing too much, too fast because we don't have strict enough border policies and a lack of sex education due to it's repression in the classroom by the Conservative party.


I think the Conservative Sex education will die out by then.........hopefully.

AIDS also is going to be wiped out in the next few decades i am predicting. It is such a terrible disease that prohibits grow in many countries that many economic superpowers will see the potential markets and respond with overwhelming aid.

[DekWannaBFlea]

Maybe not in the near future, but anything can happen in 50 years.

Yeah, ANYTHING can happen any where. But just saying anything can happen doesn't give any evidence to the claim. The U.S. is last the place on earth a civil war will take place.

[Electronic Wolf]

Because we're all addicted to fatty foods.

[Apollyon]

Yeah, ANYTHING can happen any where. But just saying anything can happen doesn't give any evidence to the claim. The U.S. is last the place on earth a civil war will take place.

That is not necessarily true. There's increased unrest every year in regards to hyper-aggressive police, a lack of government funding for things like school renovations and medical supplies (here in Oregon we only have one burn center, and there are only 135 of them in the country), a ever-increasing unemployment rate that the government simply diverts with temporary, quick fixes. Also, immigration, outsourcing, the in some cases violent rifts between our two major political parties and the complete lack of recognition or appreciation of outlying political parties, etc..

The US is a prime candidate for another civil war if things continue to get worse.

[DekWannaBFlea]

That is not necessarily true. There's increased unrest every year in regards to hyper-aggressive police, a lack of government funding for things like school renovations and medical supplies (here in Oregon we only have one burn center, and there are only 135 of them in the country), a ever-increasing unemployment rate that the government simply diverts with temporary, quick fixes. Also, immigration, outsourcing, the in some cases violent rifts between our two major political parties and the complete lack of recognition or appreciation of outlying political parties, etc..

The US is a prime candidate for another civil war if things continue to get worse.

Unemployment rate has been very low. 4.5 percent is a ridiculously low rate. Other countries suffer higher rates in Europe and they aren't breaking into civil wars.

Illegal Immigration is a overblown problem, a problem, but a over blown one. Most of 2nd generation illegal immigrants intigrate into this nation.

Oursourcing is a problem but it is nothing that would warrant a civil war.

The rift between the two parties is partisian but not a problem. Americans are getting tired of the partisanship in Washington. As reflected in this last election. The red state versu sblue state analogy is also flawed, most people don't see the country like that. The country has been much more divided than it is now.

Seriously, most of these are not problems that are led to civil war. Americans see themselves as Americans, Not a blue stater or red stater. The military is volunteer and has a long standing tradition of being under civillan control. The Supreme court is legit in people's eyes. And there are no (as far as I know) succession movements within the U.S..

I really don't see civil war happening even if the U.S. goes down hill even more. We just have a long tradition of being one nation.

[HaVIC5]

The rift between the two parties is partisian but not a problem. Americans are getting tired of the partisanship in Washington. As reflected in this last election. The red state versu sblue state analogy is also flawed, most people don't see the country like that. The country has been much more divided than it is now.

It's interesting how Card deals with this problem. He constantly references it, and addresses it in a rather clever way.

Seriously, most of these are not problems that are led to civil war. Americans see themselves as Americans, Not a blue stater or red stater. The military is volunteer and has a long standing tradition of being under civillan control. The Supreme court is legit in people's eyes. And there are no (as far as I know) succession movements within the U.S.

As with the Civil War back in 1861. Both sides retained the identity of being American, believing that the other side got it completely wrong. Card's depicting of a second civil war is much more benign and there is hardly any actual fighting, mainly due to the general apathy of the public, but when you read it, you become convinced that it isn't an impossibility.


I really don't see civil war happening even if the U.S. goes down hill even more. We just have a long tradition of being one nation.

Only 150 years old. Look at Britain. It was a nation with a national identity for closer to a millenium before its Civil War.

Again, just read the book. Its a good one.

[DekWannaBFlea]

It's interesting how Card deals with this problem. He constantly references it, and addresses it in a rather clever way.

As with the Civil War back in 1861. Both sides retained the identity of being American, believing that the other side got it completely wrong. Card's depicting of a second civil war is much more benign and there is hardly any actual fighting, mainly due to the general apathy of the public, but when you read it, you become convinced that it isn't an impossibility.

Only 150 years old. Look at Britain. It was a nation with a national identity for closer to a millenium before its Civil War.

Again, just read the book. Its a good one.

Ok. Ill give it a shot.

[Carrionshine]

A global panopticon.

[Smokey D]

Only 150 years old. Look at Britain. It was a nation with a national identity for closer to a millenium before its Civil War.

Hardly. Nation states didn't even exist in the way we think of them until the 15th century at the earliest, and Britain didn't even exist until the 18th century. The was dynastic, not national, loyalty to Charles I in the Civil Wars and political opposition to him. He was, after all, a Scot in the middle of an English fight.

[Chrizzle fo' Shizzle]

Oh man I hope the world is like Road Warrior

Oh man

[irishslappop]

Thunder dome!

[Chrizzle fo' Shizzle]

Pfff Thunderdome was gay

Tina Turner wtf

[Give me Beer]

If we're going to be pessimistic up to predicting civil wars, then can I hold up European countries as a far more likely candidates? Of course I think it's totally ridicilous that this would ever happen, but we've got a far bigger problem with immigration. -_-

[Smokey D]

Immigrant populations in Europe are too small to be a significant force in a civil war. That is, if civil war is fought in the traditional way.

[Africa]

Oh man I hope the world is like Road Warrior

Oh manI sometimes have fantasies such as this :)Pfff Thunderdome was gay

Tina Turner wtf

Lmfao

[Apollyon]

If we're going to be pessimistic up to predicting civil wars, then can I hold up European countries as a far more likely candidates? Of course I think it's totally ridicilous that this would ever happen, but we've got a far bigger problem with immigration. -_-

No you don't. America isn't called the "melting pot" just for shits and giggles.

EDIT: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/meltingpot/melt0222.htm

There's an interesting article to read.

[Give me Beer]

I know it isn't, but American immigrants integrate a little better. There isn't that big of a cultural gap between hispanics and Americans. We mainly get Muslim immigrants, whome don't seem to be too keen on our culture, really.

Remember Paris last year? I didn't mean we had more immigrants, I mean we have a bigger problem integrating them. Of course it wouldn't be a traditional civil war... but I've heard people talking about it. The far right isn't that big here for no reason. It's not uncommon to hear that the "traitors to our culture" will pay... by which they mean the people who actually try to work with immigrants.

Obviously I think a civil war would be ridicilous, but really, it's just as realistic as a civil war in the USA.

[Apollyon]

I know it isn't, but American immigrants integrate a little better. There isn't that big of a cultural gap between hispanics and Americans.

Wait wait wait what

Did you even read that article because you're talking nonsense.

[Stevie]

There are far too many retarded people in the world. Retarded people have sex with each other too much and have too many babies, who of course will then become retarded people and do the same in a generation's time. Whilst intelligent families plan to have a couple of children perhaps, who are of good quality and don't end up pregnant at 16 are considered equal to the growing swamp of retarded trailer trash in the world. So what happens? The majority of people become retarded, and democracy, means that rather than let the intelligent people who can forsee the future run the world, these people are shouted down by millions of retards who cannot see into the future, just as about 100 of you are about to do to me who are to stupid yourselves to think. The world needs drastic change.

[Mr. Ron]

There are far too many retarded people in the world. Retarded people have sex with each other too much and have too many babies, who of course will then become retarded people and do the same in a generation's time. Whilst intelligent families plan to have a couple of children perhaps, who are of good quality and don't end up pregnant at 16 are considered equal to the growing swamp of retarded trailer trash in the world. So what happens? The majority of people become retarded, and democracy, means that rather than let the intelligent people who can forsee the future run the world, these people are shouted down by millions of retards who cannot see into the future, just as about 100 of you are about to do to me who are to stupid yourselves to think. The world needs drastic change.

So, what is your plan?

[Stevie]

So, what is your plan?

I didn't answer your previous question that was very similar for the same reason I will not answer this one...the question is too large to answer properly. I was quite happy to let that last debate die.

[veggie 3.14]

Hopefully some kind of massive disaster like in The Day Of The Triffids.

Only I survive, and lead humanity into a new, greater age.

More likely: horribly overcrowded, polluted, and with unstable governments worldwide.

Like Deus Ex.

[Mr. Ron]

I didn't answer your previous question that was very similar for the same reason I will not answer this one...the question is too large to answer properly. I was quite happy to let that last debate die.

I see. I just don't understand how you could stop people with a limited mental capacity from breeding.

[VomitStainedCretin]

I dont know about 2050, but I know that 20500 is when Mars declares independence from the Terran Empire and theres the Inter Planetary War stuff that ends with the Sun being blown up. :lol:

Actually, thinking about it, these sort of things arent unlikely: Civil War in the Balkans, Middle East still unresolved, Russia will either seek to expand, though probably peacefully, or will collapse into sh1t loads of tiny little countries. China and the US will make lots of noise over Taiwan but do nothing in the end.

[-1up!-]

There are far too many retarded people in the world. Retarded people have sex with each other too much and have too many babies, who of course will then become retarded people and do the same in a generation's time. Whilst intelligent families plan to have a couple of children perhaps, who are of good quality and don't end up pregnant at 16 are considered equal to the growing swamp of retarded trailer trash in the world. So what happens? The majority of people become retarded, and democracy, means that rather than let the intelligent people who can forsee the future run the world, these people are shouted down by millions of retards who cannot see into the future, just as about 100 of you are about to do to me who are to stupid yourselves to think. The world needs drastic change.

lol. What are your criteria for retardedness? I'm curious.

[Stevie]

lol. What are your criteria for retardedness? I'm curious.

Hah! I now quote myself from the Unabomber Manifesto thread:

"Suppose I were to say that all retards should be killed. If I were to post that here I would most likely receive a response that says "well where is the line drawn on what a retard is?". This is no argument against the frame of the idea that retarded people should be killed, rather something that requires rules within the system of killing retards. This is a better example of what I was saying about the way that people will oppose arguments. "#

Mr. Ron: These things are a means to an end. It's not nice to do this, but it's necessary...cruel to be kind. Take for example somebody who has poor fertility. Modern society sympethises with the unfortunate person's infertility, and will help the person to breed. So, the person will eventually breed a child who will interit the perent's infertility. So, in a generation there is another person who is infertile and needs fertility treatment, the problem will not go away. More and more people will become dependent on fertility treatment for their "right" for a baby The problem does not go away. If I were in power, the infertile person would not be allowed to breed, and the problem of this infertility would be gone. It won't be too nice for the person who will not breed, but this is a means to an end. Why should generations later suffer for one person's "rights"?

Now should the infertile person be allowed to breed, the solution to this problem of infertility gets more and more drastic, because it means more and more people will not be allowed to breed to get rid of the problem.

And this is not simply a desire to end suffering to humanity. It's a means to make humanity stronger, healthier and more intelligent.

[Zesty Mordant]

I know this sounds sort of an infallible cheap shot, but if you were "infertile" would you still support this?

[The Digital Pimp]

I know I know! We can all join the Voluntary Human Extinction Movement.

[Stevie]

I know this sounds sort of an infallible cheap shot, but if you were "infertile" would you still support this?

Of course. Hell, perhaps I am infertile. I haven't tried for a baby. Why should my personal situation change what should be done for the whole world? If I am infertile, I'll do the heroic thing and not breed.

[Give me Beer]

Wait wait wait what

Did you even read that article because you're talking nonsense.

Dude, I lived in Latin America, trust me, the cultural gap between them and the USA is not nearly as big as the one between Europeans and North Africans/Arabs.

Of course there are seperate enclaves of people, that's not what I meant. I swear, I was in Schaerbeek the other day (Neighbourhood in Brussels) and it looked like I was in Morocco. People speaking Arabic everywhere, nothing but girls and women who wear wearing headscarves and the long flowing Arab gowns. Stores blasting Arab music which doesn't sound like Western music at all... I felt more alien than I felt during the entire time I lived in Latin America.

Not that I didn't enjoy it, it's kind of cool to walk through, but it's definitely completely different from our culture.