If you're in the prime of life, say between 30 and 55, you probably remember 1985, more or less. And you've got a pretty reasonable chance of seeing 2045.
So what do you think the world will be like in 30 years time? And how different will it be from 30 years ago?
If business as usual continues, it's quite likely that the global population will be 4 times what it was in 1985. Same goes for GDP. And total energy consumption. And total food production. But also other limited resource consumption and total pollution production.
Now bear in mind that first statement. This is a future you will probably see and experience. It isn't some far distant time that you don't need to worry about because you won't see it. Or problems that you can just leave to your children and descendants to sort out. 30 years is time enough to raise children and get them to child bearing age, but it's not that long. Because think back and you can remember 30 years ago. Remember 2000 and the Millenium and how 2030 felt like the far distant future? Well we're half way there.
So is "Business As Usual" sufficiently sustainable that it will keep going for another 30 years? Will 2045 be pretty much like 2015, just more so?
But mostly I'm curious about people's views of the future. And not 100 or 1000 (or 10k) year futures, but 30 year futures that they might actually see. I take it your vision isn't very optimistic. That's certainly a valid and justifiable position. I'm still not convinced that the real shit-fan discontinuity is < 30 years away.
I think the whole societal construct of money and all that comes with it is going to crash and burn, though don't know when. Climate change isn't going to help either. This will all be despite anything we want or do about it.
I know that sounds negative, but the human race will survive, and start again no doubt.
I'm not alone either, have you noticed the increasing trend towards dystopian fiction, away from the more hopeful stuff of the 60's? It's like we can feel as a race, that we're not equipped to reach it.
Still... Every generation has those who think things will go on forever "like they are now", and those who think "it'll all end tomorrow". My bet is somewhere in between, but closer to tomorrow.