|
As I try to consider what the future might bring to me and mine, which is always a pretty daunting task, I don't see much that doesn't make me wince.
I think one has to commit at the outset of any such speculation to either an optimistic or a pessimistic approach. Our attitude is the lens which focuses and colors our vision as we gaze into the future. And, while I admit that my lens is a pessimistic one, I hasten to add that pessimism is the only realistic attitude at this point in time. One would have to be an idiot to think things looked rosy round the bend and I will not confess to idiocy.
We have reached or passed "peak oil". We are running out of relatively cheap fossil fuel and, rather than devote our energy and resources to finding affordable alternative energy sources, we are plotting how we can control the dwindling supply with our temporary military superiority and the lives of our children.
The climate of our planet Earth is warming. An overwhelming consensus of responsible scientists agree that this is occurring and that the cause is the increase in "greenhouse gases" produced by man's industries and other activities which burn hydrocarbons and spew carbon dioxide into our atmosphere. But, politicians funded by those who make billions from supplying those hydrocarbons and religious zealots who deny that anything is happening because it "ain't in the Bible" will likely continue to prevent us from doing anything close to what could be done to lessen or prevent Global Climate Change which will see nations going to war over food and potable water before the oil is exhausted.
Domestically, when things really and obviously start going to hell, one of the Brownshirts now waving one of those damnead yellow "Sneaky Snake" flags will step onto the stage and point at some minority---say, immigrants or Hispanics or blacks or homosexuals(or all of the above)---and say "THEY are to blame! THEY are the reason we don't have jobs!"---or cheap gasoline---or drinking water! And, then we will begin the process of "classifying" ourselves and thereby determining things like who can vote, who can marry who, who can pursue certain professions and who is entitled to "full American citizenship" with all its privileges and protections.
Our machinery, our electronics, our shoes and our clothes will all be imported at steadily increasing prices form China or India or their sub-contractors in Europe or South America.
In a few generations, employment will improve: China and India will start out-sourcing our jobs back to us.
I regret, deeply, that I feel this way, but I simply feel that, as a people, we are so bereft of honor and integrity and courage that we are now simply feathers in the wind and bound to go where events carry us, not on any course we've plotted.
|
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
