The future. It's gonna be pretty good. Hey wait a minute. Not so fast. A new Pew Reseach survey.
by Mike Kravinsky
Imagine a future in which cancer becomes a memory, ordinary people travel in space, and computers carry on conversations like humans. Now imagine a darker future -- a world beset by war, rising temperatures and energy shortages, one where the United States faces a terrorist attack with nuclear weapons.
I did a video about a year ago detailing the National Intelligence Council's Report on what life will be like in 2025. It was pretty depressing. Now, a new Pew Research survey looks a little more balanced. People are both optimistic and pessimistic on many aspects of society over the next 40 years. It appears more realistic.
From computers, to health care to the environment to war and terrorism, the report covered the positive and negatives of where people feel we'll be.
For example, a large majority (81%) believe that computers will be able to carry on conversations. Will there be a cure for cancer? Yes, say 71%. Also on the medical front, about two-thirds of the respondents believe that artificial limbs will be able to outperform real limbs. I see plenty of debate at the Olympics. And slightly more than half, (53%) believe that ordinary people will travel in space. I'm looking forward to blowing my retirement on that!
Now, the downer. War, terrorism, the environmental catastrophes. A majority of the people surveyed (58%), believe we are destined to have another world war, (53%) believe that we'll have another terrorist attack, this one involving nuclear weapons. A major energy crisis is coming in the next 40 years according to a whopping 72%.
We're almost evenly divided on the quality of our environment. 50% say the earth environment will not improve, 47% say it will.
The survey covered many aspects of life in 2050, race relations will be better, the gap between rich and poor will grow, healthcare will be more affordable. And then there's China. Will we lose out world dominance? People are mixed on that one too.
But overall, American are an upbeat bunch when it comes to their lives and the nation. 64% say they are very or somewhat optimistic about life for themselves and their family over the next 40 years, while 61% are optimistic about the future of the United States. Moreover, 56% say the U.S. economy will be stronger than it is today.
