<p>What do you all think the U.S. will be like in the year 2020? Will the economy be completely in the hole by then? If a Bachelor’s degree is essentially the equivalent of a high school diploma now, what will a Master’s degree or even a Ph.D. be worth in a decade or two? Alternatively, will our economy get much better? Will we have produced any wonderful new technologies that are vastly superior to anything else we’ve ever had? Will we all be cruising through the air like the Jetsons instead of driving on the highway?</p>
<p>My biggest disappointment has been that there haven’t been Jetson-like cars available by now…</p>
<p>^ A GOOD laugh to go to bed on!</p>
<p>An army of undead Aztecs will invade the underwater ruins of D.C.</p>
<p>Possibly, cell phone technology will have improved enough so that I won’t have to stand next to the window to make a call from my house.</p>
<p>Also, by that point, I might have cleaned out the large closet at the back of the second floor of my house. But probably not. I haven’t cleaned it out in the past ten years; I probably won’t do it in the next ten, either, unless we move.</p>
<p>I think our economy will be on an upswing at that point, just going in cycles like normal. Technology will continue to be developed at an astounding pace, only speeding up with time. My cell phone will finally be perfect – it will make coffee.</p>
<p>Just some thoughts</p>
<p>Most computing will be done over the internet. Most transactions will be done by mobile devices. Television will be browser based with monthly costs based on how many ads you are willing to watch. Radio will be browser based again based on a monthly fee. Your music library will be licensed and you will have access. Newspapers are history as news and magazine content are distributed through tablets. Books will be quaint. US mail will be sub contracted out as most mail will be delivered electronically. Major changes in fossil fuel use as advances are made in making green sources more efficient. Major upgrade to power grid infrastructure that will move power more efficiently. Commuting will be down as more people will be able to work from home or from decentralized work pods. We will finally get a flat tax and investment will flourish. Social security will be privatized and saving will be encouraged.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, we will as humans will not change much. We will still be motivated by greed and power and much of the world will still have no political voice and be undernourished. Drugs, crime, and hatred will still be a problem. People will still need to work hard to raise a family and teach our youth the golden rule and respect.</p>
<p>The richest third of the populace will be considerably richer … and will (continue to) complain bitterly about cost of supporting the poorest two-thirds.</p>
<p>Why so few thoughts? I created this thread with a serious intention.</p>
<p>I will be ten years older but still very healthy and fit. My income will not be nearly as much as I hoped it would be when I worked for more than 40 years. My children won’t live near me and they won’t call enough. I’ll have grandchildren whom I’ll hardly see. I will have a lot of friends and we’ll all complain about our adult kids. </p>
<p>About 92% of the population will be covered by some sort of health care. Immigration will not yet have been solved. Hispanics or people of Hispanic origin will be approximately 40% of the population.</p>
<p>About 60% of the cars sold in the US will be electric. </p>
<p>Heavy snow in the winter months will become very common and ordinary and no longer the surprise that it is this winter. Dreadful heat and humidity in the summer will also become very ordinary. All of our homes, cars and workplaces will be air conditioned.</p>