Where do you see the USA a few generations from now?

Much too pessimistic. We will achieve energy independence.

All those millions of Chinese workers will also demand some of the good life just as the Japanese did. The spread between US and Chinese manufacture will narrow with an up tick in US manufacturing. China will have less and less room to absorb blunders in its economic policy.

Lets not also forget the coming economic money crisis in both Europe and the US. China will be hit even harder as its markets collapse. The Western countries will still retain an advantage with less government control of markets and the economy even though that is disappearing as well. When the crisis hits hard enough common sense will be more likely to prevail.

I think the real question will be if we continue to the "United" part.

The Soviet Union "de-unionized" and there was no war. Could the same happen here? Texas was a independent country before joining the the USA. If the central government create the collapse of the economy and can't control anything, will the States stand up and take care of themselves and put government "by the People, for the People" back together again.

In a few generations from now a significant portion of our energy needs will come from solar. The efficiency of solar collectors will much higher than today and some will even harvest energy when the sun is not shinning. Lighting will all be LED based. China will see significant political changes, driven by the growing middle class and the much lower status of the rural population that grows the food. The population of the USA will be much more diverse, especially in the highly educated class. They will be welcomed by business that needs the highly educated workers. American university education will be significantly challenged by Internet based education in foreign countries that graduate much better educated students, especially in STEM. America will still be the desired destination county for a significant portion of the world's educated class. The combination of financial capital and entrepreneurial opportunity will be the draw. Politically we will still be a two party system, one party aligned with the "have nots", the other with the "haves". We will have significant self defense systems to deal with drone attacks launched by non-state groups that oppose us. We will have had one or more significant wide spread failures of our infrastructure systems, electric, communication, banking, etc. All caused by cyber attacks that are impossible to identify precisely the origin. The nation's transportation infrastructure will be in constant repair, struggling to repair the structural failures. Taxes will be significantly higher that today, demanded by a public willing to pay postponed improvements of the past. There will have been a significant public health crisis caused by some worldwide pandemic. Grandchildren of coal forum members will be trying to burn black rocks to keep warm. I'm tired of typing. Happy New Year all. Fun to see the vision of others, based on their experiences, backgrounds and education.

I probably have a few things wrong as I am just a dumb sheep farmer interpreting what was stated in a book I read, but everything I said was gleaned from 3 books of the bible: Ezekiel Chapters 36-39, Daniel Chapters 7-12, and Revelations Chapters 6-19.

Ed.A wrote:If NS is correct in his theory (and I believe he is prolly closer to reality than most of us would like to admit) then our future is not all that promising. The time it takes for this senario to play out is the biggest question.

Yanche wrote: They will be welcomed by business that needs the highly educated workers. American university education will be significantly challenged by Internet based education in foreign countries that graduate much better educated students, especially in STEM. America will still be the desired destination county for a significant portion of the world's educated class.

The average age of a skilled machinist in the us today is reaching 60yrs old. The reason is the "Wizards of Smart" of the "Highly educated class" somewhere around 1985 or so decided that everyone should go to college. Yeah smart move, I know I won't hire a carpenter, plumber or mechanic who doesn't have a College degree.

Ct. used to have one of the best Technical High school systems in the country, so- much so that in the 70's P&W, EB, UTI, etc ditched their apprentice programs in favor of youngin's coming out of 4yrs programs at no real expense to them ( although most did/do provide funds to help support the system besides taxes).

My Youngest graduated in 2006 from the Tech School system ( as did I decades earlier) his class was the last to receive Blueprint Reading as a course schedule so they could require all students to receive an additional English Class...yeh, keep talking about the "Educated Class", My God.

I wonder how many here have had to deal with the newest round of College educated ME's lately? Apparently seeing, being around or even touching a machine is no longer a prerequisite for knowledge of how to manufacture something. At least in here the US, the things I see from Germany are pretty much solid reality based designs from what I've had to deal with in the last 10yrs.

I wonder how a "Education" based economy compares to a balanced and skilled workforce.

One that self determination drove people to seek the job one really wanted in lieu of being told you'll be nothing without a College Degree.

This has been recognized for a long time. I remember reading an essay by Hiram Camp who was president of the New Haven Clock Co. that basically said the same thing, only this was about 1900 that he said it.

"The society which scorns excellence in plumbing as a humble activity and tolerates shoddiness in philosophy because it is an exalted activity will have neither good plumbing nor good philosophy: neither its pipes nor its theories will hold water."------ John W Gardner

franco b wrote:This has been recognized for a long time. I remember reading an essay by Hiram Camp who was president of the New Haven Clock Co. that basically said the same thing, only this was about 1900 that he said it.

"The society which scorns excellence in plumbing as a humble activity and tolerates shoddiness in philosophy because it is an exalted activity will have neither good plumbing nor good philosophy: neither its pipes nor its theories will hold water."------ John W Gardner

Nice...that's a keeper.

franco b wrote:"The society which scorns excellence in plumbing as a humble activity and tolerates shoddiness in philosophy because it is an exalted activity will have neither good plumbing nor good philosophy: neither its pipes nor its theories will hold water."------ John W Gardner

Love it! It's going into my list of quotations to remember.

Ed.A wrote:

Yanche wrote: They will be welcomed by business that needs the highly educated workers. American university education will be significantly challenged by Internet based education in foreign countries that graduate much better educated students, especially in STEM. America will still be the desired destination county for a significant portion of the world's educated class.

The average age of a skilled machinist in the us today is reaching 60yrs old. The reason is the "Wizards of Smart" of the "Highly educated class" somewhere around 1985 or so decided that everyone should go to college. Yeah smart move, I know I won't hire a carpenter, plumber or mechanic who doesn't have a College degree.

Ct. used to have one of the best Technical High school systems in the country, so- much so that in the 70's P&W, EB, UTI, etc ditched their apprentice programs in favor of youngin's coming out of 4yrs programs at no real expense to them ( although most did/do provide funds to help support the system besides taxes).

My Youngest graduated in 2006 from the Tech School system ( as did I decades earlier) his class was the last to receive Blueprint Reading as a course schedule so they could require all students to receive an additional English Class...yeh, keep talking about the "Educated Class", My God.

I wonder how many here have had to deal with the newest round of College educated ME's lately? Apparently seeing, being around or even touching a machine is no longer a prerequisite for knowledge of how to manufacture something. At least in here the US, the things I see from Germany are pretty much solid reality based designs from what I've had to deal with in the last 10yrs.

I wonder how a "Education" based economy compares to a balanced and skilled workforce.

One that self determination drove people to seek the job one really wanted in lieu of being told you'll be nothing without a College Degree.

HEY! I'm a college educated machinist! Or I used to be before the government made policies to ensure my job would get shipped to Mexico.

When I started school, there were 27 freshmen with me. When we came back after Christmas, there were 12. Of those 12, I believe only 4 of us graduated.

They shut the program down due to low enrollment shortly after I graduated.

Everyone wants to be doctors and lawyers and such.

From where I sit, I see some frightening prospects for the future of America as we know it. I just watched a show yesterday on technology - where it's headed, and what the next "thing" will be. Within 5 years we will see the Iphone & tablet technology accelerate at levels unheard of in history. It was explained on the show that it used to take a billion steps to get to a billion ... where now it only takes 32 steps to a billion. Within 5 years, we will have computers that have ALL 5 SENSES. What does this have to do with the topic? All you have to do is look at kids today - faces planted in a Iphone or tablet nearly 24 hours a day. Siri, which now is a curious app that tries to help you through your day, will become a "best friend", anticipating your every wish. Before you even search Google, Siri will know you so well that it will TELL you what you want to search for. Technology will create virtual dates - basically a milking machine, to keep it clean - for those too shy to approach a woman. For a society of kids already disconnected, this is a frightening prospect for the future of our country. This certainly will not help the current trend of school shootings, I can tell you that much. We will witness unheard of crimes from that generation.

Kids that have ZERO social ability taking care of me in my elderly years is damn scary. Picture when this generation takes the reins of your health care ... and your government! Coupled with the current political and ideological divide in America today that will only get worse with time, and our out-of-control spending government, there will be some VERY tough times ahead. The fact that there are still a few level headed folks left today tells me there will be sliver of hope for the moral and economic future of America ... but the country we once knew, I'm afraid, is in it's death throes as we chat. What arises from the ashes of all of this, I don't think any of us can accurately predict.

All I can say is BUCKLE UP ......

The average age of a skilled machinist in the us today is reaching 60yrs old.

Hmmm, lets see. Take control of the education system and you control the future. Who is going to build the weapons and maintain them if the youth are brain dead? Why worry about Flyer and I and others buying all we can get as we aren't here for much longer? Change the acceptable, change the thinking, change what is perceived as normal. As every generation passes we see more draconian laws being proposed and passed. Its just the way it is to the young in college today, they have no historical base and they are not taught about it. In fact, they are taught the opposite. Why would the Marxist's want a bunch of handy citizens around?

Kevin

I am determined to find some machining classes to work on my own guns. It is the only thing I can't do to one now.

I know it's an old subject that was already brought up before & I don't recall exactly how it was worded but will humans even be here & necessary in that many generations from now?

SMITTY wrote:
Kids that have ZERO social ability taking care of me in my elderly years is damn scary. Picture when this generation takes the reins of your health care ... and your government! Coupled with the current political and ideological divide in America today that will only get worse with time, and our out-of-control spending government, there will be some VERY tough times ahead. The fact that there are still a few level headed folks left today tells me there will be sliver of hope for the moral and economic future of America ... but the country we once knew, I'm afraid, is in it's death throes as we chat. What arises from the ashes of all of this, I don't think any of us can accurately predict.

All I can say is BUCKLE UP ......

Don't worry by the time we get there it will be cheaper and acceptable to just give us a goodnight pill and we will be gone. It will be illegal and unacceptable to be old.

Flyer5 wrote:
Don't worry by the time we get there it will be cheaper and acceptable to just give us a goodnight pill and we will be gone. It will be illegal and unacceptable to be old.

Acceptable? To whom? I already have a 12ga shell with my name on it. Or at the very least, a plastic bag, a hose and a helium tank. If you think I'm going to rot in one of these old person warehouses that they call "retirement homes" or some other non offensive name, you're crazy.

jpete wrote:

Flyer5 wrote:
Don't worry by the time we get there it will be cheaper and acceptable to just give us a goodnight pill and we will be gone. It will be illegal and unacceptable to be old.

Acceptable? To whom? I already have a 12ga shell with my name on it. Or at the very least, a plastic bag, a hose and a helium tank. If you think I'm going to rot in one of these old person warehouses that they call "retirement homes" or some other non offensive name, you're crazy.

Acceptable to the future generations. Once respect and morals are gone the elders wisdom will be considered useless. Remember when we were really young we didn't listen to our elders because, we knew better( or at least thought we did ) . But as we got into our early teens or even sooner we may have rebelled a little but we started to realize that the old guy makes some sense and may just know a thing or two. Now you barely see that kind of respect from a larger and larger part of society from people even into their 20s and 30s. Kids have little to no fear or respect of the adults around them especially in the large cities. Discipline is a time out instead of a belt across the ass or a paddle. Kids know they are safe from the teachers and even rule the parents in some cases. I am not condoning child abuse by any means and it is wrong when it goes to extreme, but some kids just need a belt once or at least the fear of it. I had a belt across my ass 1 time that was all i needed anytime my father spoke after that, I was at attention. The children any more are taught that there should be sunshine and roses all the time and life should be easy. If it isn't easy it is because of the wealthy or the people with the wisdom enough to know that life really isn't easy. That is who will be blamed. Its becoming more and more of a throw away society. How long before it is acceptable to the younger generations to throw us away because we are old and no longer serve a use and are just a burden to society. Only a few generations away? Maybe? Half joking but some truth as well.