The U.S.A. in 2041

[TheRealJuliane]

Well, I can see I’m almost the only one on this thread who refuses to see us as doomed…When I think in that direction, I feel like giving up, and I know that my God does not want me to give up and turn myself over to despair.

We can still turn things around, folks! There are only a few major things that have gone wrong, and with a little leadership and a lot of concerted effort, we can become better people in a better country. Sure we have our work cut out for us, but since when have Americans ever been afraid of hard work?

PLEASE do not confuse fiction with reality! There have been many dire predictions made through the centuries that have not come true.

Also, it seems that at least some posters believe in the Dispensationalist viewpoint of Revelation - that everything is going to get markedly worse before Jesus comes again. I don’t know that Jesus really predicted when he would come, all I remember is that he told us again and again that we should prepare and that no one would know the day or the time. So how do we know? He could choose a bright day when all is well in the world (if there is such a day).

Read my list of possible future outcomes and then call me PollyAnna, but I think we could get things back on track within the next 5-10 years. I’m going to work toward it, because I owe it to my sons.

 

[BenRosa]

PLEASE do not confuse fiction with reality! There have been many dire predictions made through the centuries that have not come true.

Juliane:

Yes, this is important to remember…I’m going to consider incorporating elements from this thread into a work of fiction. I might add, that such a dark picture may be the catalyst needed by some to invoke the spirit you mention, a kick in the ***, an eye-opener, a jolt, or whatever.

Even so, no matter what happens remember, “I will be with you until the end of time”.

God’s peace

 

[Rock_Happy]

2041?

At current rates of progress, the catholic church will not exist in 2041 because the current leadership has chosen to resist progress and has chosen a backwards pope instead of a relevant one. There is still the possibility of revolution in the Church, but why would anyone bother?

the main problem that i see with the proposed paradigm is that it fails to consider the rate of acceleration of change. more has changed in the past 100 years than in the previous 1,000. More will change in the next 30 years than in the previous 2,000. My sense is that your 2041 predictions are more like 2015. You can’t stop the sweep of history and progress.

 

[JaneGrey]

Social

* People have tired of being the same, and men are now taking better care of their families so that more women can stay with the children and have more children at home.
* The size of families has increased every year that abortion has been illegal.  It is as if a great dam has been broken and suddenly it is very positive to have a large family.
* Neighbors and communities help one another first, and then churches get involved, because the local, state and federal government are no longer providing welfare, except in the most extreme cases, and then with a lot of conditions attached.
* People do not expect the government to solve their problems and have again become self-reliant and community-focused.
* The idea of “marriage” has been redefined; it is between one man and one woman and there are no homosexual marriages.
* Homosexuality is no longer flaunted and most homosexuals can have happy lives after a particularly effective therapy is discovered.  No one hates homosexuals and there is no discrimination, so there is no need for gay parades and protests.
* Pornography has almost disappeared - one of those unexpected benefits of protecting the unborn!
* Marijuana is almost a joke - there is no importation from Mexico and life has become so good for most people that even alcohol is a lot less attractive than it once was.
* Christmas is celebrated by going to church.  Since people are not as materialistic, the holiday is more religious than ever.
* Health care is very good to excellent, since the government got out of the picture and allowed doctors and hospitals to regulate themselves.  We also no longer allow half of Mexico to receive health care for free.  And obstetrics wards are huge, and getting larger!
* Euthanasia is a far-distant nightmare.  Babies born today will be horrified to think about people being "unplugged" and allowed to die.
* Since there are always some unplanned babies, adoption is easier for couples and "reproductive technologies" are not popular any more.  All the frozen embryos left over from earlier times have been brought into life and no more are being created.  The "snowflakes" have great popularity in society.  People regularly buy their meals in restaurants.
* Since people don't live such stressed lives, they are more active and choose healthier foods, and obesity is again rare.  
* High fructose corn syrup, having been spotted as the cause of much of the obesity, has fallen out of favor as an ingredient and people are using real sugar with discretion.  Soda is not popular and diet sodas are seen as almost like a drug - not worth the side effects.

Spiritual

* With the elimination of abortion, God has smiled upon the US and churches are full for every service.  The humanists are even being converted at a record rate.  Communism no longer exists.  It looks as though our "separated brethren" may unite at some point in the future.  
* Vocations are way up, and the religious life appeals to many ex-humanists, and they do a lot of good in foreign lands, helping to stop terrorism and convert terrorists to Catholicism.

A lovely two posts.

 

[VeritasLuxMea]

• Humanity widely embraces the non-aggression principle, stating that the most basic human rights are those which preclude others from initiating the use of force or fraud against innocent persons,
• As a consequence, the concept of the nation-state has faded away, but so too has the clamoring for world government.
• A great feeling of harmony and community has developed, through the acceptance of individual rights, such that one may have close ties with one’s neighbors, but equally respects the dignity of all persons, including non-neighbors.
• Having been removed from use to serve any agenda (political, economic or otherwise), science is truly a powerful force for good in the world - as it serves only the ends of demonstrable truth.
• Mankind moves forward, dedicated to peace, fellowship and love.

 

[DaveBj]

• Humanity widely embraces the non-aggression principle, stating that the most basic human rights are those which preclude others from initiating the use of force or fraud against innocent persons,
• As a consequence, the concept of the nation-state has faded away, but so too has the clamoring for world government.
• A great feeling of harmony and community has developed, through the acceptance of individual rights, such that one may have close ties with one’s neighbors, but equally respects the dignity of all persons, including non-neighbors.
• Having been removed from use to serve any agenda (political, economic or otherwise), science is truly a powerful force for good in the world - as it serves only the ends of demonstrable truth.
• Mankind moves forward, dedicated to peace, fellowship and love.

No more happy juice for you!

 

[fuzzypjs]

I’m going to bury my head in the sand!

 

[JoArtist]

Well I disagree with the food bits… because the major food corporations sell most of this “junk” food. Corporations have a lot of power because they have the money. I think that the government is going to be influenced more and more by corporations. For example most of the F.D.A. leadership is former C.E.O.'s and other major positions in the corporations.

 

[1inICXC]

Social

* People have tired of being the same, and men are now taking better care of their families so that more women can stay with the children and have more children at home.
* The size of families has increased every year that abortion has been illegal.  It is as if a great dam has been broken and suddenly it is very positive to have a large family.
* Neighbors and communities help one another first, and then churches get involved, because the local, state and federal government are no longer providing welfare, except in the most extreme cases, and then with a lot of conditions attached.
* People do not expect the government to solve their problems and have again become self-reliant and community-focused.
* The idea of “marriage” has been redefined; it is between one man and one woman and there are no homosexual marriages.
* Homosexuality is no longer flaunted and most homosexuals can have happy lives after a particularly effective therapy is discovered.  No one hates homosexuals and there is no discrimination, so there is no need for gay parades and protests.
* Pornography has almost disappeared - one of those unexpected benefits of protecting the unborn!
* Marijuana is almost a joke - there is no importation from Mexico and life has become so good for most people that even alcohol is a lot less attractive than it once was.
* Christmas is celebrated by going to church.  Since people are not as materialistic, the holiday is more religious than ever.
* Health care is very good to excellent, since the government got out of the picture and allowed doctors and hospitals to regulate themselves.  We also no longer allow half of Mexico to receive health care for free.  And obstetrics wards are huge, and getting larger!
* Euthanasia is a far-distant nightmare.  Babies born today will be horrified to think about people being "unplugged" and allowed to die.
* Since there are always some unplanned babies, adoption is easier for couples and "reproductive technologies" are not popular any more.  All the frozen embryos left over from earlier times have been brought into life and no more are being created.  The "snowflakes" have great popularity in society.  People regularly buy their meals in restaurants.
* Since people don't live such stressed lives, they are more active and choose healthier foods, and obesity is again rare.  
* High fructose corn syrup, having been spotted as the cause of much of the obesity, has fallen out of favor as an ingredient and people are using real sugar with discretion.  Soda is not popular and diet sodas are seen as almost like a drug - not worth the side effects.

Spiritual

* With the elimination of abortion, God has smiled upon the US and churches are full for every service.  The humanists are even being converted at a record rate.  Communism no longer exists.  It looks as though our "separated brethren" may unite at some point in the future.  
* Vocations are way up, and the religious life appeals to many ex-humanists, and they do a lot of good in foreign lands, helping to stop terrorism and convert terrorists to Catholicism.

don’t mean to pick on you sister but:
Wow, you find it more plausible for abortion and gay marriage to be outlawed than for Christians to unite? That"s both incredibly idealistic and pessimistic.

I don’t think any of those wonderful things can happen without Christian unity. As a matter of fact, I am strongly convinced that many of today’s evils are due to the sin of our division, which, for all we know, may be paining God more than homosexual marriage.

As for the OP, I do believe much of what you suggested could come true if things were to keep on going in the same direction, but I, personally, believe we will be in the New Era by then - based on many of the private revelations and on FR. Joseph Iannuzzi’s book : “the End Times”.

 

[BenRosa]

As for the OP, I do believe much of what you suggested could come true if things were to keep on going in the same direction, but I, personally, believe we will be in the New Era by then - based on many of the private revelations and on FR. Joseph Iannuzzi’s book : “the End Times”.

The below link references the erosion that happened just this past year.

zenit.org/article-33769?l=english

God’s peace.
Edward

 

[mathematoons]

Greetings:

As part of a new story I’m working on, I’ve come up with several thoughts about this thread title. They are grouped in four categories as best I could. Anyone have feedback or thoughts about my predictions? Any to add? Agree or disagree? Positive or negative for the nation/world?

I want to read your story when you finish it!

Social

• The social focus is on equality
• The differences between the sexes is socially (and officially) ignored; gender is irrelevant in all aspects of life
• Non-profit volunteer participation has dropped to very low levels as everyone looks now to the government for help and assistance
• Women having babies has dropped substantially and the traditional family is uncommon as the new generation embraces narcissism
• People have come to expect the government to solve all their problems; they look for hand-outs and entitlements
• The idea of “marriage” has been redefined; you marry who or what you want
• Homosexuality is openly displayed and advertised as a viable option
• Pornography’s restrictions have been removed
• Marijuana is legal
• Christmas is now called “Givemas”
• Healthcare is rationed and severely discriminates against the aged and disabled
• Euthanasia is legal
• Designer babies are available and are big business
• Overweight people are forced to exercise and are fined until they reach their “proper” weight
• “Junk” food is outlawed

Already, people are starting new sexual rights movements: bestiality, incest, pedophilia (google NAMBLA if you don’t believe me), public nudity, sex between children… the list goes on. I think those things will all be accepted in 30 years.

Also, I think Muslims will start to come to America in droves as they have in Europe; like Christians, they believe in spreading their faith around the world, but unlike Christians, they do so largely through high reproduction rates (and, historically, through war, though I think the West will be Islamized without the need for any shots fired at all).

Spiritual

• The prevailing philosophy is Absolute Relativism; Good vs. Evil has been discarded as primitive
• Catholicism has been ruled a “philosophy of hate” and is illegal to be publicly practiced or endorsed

That’s already unofficially happened. I think it’ll go a step further. Without a belief in the dignity of the human person, what’s to stop them from having us killed?

 

[BenRosa]

I want to read your story when you finish it!

Mathematoons:

That you were an atheist and now Catholic is so awesome! How different you must view the world today than before.

for free atControl Freaks

They may make you create an account (free also) just to even read. If you do, please give me some feedback. I’m writing now in fact.

God’s peace…
Edward

 

[BenRosa]

Mathematoons:

You can read the rough draft of the fist chapter of Control Freaks for free at

Until I’ve uploaded over 10k words, it will not be visible.

 

[BenRosa]

Here’s all that I can post of “Control Freaks” right now.

 

[BenRosa]

Here’s all that I can post of “Control Freaks” right now.

Ok, here’s a link to my SkyDrive where there’s a shared folder with a link to a pdf. Apologies for the confusion…happy Thanksgiving!

Edward

 

[Armyvet007]

Greetings:

As part of a new story I’m working on, I’ve come up with several thoughts about this thread title. They are grouped in four categories as best I could. Anyone have feedback or thoughts about my predictions? Any to add? Agree or disagree? Positive or negative for the nation/world?

Thank you in advance for any and all responses.

What will be different 30 years from now in America?

Political

• The government now control & tax Internet usage with government registered email & IP addresses. All transactions will be done through a govt consumer ID#
• A national sales tax has been imposed Agreed
• The differences between the two major political parties is minimal Already are
• Certain animals are given the same rights as people Agreed
• Americans have given-up their right to “real” firearms; they can now only have a taser gun for self-protection Disagree; firearms are too ingrained into our culture; I’d predict more red tape/national database/some sort of limitations on how many one can own/where one can own one
  
  Economic
• The big Internet companies compile complete digital dossiers on everyone and sell to whomever they want. Governments are big customers Social media is already doing this
• If you live where there’s public transportation available, it is very expensive to own and operate a private auto “Green” cars are cheap to buy, expensive to power; “Ungreen” cars are outlawed/heavily taxed
• Micro-chipping of individuals has become commonplace as such people are given favored status by businesses and governments for doing so; for criminals and perceived “threats” it is not an option Disagree, I’d predict a national ID that everything is linked to (research the new military ID cards [the ones with a chip containing your military files,records])
  
  Social
• The social focus is on equality On the PC equality (everyone has to be the same IOT be equal
• The differences between the sexes is socially (and officially) ignored; gender is irrelevant in all aspects of life I’d take it a step further and contend that traditional gender identification/roles are viewed as “backward” and are discriminated against
• Non-profit volunteer participation has dropped to very low levels as everyone looks now to the government for help and assistance Add- some are closed/deemed illegal for “discrimination” (see Catholic hospitals and adoption services)
• Women having babies has dropped substantially and the traditional family is uncommon as the new generation embraces narcissism Those in traditional familes are seen as backwards/bigots/etc; women who focus on being mothers are deemed to either be mentally abused or brainwashed
• People have come to expect the government to solve all their problems; they look for hand-outs and entitlements Agreed
• The idea of “marriage” has been redefined; you marry who or what you want Agreed; Add- religions are forced to offer/approve of such marriages
• Homosexuality is openly displayed and advertised as a viable option Anyone who does not agree with the PC understanding of homosexuality is deemed to be guilty of a hate crime
• Pornography’s restrictions have been removed Agreed, Common place in advertising, regular TV, movies, etc
• Marijuana is legal Agreed
• Christmas is now called “Givemas” Christmas is now centered around the purely secular version of St. Nicholas; no mention of Christ
• Healthcare is rationed and severely discriminates against the aged and disabled Agreed
• Euthanasia is legal Agreed
• Designer babies are available and are big business Agreed
• Overweight people are forced to exercise and are fined until they reach their “proper” weight I’d go with being fined/taxed
• “Junk” food is outlawed Not outlawed, just heavily taxed
  
  Spiritual
• The prevailing philosophy is Absolute Relativism; Good vs. Evil has been discarded as primitive Agreed
• Catholicism has been ruled a “philosophy of hate” and is illegal to be publicly practiced or endorsed Agreed, Add- as well as other faiths that do not cave into being PC

 

[Swiss_Guy]

In 2041:

America’s economy will be doing poorly. The rich will get richer, and the poor poorer, with a shrinking middle class. There will be a rising upper-middle class though. America will be divided on how to deal with morality and Christianity. Some parts, like the northeast, will be against both, with all of their liberal views. Some parts, like the deep south will be more open to Christianity, and show correct views with regards to morality, yet they will further their neoconservative agenda at all costs, harming the citizens of their states. Despite all of the liberalness that will be happening, the states will get more power than they have now. I think I already posted something a while back, so I’ll stop.

 

[DL82]

I am a lot more hopeful. Here’s one idea:

In 2041
The democratic governments of the world will have collectively defaulted on their loans. The banks will retreat with their remaining money to Switzerland where they maintain their rights but are ignored like post-reformation Popes asserting their political rights to any who will listen.
China will have briefly flourished, but will then collapse due to unsustainable low birth rates. Wealthy Chinese men leave home to work in India, Africa and South America, only returning home once they have found a wife.
The Christian churches are now separated into ‘progressive’ and ‘Catholic’, with the Catholic Church now embracing many traditional evangelicals, Lutherans, Orthodox, etc.
America becomes more and more afraid of central government. In 2033, facing threats of secession over the overturning of Roe v Wade, Congress abolishes the Supreme Court, or limits its powers to ruling only on criminal retrials. As a result, America becomes a loosen confederation. In some states, infanticide is legal up to 3 months post partum, in others, women are forbidden from working during pregnancy and face invasive police investigations after any miscarriage. More and more people live in monocultural communities.
Advertisers contribute to this by creating complex demographic profiles of people’s behavior, targeting products to identity groups. Some European countries outlaw this kind of demographic profiling, but lobbyists in America convince the population that such a ban is an essential attack on their freedom.
India and Brazil are ascending powers, with an emphasis on traditional European intellectual traditions. Religious and intellectual freedom again flourishes in these places, and in the countries where they invest.
To combat global warming, the governments of the world agree to build vast reservoirs into the Sahara desert, using the recovered soil to build artificial mountain ranges, creating a temperate climate around the equator. Only America and Switzerland refuse to take part and so suffer trade penalties on crops grown in the region.

 

[DL82]

America becomes more and more afraid of central government. In 2033, facing threats of secession over the overturning of Roe v Wade, Congress abolishes the Supreme Court, or limits its powers to ruling only on criminal retrials. As a result, America becomes a loosen confederation. In some states, infanticide is legal up to 3 months post partum, in others, women are forbidden from working during pregnancy and face invasive police investigations after any miscarriage.

Or, in an attempt to silence ongoing criticism of central government, a new amendment is passed, which cites FDR’s New Deal as the dawn of decline for American freedom, and which forbids government from exercising any powers which cannot be proved by historical research to have been exercised prior to the Roosevelt administration. This at once gives almost unlimited free rein to internet communications companies, and transfers powers to the Library of Congress to rule legislation unconstitutional. Before long, once again the charges of ‘activist librarians’ creating law begin to circulate in the new media.

 

[Swiss_Guy]

I am a lot more hopeful. Here’s one idea:

In 2041
The democratic governments of the world will have collectively defaulted on their loans. The banks will retreat with their remaining money to Switzerland where they maintain their rights

giving Switzerland more power than ever before. Which will be an even better thing than it would be now because by then the country will be completely Catholic (they are rising in Berne), get a new constitution, and make Catholicism the state religion. They will be close friends with the Vatican as well, even more so than they are now. Geneva will be handed over to the French, because it is slacking on the religious end of the spectrum, unlike all other cantons.