Crossroads,

[Thales750]

We are at what may be the biggest turning point in history. What do you think lies ahead?

We are definitely entering The Undiscovered Country.

 

[Steve R.]

We already passed "the biggest turning point in history." While we can never definitely identify identify a specific point in time and/or a specific event as a turning point an arbitrary date/event can be tossed out as a turning point. Also consider that when an athlete is at the top of his/her game, that person is not going to publicly concede that it is downhill from then on.

I have long advocated that the US was at its high point on July 20, 1969, the day the US had its first moon landing. It's been downhill ever since.

Why is that date significant?

In itself that date is not significant. What is significant is that the US won a space race and essentially gave-up further "external" advancements and instead became "internally" focused. Instead of building a moon base and going onto Mars we became consumed with divisive internal issues such as wealth disparity, racism, equal rights, the "Great Society", and US presidents conducting international apology tours thereby undermining US prestige.

That is not to say that these issues were not important, but when you devote exorbitant (government) resources to "solve" these problems you are actually consuming your "wealth" in a non-productive manner. Today, it has exploded, a lot of that internal divisiveness is manifesting itself as DEI programs, reinvigorating racism under the guise of equity (King would be turning over in his grave today), deficit spending on questionable green programs, not maintaining energy independence that may lead to energy (electric) shortages. As a quick summary we are looking inward instead of looking outward.

The "seeds" for the events occurring today were planted 60 years ago.

 

[conception_native_0123]

planted 60 years ago.

not. they were planted a hell of a lot longer ago than that!

 

[Thales750]

We already passed "the biggest turning point in history." While we can never definitely identify identify a specific point in time and/or a specific event as a turning point an arbitrary date/event can be tossed out as a turning point. Also consider that when an athlete is at the top of his/her game, that person is not going to publicly concede that it is downhill from then on.

I have long advocated that the US was at its high point on July 20, 1969, the day the US had its first moon landing. It's been downhill ever since.

Why is that date significant?

In itself that date is not significant. What is significant is that the US won a space race and essentially gave-up further "external" advancements and instead became "internally" focused. Instead of building a moon base and going onto Mars we became consumed with divisive internal issues such as wealth disparity, racism, equal rights, the "Great Society", and US presidents conducting international apology tours thereby undermining US prestige.

That is not to say that these issues were not important, but when you devote exorbitant (government) resources to "solve" these problems you are actually consuming your "wealth" in a non-productive manner. Today, it has exploded, a lot of that internal divisiveness is manifesting itself as DEI programs, reinvigorating racism under the guise of equity (King would be turning over in his grave today), deficit spending on questionable green programs, not maintaining energy independence that may lead to energy (electric) shortages. As a quick summary we are looking inward instead of looking outward.

The "seeds" for the events occurring today were planted 60 years ago.

Those are kind of general topics, but one is not. The US is energy independent. In fact we are producing more than at any time in our history.

 

[Thales750]

not. they were planted a hell of a lot longer ago than that!

How so?

 

[Steve R.]

not. they were planted a hell of a lot longer ago than that!

As @Thales750 wrote "How so". Please provide some insight so that we can understand.

 

[Thales750]

We already passed "the biggest turning point in history." While we can never definitely identify identify a specific point in time and/or a specific event as a turning point an arbitrary date/event can be tossed out as a turning point. Also consider that when an athlete is at the top of his/her game, that person is not going to publicly concede that it is downhill from then on.

I have long advocated that the US was at its high point on July 20, 1969, the day the US had its first moon landing. It's been downhill ever since.

Why is that date significant?

In itself that date is not significant. What is significant is that the US won a space race and essentially gave-up further "external" advancements and instead became "internally" focused. Instead of building a moon base and going onto Mars we became consumed with divisive internal issues such as wealth disparity, racism, equal rights, the "Great Society", and US presidents conducting international apology tours thereby undermining US prestige.

That is not to say that these issues were not important, but when you devote exorbitant (government) resources to "solve" these problems you are actually consuming your "wealth" in a non-productive manner. Today, it has exploded, a lot of that internal divisiveness is manifesting itself as DEI programs, reinvigorating racism under the guise of equity (King would be turning over in his grave today), deficit spending on questionable green programs, not maintaining energy independence that may lead to energy (electric) shortages. As a quick summary we are looking inward instead of looking outward.

The "seeds" for the events occurring today were planted 60 years ago.

Where do you think the world would be at this point, if your scenario had played out?

 

[Thales750]

Some clarification here.
Not to limit this discussion, but I did not have politics in mind when I asked this question. Certainly politics will have a decisive bearing on the perspective and perception.

As the 250 years of the Industrial Revolution come to an end. Where do you see us headed?

I think the big changes are not so much political, as they are are technological. I see the end of employment, the end of capitalism, and socialism, the way we see it now, and a need for something new.

A real New-Beginning for mankind, not just the US.

What do you think is coming for us?

 

[AccessBlaster]

Some clarification here.
Not to limit this discussion, but I did not have politics in mind when I asked this question. Certainly politics will have a decisive bearing on the perception, and perspective.

As the 250 years of the Industrial Revolution come to an end. Where do you see us headed?

I think the big changes are not so much political, as they are are technological. I see the end of employment, the end of capitalism, and socialism, the way we see it now, and a need for something new.

A real New-Beginning for mankind, not just the US.

What do you think is coming for us?

Fair enough, I'll withdraw my last comment.

 

[Jon]

Not to limit this discussion, but I did not have politics in mind when I asked this question.

It's all about the AI. We will have to live with a plethora of new digital species who will be far smarter than we are. Medical care will be transformed, work will be automated and we will become incapacitated due to laziness. We will no longer use our minds and bodies while our slave overlords do everything for us. Then, they turn on us, while we lay drowsily as couch potatoes eating junk food watching endless AI generated mesmerising clips on AITube, hammering our dopamine sensors until they are completely fried.

Edit: Perhaps the thread title should be changed from Crossroads to Dead End.

 

[conception_native_0123]

Please provide some insight so that we can understand.

I won't dispute anything that you said Steve. you are absolutely right, from my point of view too. but you have to consider human beings in general. what richard might call "the human condition" I suppose? just try to take "everything" that has happened to the USA, since say, from the beginning of the 20th century (and I'm sure you can look far backward than that). the wars that have occurred, the advancements in technology, the good and bad presidents, the ever-so-popular race to "be the best" at something, anything. when you look at some of those things, the USA has been on a downward spiral for God knows how long already. it's in human beings' nature to destroy themselves (as has been quoted in so many movies). you mentioned the moon landing as the USA's high point. why couldn't it be the atomic bomb as a high point? they were the first, weren't they? and although it's not a very pleasant thing, it did wonders for the world at that particular time, just in terms of shock value alone. ok, that might have been a bad example. but then what about Lincoln freeing the slaves? that could've been a high point for the USA. there was a lot of benefit that came from that, wasn't there? but again, as I mentioned before, it's inherent in human beings to destroy themselves so it's no surprise that the USA is where it is today given the route we have taken. if we hadn't taken that route, we would've taken another. it's kind of like the idea of seeking perfection when there is no perfection to be obtained. that's a great way to describe humanity I think. that's always been true, hasn't it?

as for the USA reaching a high point and then going downhill ever since, I would point to Adam and Eve in the garden as a high point because that's the closest humans have been to perfection. everything else has been downhill, and now we've gotten to the point that we're so damn good, what You Steve, said, is now happening.

if I were to take a smaller timeline, I would say the USA reached a high point around the time that Turing invented the first computer. the computer has taken a large roll in the downward spiral ever since. what a great way to try and achieve perfection, huh? anyway, you wanted me insight, there it is!

 

[conception_native_0123]

It's all about the AI.

NOW it is, Jon. now it is. it has never been about that until now. keep that in mind.

 

[conception_native_0123]

What do you think is coming for us?

the government will step in as far as AI is concerned and employment will go on as long as it possibly can until the think tanks of the USA have no other choice but to tell the president that they're out of ideas. as far as the direction we are going from a different point of view, I actually see some positive things going because humans WANT to be productive. they actually want to get out and do things, not sit around and do nothing. so I have some hopes for that.

 

[Pat Hartman]

The US is energy independent. In fact we are producing more than at any time in history.

I think you're a little behind in your news feed. That was the case when Trump was in office. Then Biden got to work with his pen and canceled pipelines, leases, and exploration. Eventually he had to beg Saudi Arabia to increase production but they said to pound sand so Biden sold off a large chunk of the reserves that Trump had built up.

 

[ColinEssex]

It's all about the AI. We will have to live with a plethora of new digital species who will be far smarter than we are. Medical care will be transformed, work will be automated and we will become incapacitated due to laziness. We will no longer use our minds and bodies while our slave overlords do everything for us. Then, they turn on us, while we lay drowsily as couch potatoes eating junk food watching endless AI generated mesmerising clips on AITube, hammering our dopamine sensors until they are completely fried.

Edit: Perhaps the thread title should be changed from Crossroads to Dead End.

Listen to the song 'In The Year 2525' by Zager and Evans, its on YouTube or Spotify. It was in the charts around 1969.
Col

 

[Jon]

Listen to the song 'In The Year 2525' by Zager and Evans, its on YouTube or Spotify. It was in the charts around 1969.
Col

I can already hear that tune in my head.

 

[conception_native_0123]

Listen to the song 'In The Year 2525' by Zager and Evans

Id' rather watch Back to the Future Part 2.

 

[Thales750]

Fair enough, I'll withdraw my last comment.

No need, In this thread i will not be taking any stance. I have true curiosity of how people see this whole verge of WW3, the destruction of so much nature, and the rise of the machine.

 

[Thales750]

I think you're a little behind in your news feed. That was the case when Trump was in office. Then Biden got to work with his pen and canceled pipelines, leases, and exploration. Eventually he had to beg Saudi Arabia to increase production but they said to pound sand so Biden sold off a large chunk of the reserves that Trump had built up.

As usual Pat, your AM Rush-Hour Radio Talking-Heads have mislead you. There is an endless list of sources to prove I am correct. Here is but one of several dozen.

American Oil Production.

 

[Cronk]

Oil production is only one form of energy. Cancelled projects did not mean USA became a net importer of energy. In fact net energy exports are forecast to increase in 2024 and 2025.

The big disruption will be the USA imploding from its debt. Federal debt is approaching $35 trillion whereas in FY 2023 federal income was $4.4 trillion vs $6.6 trillion expenditure. The interest paid on debt is $660 billion, fast approaching defence expenditure. Tick, tick, tick.......