Is this our last Century?

[Diomedes Industries]

I don't think this is the end of humanity - I do think the American Empire will go the way of Britain... Look what has happened to them as a super power in the last 70 years.

I think our kids will see much more socialism as a result.

TF

 

[shecky]

You guys are a pretty gloomy lot, verging on whacked. Then again, I guess that comes with the territory (this is a survival forum after all).

To answer the OP questions, Are we living in the last century of our civilization? Is it possible that all of our technology, knowledge and wealth cannot save us from ourselves? Could our society actually be heading towards collapse?

Probably no, to all questions. Doomsayers have been asking these questions, and answering affirmative to all for centuries. The OP doesn't even point to a news story. It's a promo for a TV show, fer cryin' out loud.

If there is a threat, it's the continuing threat to personal liberties from governments around the world. Yes, that includes the US, though it's far from the worst. Freedom to engage in trade, freedom to move, freedom top pursue our interests as we see fit, all create a sustainable world where prosperity grows. And where primitive skills are increasingly irrelevant. Yes, that is a good thing.

 

[ilbruche]

Freedom to engage in trade, freedom to move, freedom top pursue our interests as we see fit, all create a sustainable world where prosperity grows. And where primitive skills are increasingly irrelevant. Yes, that is a good thing.

I dunno about that. Seems I can't pursue my interests as I see fit. If I could I would be able to go out to the grasslands and shoot prairie dogs all day.

How do these things create a sustainable world? Moving around the planet buying and selling crap we don't need while we let the present moment slip by.

I don't see how primitive skills being irrelevant is a good thing. Maybe you can enlighten me as to why that is.

 

[David E]

You guys are a pretty gloomy lot, verging on whacked. Then again, I guess that comes with the territory (this is a survival forum after all).

I am compelled to point out the contrary humor of this post: The above response implies that posters on a survival forum are "verging on whacked"........

But the poster who posted that is actively participating in said forum!



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[kgd]

Greetings from Trinidad my fellow forumites....As I sit here in the 'industrialized' 3rd world sipping my fine rum - I couldn't but help find my way to the internet and lurk this fine community of ours. Not surprising the doom and gloom lured me in like a fish to a worm.

Well, personally I don't think civilization will be gone but I do think we have some major changes in store for us. The simple fact is that we have many many forms of available energy that can be used to satisfy industrial output and heat, but presently only one viable form of energy to support transportation. Perhaps electric cars can be made feasible, but I really don't see electric airplanes coming about. The transformation to kaos will be a simple one, the same kind of thing we are witnessing now. Gas and energy prices will continue to raise and we we will adopt our lifestyles accordingly.

We won't expect to import so many goods, simply because in-country manufacture will be cheaper than our current practice of exploitation (this occures when transport costs offset lower wages). We will be forced to live again as more or less isolationist nations and the concept of global economies will retract. This may or may not result in wars. I suspect not in North America, but it will probably be rampant in Africa, South America and the Middle East.

You will ride your bike to work, move closer to the city and talk to a farmer - who will be among the upper class and prized for their technical knowhow. In my little fantasy future, communication technology will still exist. We will probably be even more addicted to cell phones and internet then we are today.

Then again, I'm listening to Calypso music right now and continue to sip my 15 year old rum. It is very hard to be pessimistic on a tropical island in those circumstances. I'm off to St. Lucia tomorrow. Looking forward to touching base with you fellow friends again!

Ken

 

[riddleofsteel]

The world of politics and government is the legacy of civilized man. On the stage of history the ebb and flow of past empires has written the story of history in limestone, iron, asphalt and blood. Shards of civilizations past bleach in the sun like the bones of the buffalo.

Such is the fate of all giants.

Soon there may no place for the individual warrior, only the drone soldier.

Soon there may be no forests to pursue the elk or the white tail deer.

Where is the horse and rider against the pale light of a dying sun?

The evening star rises. The fire grows dim.

In the pale light I see my weapons before me. All that I am, joy, sorrow, hope, rage, paranoia, are arrows in the quiver of my mind. Soon it will be time to string my bow and hunt once more. I know that what I shoot is what returns to me.

My weapon is the power of choice. If all I see is sorrow and doom it is time to sing the death song. Today would be as good as any to die.

To choose life is to believe in hope. To believe that ice choked rivers will melt into spring, that the tree brothers will make new leaves even though they are losing them now.

So long as the grass grows and the rivers flow I will wait one more season to sing my death song. One more season to teach my children to listen to the song of the bow and the babble of a mountain stream.

The evening star is rising now and soon will come the moon. Another chunk of wood added to the fire and a shower of sparks rises.

The world of men can not change that. No smoke stacks or politics will hold back the tides. No evil empire will stop the seasons. In the end it is only the world of men that will pass away, our bones will bleach in the sun.

Such is the fate of all giants.