REMEMBER THE FUTURE?

BY: JEAN LEJEUNE

Loyal readers have been patient with me venturing into politics, legal philosophy, economics, the media, international affairs and the Universe.  I think it’s time we ventured into the future. Remember the future? It’s a thing that belongs to the kids. It might not be a ride we’ll like, but if we stay on it long enough, it might be a good one.

When I was a kid there were less than 2 billion people on our planet.  Remember we have a planet? It’s called Earth. Now we are almost 7 billion. In my life time, so far, a 3½ times by. At twelve years old we shrugged saying “Ya, 2 billion, so?  Can’t technology solve everything?” And now everybody including the current crop of 12 year olds (hello 12 years olds, keep up the good work and keep your eyes and ears open!) says “Ya, 7 billion, so? Can’t technology solve everything?”

Let’s look at the odds. I’m betting that in my lifetime, let’s say the next 25 years if I’m really smart and lucky, we will see 10 billion.  A 5 times by in my lifetime. So what? Well, 12 year olds, you and your pals will likely see a slowdown in that growth. Because we’ve filled the hotel.  There just aren’t any more rooms….. You will see those 10 billion that are alive when you are 35, die. Then you will watch another 10 or 12 billion die between your 35 and 70th birthdays.  And a new 10 or 12 billion will be around then.

What you will see is untold chaos. Global warming, devastation of habitat, aggressive over farming of soil, eradication of sea life, wild epidemics raging through massive underdeveloped populations and heartless battles to keep those starving masses from taking “what is ours.” You will observe human beings displaying the fundamental trait that has made us so “successful.” A willingness to act in absolute disregard for the “rights” and interests of others in order to have our personal rights and interests prevail.

I so wish I were 12 now so that I could witness these things unfold. As it happens kids, you’ll be the ones to watch for me. You will watch three generations born and die. You will see during yours and your kids’ lives, 30 to 40 more billion people use up Earth.

Maybe you will remember you read this. You will look back upon what we call our “accomplishments” and ask the very fair question “What the fuck were you idiots thinking?” You will think of us as the greatest scourge to ever befoul this planet Earth.

You will learn that ambitious selfish scoundrels will stop at nothing to grab what is everybody’s and call it “theirs.”  Not just money and power but air, water, land and food. You will hear bullshit like “Free Enterprise” and “The Peoples’ Party” and “The Greatest Country in the World!” and “God Bless Us” as they completely fuck their brothers.

And I think you will learn something else. You will learn that some things trump sovereignty (look it up) like human rights and conservation of your planet Earth. You will learn that the only way in our World for anybody to be secure is if everyone is secure.

And I think you will pull it off.  Sorry, really sorry.  And for what it’s worth, all the best.

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