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Planet Earth must grow up and face the future

The Future We Should Be Talking About

Date published: 7/27/2008

BOULDER, Colo.

The question may sound facetious, but it's actually quite important as you ponder whom to vote for and which policies to support in 2008.

You can see why with some simple math: If medical science is as successful in extending life spans during this century as it was during the last, then by 2100 the average American should be living to nearly 110 years of age. Many of today's younger voters can therefore expect to be alive, and nearly all of us could have children or grandchildren living at that time. In other words, if you care about making a better world for our children and grandchildren, then you should be thinking very hard about the world of 2100.

You'll also realize that most of our policy debates--especially those held by our politicians--are remarkably short-sighted. We argue endlessly about tax cuts versus tax increases, whether to be pro- or anti-NAFTA, or whether and when we should withdraw from Iraq. But when was the last time you heard anyone speak in depth about a vision for your children and grandchildren's world of 2100?

I don't mean to downplay the importance of those other issues. It's just that they should be only the beginning of our policy discussions. Issues such as education, global warming, nuclear proliferation, and our policies for the developing world are much more important to the world of 2100.

For example, unless we improve the dismal state of math and science education in this country, by 2100 we will have surely ceded world leadership to China, India, or perhaps any of dozens of other countries. The consequences of global warming, modest to date, may be quite severe for our children and grandchildren. Left un-checked, nuclear proliferation could put weapons of mass destruction in the hands of almost any petty dictator or terrorist before the end of this century. And without policies that improve the lives of people in developing nations, we will likely see an increase in wars, terrorism, anti-Americanism, and other forms of turmoil.

WHERE ARE WE GOING?

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Date published: 7/27/2008