Only the central govt gives stuff away for “free”.
It has been my experience that people value what they earned by the sweat of their brow, and even given something equal in every way will not value and care for it as well. If you knew, for instance, that you’d painlessly get another, you would not take care of it. In the end, we’d become wasteful to an insane degree.
“Citizens of the planet will be able to educate themselves on any topic at no cost, exchange billions of ideas at the speed of light and organize to overthrow oppressive governing regimes should the need arise.”
Actually, they’ll be too busy passing around pics of ass to worry about that stuff.
——In the next few years, everyone on the planet with a wireless device will likely have access to high speed, uncensored Internet. ——
Stopped reading right there....
In the next few years....all tyrannical depots will quit ?
Free unicorns and skittles for all...
Where are the people moving side walks and the flying cars that usually come with such predictions?
Ummm...so okay Mr. Kalinowski, what do you plan on doing to support yourself and your family while waiting impatiently for your 3D Utopia of free stuff to arrive for everybody?
Seriously, if you must smoke that stuff, please do it after work, not before. Your “articles” will make a lot more sense if you do.
I think this particular article is too focused on 3D printing etc.
There is already a growing problem with the central issue, which is automation (computers, robots, CNC machines etc.) replacing humans - i.e. taking their jobs.
Farming is a good example. Because of improved machinery, one person can now farm as much as many more would have 100 years ago. There are fewer farmers than ever, yet we produce more food.
We have a large and growing population, and less and less work for them to do. A large portion of them don’t have the intellectual capacity to make a meaningful contribution on the “creative” side.
Going forward, things are only going to move more in that direction. I personally think Kurzweil’s singularity will happen, certainly before the end of the 21st Century. That will complete this process one way or the other. Perhaps the best outcome that can be hoped for is that humans will be augmented and empowered by it, so they can participate in the big discoveries to come.
I think it’s almost impossible to predict what society and the world scene will look like in 50-100 years. “Climate change” is certainly a red herring...
“May you live in interesting times” - an old Chinese curse. :-)
I own a 2-D printer. The most expensive part of it, by far, is the INK. What does this fool think will need to be fed to the 3-D printers, air?
One question in a world of 3D printers will be, under what laws do the data files used to create the article exist. This is actually fairly important. If it is treated as an invention, then it will be controlled under patent law for (I think) 17 years, after which time anyone who wants to use it can do so freely. If, on the other hand, it is considered to be copyrightable, then it essentially stays out of the public domain forever.I’m quite sure that business will make sure that it is the latter, because we have the best congress that money can buy.
Who is going to maintain the roads,the sewers,the bridges,airports,waterways and levy and control public taxes?