Posted on 06/22/2010 11:33:53 AM PDT by Alex Murphy
A large majority of Americans believe that in the year 2050 computers will be able to converse like human beings, cancer will be cured and artificial limbs will perform better than natural ones, according to a Pew Research Center poll based on a survey conducted in April and released Tuesday.
The poll was conducted in conjunction with Smithsonian magazine for a special issue marking its 40th anniversary.
But while Stanley Kubrick may have foreseen a future in "2001: A Space Odyssey" where a Pan American commercial craft carried civilians to the moon, only 53 percent believe that ordinary people will be traveling in space 40 years from now. (At least Kubrick was 49 years ahead of his time when it came to HAL, the loquacious computer who had more enthusiasm for a mission to Jupiter than his human companions.)
While nearly three-quarters predict most of the nation's energy will not come from fossil fuels 40 years from now, 72 percent still think the world will face a major energy crisis and 66 percent say global warming will continue.
When it comes to the environment, those age 18 to 29 are the most pessimistic, with 62 percent saying environmental quality will not improve, compared with 51 percent for those age 30 to 49, 43 percent for the 50-to-64 age group and 42 percent of those over 65 (who, in any event, will be at least 155 years old by then).
Fifty-eight percent expect that the gap between rich and poor will grow, compared with 69 percent who said that in 1999.
Fifty-eight percent believe that by 2050 another world war will happen and 53 percent say there will be a major terrorist attack on the United States using a nuclear weapon. On the bright side, 62 percent do not believe that an asteroid will hit the earth.
Forty-six percent do not believe that Jesus Christ will return while 41 percent say it probably will happen. Fifty-four percent of Protestants overall believe it will happen, as do 58 percent of white evangelical Protestants. Fifty-seven percent of Catholics don't believe it. Seventy-two percent of those who identified themselves as unaffiliated with any religion also don't believe it. Sixty-four percent of college grads dismissed the possibility while 59 percent of those with a high school education or less believe Jesus' return is likely to happen.
The next few decades are not ones where investment in the paper industry is a good idea, according to the results. Sixty-four percent say print newspapers will no longer exist, 63 percent believe paper money will be a thing of the past and 61 percent say almost no one will send personal letters by mail.
Forty-six percent do not believe that Jesus Christ will return while 41 percent say it probably will happen. Fifty-four percent of Protestants overall believe it will happen, as do 58 percent of white evangelical Protestants. Fifty-seven percent of Catholics don't believe it. Seventy-two percent of those who identified themselves as unaffiliated with any religion also don't believe it. Sixty-four percent of college grads dismissed the possibility while 59 percent of those with a high school education or less believe Jesus' return is likely to happen....
....On the bright side, 62 percent do not believe that an asteroid will hit the earth.
Who cares, I’ll be 94. If I’m still around.
I can GUARANTEE it will be a world without Roccus!
Don’t look now, but for the first time I can think of in humanity’s history, there are leaders working together to take mankind backwards. I give you the global warming scam as a for instance. Control is the name of the game, not progress.
“Don’t look now, but for the first time I can think of in humanity’s history, there are leaders working together to take mankind backwards. I give you the global warming scam as a for instance. Control is the name of the game, not progress.”
Spot on.
You know...I really don’t care what Americans think anymore! Most of these dumbasses voted a kenyan into the WH. Most continue to support him from what I’m seeing on Rasmussen. Asking someone with a “Big Mac” hangin out of their while holding “O” magazine in their hand and collecting unemployment for the last 2 years doesn’t mean much.
On another note, I wondered to myself if we had had a true free market and a sane limited government for the last 40 years . . . would we have commercial passenger craft going to the moon. To my mind it's not outside the realm of possibility.
One only needs to go to 2020 for many of these predictions to be plausible.
If Jesus returns- we’ll be in the Millennial Kingdom.
If not- burned out, near lifeless radioactive cinder.
Sadly, I think it will look more like Somalia than the Jetsons.
Sadly, I think it will look more like Somalia than the Jetsons.
—————————\\Or like “Mad Max” the movie.
If Obama and his minions have their way America in 2050 AD will look like Afghanistan did in 2050 BC
Well, I care! I am very much looking forward to my 106th birthday. I plan on indulging in a double helping of Ensure. I may even gum down some prunes.
Yep! The freakin’ Flinstones were more sophisticated than we will be in 50 yrs. Blame the welfare/entitlement class that has sat around rotting their brains on reruns of the Simpsons.
After Oilbung hole? ....ever see the Mad Max/Thunderdome movies?
I take it that math was not one of the author's best courses in school. 65 + 40 = 105, not 155.
Just see Mexico!
38% will continue blaming George Bush for everything negative.
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