The future looks good - or bad?

[phyllo]

So last post there was an immediate problem :

Our outdated technology has caused this issue, which must be resolved immediately. We cannot wait for a solution for 500 years. By then it would be too late.

But now we can afford to wait for synthetic materials and mining other planets? :

I'm referring to a society that not only has the ability and knowledge to create synthetic materials (including, if necessary, synthetic foods) from any available basic material, but also harvests whatever we need from all of the planets and asteroids in our solar system.

What happens between now and then?

We need to reduce demand. We need to reduce consumption.

[BigMike]

So last post there was an immediate problem :

Our outdated technology has caused this issue, which must be resolved immediately. We cannot wait for a solution for 500 years. By then it would be too late.

But now we can afford to wait for synthetic materials and mining other planets? :

I'm referring to a society that not only has the ability and knowledge to create synthetic materials (including, if necessary, synthetic foods) from any available basic material, but also harvests whatever we need from all of the planets and asteroids in our solar system.

What happens between now and then?

We need to reduce demand. We need to reduce consumption.

I agree wholeheartedly with your concerns. But none of these issues are specific to the future, so they warrant a separate discussion. To answer the question, "What happens between now and then?", I believe it would be useful to have the clearest possible picture of "then" as early as possible. It is beneficial to have a general idea of where we are going before we set out.

I am merely attempting to peer into the future to determine what lies there, and from what I can see, it appears to be quite promising. The path leading there may be treacherous and challenging, but if we make the right decisions today, the journey may be easier.

[Sculptor]

So last post there was an immediate problem :

Our outdated technology has caused this issue, which must be resolved immediately. We cannot wait for a solution for 500 years. By then it would be too late.

But now we can afford to wait for synthetic materials and mining other planets? :

I'm referring to a society that not only has the ability and knowledge to create synthetic materials (including, if necessary, synthetic foods) from any available basic material, but also harvests whatever we need from all of the planets and asteroids in our solar system.

What happens between now and then?

We need to reduce demand. We need to reduce consumption.

There is one thing about the future I am absolutely sure of. It is a thing which is a most dangerous assumption which can only lead to more trouble. And that is the delusion that we are ever going to get resources from other planets.

A moments thought demonstrates this to be a massive absurdity.
It is promoted by idiotic narcissistic fools like Musk.
We have evolved on earth and the earth has everything we would ever need.
And whilst technology has existed for 50 years to go and return to the Moon (the easiest target in the Solar system) no one has ever seriously considered returning.
If there was a mountain of gold bars waiting to be collected it would be uneconomical to collect them.
Were there an unimaginable power source that would make it economically viable there would be no reason to collect.

[phyllo]

I agree wholeheartedly with your concerns. But none of these issues are specific to the future, so they warrant a separate discussion. To answer the question, "What happens between now and then?", I believe it would be useful to have the clearest possible picture of "then" as early as possible. It is beneficial to have a general idea of where we are going before we set out.

That requires picking a specific date in the future and it can't be too far ahead because the farther it is the more developments you will be missing. The future is hard enough to predict even in the short term.

If you asked someone in 1800 what London would be like in 2000, then they might predict large increase in population which would cause the streets to be full of horse poop.

I am merely attempting to peer into the future to determine what lies there, and from what I can see, it appears to be quite promising.

I would say that what you like is not what I like.

[BigMike]

So last post there was an immediate problem :

Our outdated technology has caused this issue, which must be resolved immediately. We cannot wait for a solution for 500 years. By then it would be too late.

But now we can afford to wait for synthetic materials and mining other planets? :

I'm referring to a society that not only has the ability and knowledge to create synthetic materials (including, if necessary, synthetic foods) from any available basic material, but also harvests whatever we need from all of the planets and asteroids in our solar system.

What happens between now and then?

We need to reduce demand. We need to reduce consumption.

There is one thing about the future I am absolutely sure of. It is a thing which is a most dangerous assumption which can only lead to more trouble. And that is the delusion that we are ever going to get resources from other planets.

Even though Titan, Saturn's biggest moon, is close by and has lakes and oceans of methane, I don't think energy will come from other planets in the future, either. We won't go after organic fuels that pollute the environment. There's a much easier way to get energy: the sun. About 10,000 times more energy comes from sunlight hitting the earth than is consumed worldwide as you read this.

It is possible to put huge solar panels in orbit around the earth and send the energy wirelessly to the earth's surface, using microwaves or laser beams, but it is not cost-effective to do so right now. That is, the current price of energy is too high right now.

But once a few solar panels are set up, the energy they produce can be used to pay for the installation of more panels in a way that grows exponentially over time. Soon, we could be flooded with free energy, and having the ability to ramp up production as needed.

But solar energy isn't the only new thing that's happening. On Sunday, the U.S. Department of Energy said it would announce a "major scientific breakthrough" this week. This came after the media reported that a federal laboratory had recently reached a major milestone in nuclear fusion research.

[promethean75]

I'm putting BigMike in charge of the Philosophy Now Space Colonization and Planetary Solar Power Development Research Program. Clearly he knows how to get shit done.

[Sculptor]

So last post there was an immediate problem :


But now we can afford to wait for synthetic materials and mining other planets? :


What happens between now and then?

We need to reduce demand. We need to reduce consumption.

There is one thing about the future I am absolutely sure of. It is a thing which is a most dangerous assumption which can only lead to more trouble. And that is the delusion that we are ever going to get resources from other planets.

Even though Titan, Saturn's biggest moon, is close by and has lakes and oceans of methane, I don't think energy will come from other planets in the future, either. We won't go after organic fuels that pollute the environment. There's a much easier way to get energy: the sun. About 10,000 times more energy comes from sunlight hitting the earth than is consumed worldwide as you read this.

Well Indeed. Even if the Moon were made of methane it is unlikely that it would be economic to collect it.
And as you imply we would be adding to the carbon burden of the earth.

It is possible to put huge solar panels in orbit around the earth and send the energy wirelessly to the earth's surface, using microwaves or laser beams, but it is not cost-effective to do so right now. That is, the current price of energy is too high right now.

I wonder if one might even use such orbital collectors over a geostationary orbit over the areas of the earth that might benefit from the shade such as the Sahara?

But once a few solar panels are set up, the energy they produce can be used to pay for the installation of more panels in a way that grows exponentially over time. Soon, we could be flooded with free energy, and having the ability to ramp up production as needed.

But solar energy isn't the only new thing that's happening. On Sunday, the U.S. Department of Energy said it would announce a "major scientific breakthrough" this week. This came after the media reported that a federal laboratory had recently reached a major milestone in nuclear fusion research.

I think there is much to be said for the idea that the fossil fuel lobby is powerful enough to block many alternative projects. I do not buy the idea that they are killing people trying to develop "free energy" projects as we find on the Internet, but their lobby is where the money is.

[promethean75]

"Philosophy Now Space Colonization and Planetary Solar Power Development Research Program"

we might need to rename the program becuz the acronym PNSCPSPDRP is going to be a bit much. here's an example of what a conversation between BigMike and a potential investor for the program might look like. read the following out loud to yourself, please.

receptionist: good morning, how can i help u?

BM: yes I'm from the PNSCPSPDRP.... here to see Mr. Baker. i have an appointment.

receptionist: certainly. one moment please. *picks up phone* we have a BigMike here from the PNSCPSPDRP.

Mr Baker's colleague: she says a guy from the PNSCPSPDRP is here.

Mr. Baker: the PNSCPSPDRP?

Mr. Baker's colleague: that what she said, the PNSCPSPDRP.  there's also a Jeanette from Tesla here for her eight o'clock appointment.

Mr. Baker: alright, bring the guy from PNSCPSPDRP in.

Mr. Baker's colleague: okay send in the PNSCPSPDRP guy.

receptionist: the PNSCPSPDRP gentleman went to the rest room. I'll inform him directly, sir.

[five minutes later]

Mr. Baker: so BigMike, how long have u been with the PNSCPSPDRP?

BM: I've been working with the PNSCPSPDRP now for several months. i wuz doing independent research before starting the PNSCPSPDRP.

janitor: *walks by in the hallway pushing a mop bucket* hey, is that the guy from the PNSCPSPDRP!?

stationary clerk: yup, he's the one from the PNSCPSPDRP.

Mr. Baker: i see. so what does the PNSCPSPDRP primarily do? Forgive me but I'm vaguely familiar with the PNSCPSPDRP.

BM: the PNSCPSPDRP is a project our PNSCPSPDRP team is very optimistic about,
and the PNSCPSPDRP is now looking for ways to expand, etc....

[BigMike]

But once a few solar panels are set up, the energy they produce can be used to pay for the installation of more panels in a way that grows exponentially over time. Soon, we could be flooded with free energy, and having the ability to ramp up production as needed.

But solar energy isn't the only new thing that's happening. On Sunday, the U.S. Department of Energy said it would announce a "major scientific breakthrough" this week. This came after the media reported that a federal laboratory had recently reached a major milestone in nuclear fusion research.

I think there is much to be said for the idea that the fossil fuel lobby is powerful enough to block many alternative projects. I do not buy the idea that they are killing people trying to develop "free energy" projects as we find on the Internet, but their lobby is where the money is.

Previously, I worked for major oil companies. The employees there share the same environmental concerns as the general public; some consider it a hoax, while others take it very seriously.

Sadly, I know a number of people who continue to work there solely to pay off their student loans.

As more and more cars become electric, many of them will eventually be laid off. They will then join the ranks of those impacted by technology and automation.

Expect 3% of all jobs to be eliminated each year. At this rate, approximately 150 years from now, only 1% of jobs will remain. Thus, 99 percent of the population will be required to receive a citizen's salary. Without a citizen's income, the 1% with jobs will have no customers to sell their products to.

[Walker]

The future looks cloudy with a chance of rain and if you just send more money to The Truth of Consensus, that Climatey Church, and especially if you make more personal sacrifice for Purification to be worthy of The Church, then sunshine and happy days is sure to be in the forecast ... if not now, then in a hundred years.

Oh yes it's twue, so twue.

It is The Secular Religion.

[FlashDangerpants]

Expect 3% of all jobs to be eliminated each year. At this rate, approximately 150 years from now, only 1% of jobs will remain. Thus, 99 percent of the population will be required to receive a citizen's salary. Without a citizen's income, the 1% with jobs will have no customers to sell their products to.

That already happened over the last 150 years. David Ricardo wrote about the same shit in 1821.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Ricardo

[Sculptor]

But once a few solar panels are set up, the energy they produce can be used to pay for the installation of more panels in a way that grows exponentially over time. Soon, we could be flooded with free energy, and having the ability to ramp up production as needed.

But solar energy isn't the only new thing that's happening. On Sunday, the U.S. Department of Energy said it would announce a "major scientific breakthrough" this week. This came after the media reported that a federal laboratory had recently reached a major milestone in nuclear fusion research.

I think there is much to be said for the idea that the fossil fuel lobby is powerful enough to block many alternative projects. I do not buy the idea that they are killing people trying to develop "free energy" projects as we find on the Internet, but their lobby is where the money is.

Previously, I worked for major oil companies. The employees there share the same environmental concerns as the general public; some consider it a hoax, while others take it very seriously.

Sadly, I know a number of people who continue to work there solely to pay off their student loans.

As more and more cars become electric, many of them will eventually be laid off. They will then join the ranks of those impacted by technology and automation.

Expect 3% of all jobs to be eliminated each year. At this rate, approximately 150 years from now, only 1% of jobs will remain. Thus, 99 percent of the population will be required to receive a citizen's salary. Without a citizen's income, the 1% with jobs will have no customers to sell their products to.

I do not regard electric cars as an answer to the problems of the earth. THe amount of starting energy to make a car, especially the lengths we have to go to to extract rare metals is shocking, but masked by local reference to carbon credits which are exported to places like Australia and African countries which continue to be raped for their mineral wealth.
THe tonnage of raw ore that needs high energy processing to extract small amounts of lithium are shocking.
How long will it be before the ore runs out. How good will be our recycling?

I think there has to be a redefinition of work for sure. not all depend on the fossil fuel industry. But the elephant in the room is why do we need all these people? And what can we do to reduce the burden on the limited resources of the earth.

[BigMike]

I do not regard electric cars as an answer to the problems of the earth. THe amount of starting energy to make a car, especially the lengths we have to go to to extract rare metals is shocking, but masked by local reference to carbon credits which are exported to places like Australia and African countries which continue to be raped for their mineral wealth.
THe tonnage of raw ore that needs high energy processing to extract small amounts of lithium are shocking.
How long will it be before the ore runs out. How good will be our recycling?

I think there has to be a redefinition of work for sure. not all depend on the fossil fuel industry. But the elephant in the room is why do we need all these people? And what can we do to reduce the burden on the limited resources of the earth.

I believe you may have missed my initial post. I am referring to clean energy (solar, fusion, or whatever the future may bring), specifically an almost limitless supply of it and at zero cost. I have a 100-200 year perspective.

[Sculptor]

I do not regard electric cars as an answer to the problems of the earth. THe amount of starting energy to make a car, especially the lengths we have to go to to extract rare metals is shocking, but masked by local reference to carbon credits which are exported to places like Australia and African countries which continue to be raped for their mineral wealth.
THe tonnage of raw ore that needs high energy processing to extract small amounts of lithium are shocking.
How long will it be before the ore runs out. How good will be our recycling?

I think there has to be a redefinition of work for sure. not all depend on the fossil fuel industry. But the elephant in the room is why do we need all these people? And what can we do to reduce the burden on the limited resources of the earth.

I believe you may have missed my initial post. I am referring to clean energy (solar, fusion, or whatever the future may bring), specifically an almost limitless supply of it and at zero cost. I have a 100-200 year perspective.

There is no such thing as limitless clean free energy.
ALL systems require high tech solutions with rare earth metals and Fusion is still a pipe dream.

[BigMike]

There is no such thing as limitless clean free energy.
ALL systems require high tech solutions with rare earth metals and Fusion is still a pipe dream.

Another individual who has not read my previous posts.