What will America be like in 2020?

[MercenaryMarksman]

I always wondered. Robots, super computer in every home, maybe a flying car? China possibly passes the U.S., military cut downs, or war between the U.S. and who? what do you guys think?

[Sir Suomi]

Honestly, it won't be much different than it is now. We'll still be involved with Middle-Eastern conflicts, flexing our muscles against powers like Russia, and our politicians will still be as dumb as they are now. I could see the ACA falling apart, gay marriage will probably be accepted more throughout our country, and marijuana legalization will increase also.

[MercenaryMarksman]

...marijuana legalization will increase also.

Im cool with that, hopefully it'll be in pa and since i have ADD ill get it medically haha

[Lovelife090994]

I have no clue what to think on 2020 even if it is just 6 years away. I guess things we'll be a bit more technologically advanced, fashion will change, food and gas prices will go up, marijuana may be legal, laws to protect opinions will be voted for and against, marriage equality, bad presidency, media overload, and usual international hijinks.

[Miserabilia]

A better question is what will the world be like in 2020?
Well not extremeley different from now I think.
My guess is that as for culture, west europe will become even less religious, and I think america is at the start of this aswell.
As for science,
I'm guessing more and more improvement in smaller and smaller technology, but also that we are coming at an end to the tiny micro technology development,
and that in +/- 10 years we'll start the transistion to biotechnology and more intelligent forms of technology like neural networks.
Flying cars,,,, no..

Instead of focusing on hypermodern we are starting to focus on making inventions more efficient and less bad for the envirement on a long term, something that people just have not done the past 200 years.

[ninja789]

not much different as the others have said
its only 6 years after all
big bang theory will have finished by then most likely...

[thatcountrykid]

I think it wont be too long till we go to war. With Russia or communist countries like Iran, nk, or china. Other that that I don't things will get too crazy like flying cars. Maybe better aircraft and weaponry. Hopefully a larger American defense force. Keeping the navy in close. Stop all this sanction crap and actually deal out some consequences. We need to go back to our pre world war 2 policy. Only attack when we or our allies are threatened or attacked.

[Osama Gulryz]

I think america will be too much advance country with every thing in it

[phuckphace]

2020 is only six years from now so I highly doubt we'll be seeing any flying cars. nerds have fantasized about flying cars since the days when regular cars were still rare, so it's safe to assume the concept won't pan out anytime soon.

anyway. what will 2020 be like? I'm guessing shitty just like 2014 except the shit has aged another six years.

[Southside]

I don't think it'll be too different, nothing has changed that much since 2008(Six years ago) except a new president....

[phuckphace]

one thing we can predict with 100% accuracy is that whoever is president in 2020 will be a piece of shit with his/her/its head up Ben Bernake's ass whilst dexterously performing a lubed up handjob on the Wall Street elites

[Vlerchan]

I don't think it'll be too different, nothing has changed that much since 2008(Six years ago) except a new president....

And the whole, y'know, economic crash.

[Willy_Nilly]

Our government would get worse, more budget cuts, maybe that whole possible World War 3 thing in Russia and Ukraine, more technological advances, new stupid fads, more stupid songs that all mean and sound the same as the songs released today, gay marriage would probably more accepted throughout the U.S, more legalization of marijuana, most of these the same as people said before

[Gamma Male]

I think it wont be too long till we go to war. With Russia or communist countries like Iran, nk, or china. Other that that I don't things will get too crazy like flying cars. Maybe better aircraft and weaponry. Hopefully a larger American defense force. Keeping the navy in close. Stop all this sanction crap and actually deal out some consequences. We need to go back to our pre world war 2 policy. Only attack when we or our allies are threatened or attacked.

First of all, Iran is not even close to being a communist nation. And second of all, a bigger military? Are you kidding? We already spend almost a trillion dollars a year on the military(More than any other nation by a long shot). Do we REALLY need a bigger military? Is it not already pumped up enough?

[Cygnus]

I'm gonna say another economical crisis is gonna hit, and hard, apparently banks haven't learned their lesson, and knowing them nothing's gonna change regarding that, nor are the people gonna change. So economical crisis time, again, and maybe for good.

[Miserabilia]

I'm gonna say another economical crisis is gonna hit, and hard, apparently banks haven't learned their lesson, and knowing them nothing's gonna change regarding that, nor are the people gonna change. So economical crisis time, again, and maybe for good.

Economicaly speaking it's not really likely that economy is going to crash again in 2020, it would be odd if it crashes climbs up and crashes again before being ompletely up again, not a nice pattern, it's usualy cyclic.

[NeuroTiger]

In terms of machinery and technology most probably...

[ValentinClarke]

A better question is what will the world be like in 2020?
Well not extremeley different from now I think.
My guess is that as for culture, west europe will become even less religious, and I think america is at the start of this aswell.
As for science,
I'm guessing more and more improvement in smaller and smaller technology, but also that we are coming at an end to the tiny micro technology development,
and that in +/- 10 years we'll start the transistion to biotechnology and more intelligent forms of technology like neural networks.
Flying cars,,,, no..

Instead of focusing on hypermodern we are starting to focus on making inventions more efficient and less bad for the envirement on a long term, something that people just have not done the past 200 years.

My thoughts exactly. I think that in 2020 the world wont be much different. In 2025 thtts when the changes will happen.

[Gamma Male]

I can't believe nobody is mentioning SPACE TRAVEL!!! :D :D
Y'know SpaceX is planning a permanent Mars colony right?
And what about flying cars? The company Terrafugia has already announced a street legal flying car that's gonna go on sale to the public in 2016. C'mon, THIS IS THE FUTURE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE!

[Miserabilia]

My thoughts exactly. I think that in 2020 the world wont be much different. In 2025 thtts when the changes will happen.

Why 2025? feel like I'm missing out on something here

[ValentinClarke]

Justs because its in 10 yrs

[thatcountrykid]

First of all, Iran is not even close to being a communist nation. And second of all, a bigger military? Are you kidding? We already spend almost a trillion dollars a year on the military(More than any other nation by a long shot). Do we REALLY need a bigger military? Is it not already pumped up enough?

We should be spending more on that than we are foreign aid for example Haiti. Yeah it suck I'm sorry but we need our rescources here. Somalia isn't gonna get better. Let's keep our money here.

[Vlerchan]

We should be spending more on that than we are foreign aid for example Haiti.
Foreign Aid spending makes up 1% of the US budget.

Defence spending makes up 19% of the US budget.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/11/08/americans-already-think-a-third-of-the-budget-goes-to-foreign-aid-what-if-it-did/

[phuckphace]

it isn't just that the US spends a disproportionately large amount of money on "defense" but also that it's money we don't have. a trillion dollars is a staggering amount to be throwing around all matter-of-fact like we're tourists in a third world country

[Camazotz]

"What will America be like in 2020?"

Obese

[Abyssal Echo]

Since we're broke now and keep spending money we don't have I'd say bankrupt

[sqishy]

Either
not exist (our world is more chaotic and transient than people think),
or
be much more liberal yet accepting and peaceful with different points of views, countries and people,
or
be even more divided and varied in it's opinions and values in general (democrats V republicans..)
or
be more arrogant, fat, industrialised, big-brothered with itself and the rest of the world with the military, and overpopulated

[Capto]

We sure as hell won't be anything like we are today.

[Camazotz]

We sure as hell won't be anything like we are today.

America in 2020 won't resemble America in 2014 in the slightest? So America today isn't anything like America in 2008? Six years is not a long time at all. There may be some new things, but it'll overall be the same.

[Gamma Male]

Either
not exist (our world is more chaotic and transient than people think)

Don't be silly, America can't falll. We're as strong as the Roman Empire! :P

[SawyerSauce]

I predict an economic recession because capitalism is cyclic.

[Lovelife090994]

I believe that by 2020 things will be a bit more technologically advanced down to the common man and woman. However I feel things will be vastly divided and even more politically correct. Also, with the way the world is going now, 2020 may be a year from Hell if the world is not careful. Hopefully by then some of the senseless feuds from hundreds to thousands of years ago will wane if not cease.

Don't be silly, America can't falll. We're as strong as the Roman Empire! :P

In time America will weaken. No empire lasts forever.

[Harry Smith]

In time America will weaken. No empire lasts forever.

I'm pretty certain he was being sarcastic...

[sqishy]

Don't be silly, America can't falll. We're as strong as the Roman Empire! :P

Do I sense the smell of sarcasm? :P

[Capto]

America in 2020 won't resemble America in 2014 in the slightest?

Naturally it won't.

[CutYouDown]

It will be exactly like it is now with more technology. We may or may not go to war with Russia and the rest of the world, nobody will invade us though.

[CutYouDown]

Don't be silly, America can't falll. We're as strong as the Roman Empire! :P

Actually, you're not wrong, it will be virtually impossible to overthrow us. Our northern and southern neighbors lack adequate resources and would make bad starting points for attack, and all of the world's navies combined are smaller than ours. On top of this, the majority of our bases are located along the outskirts of the country, so we are ready if you come to us. Finally, the only remaining way of attack, nuclear war. "It is virtually impossible to eliminate the US nuclear arsenal since it is based on a triad of land, air, and sea delivery systems designed to provide a counterstrike capability."

Sources:
http://www.vice.com/read/we-asked-a-military-expert-if-the-whole-world-could-conquer-the-united-states

https://greyweirdo.wordpress.com/2011/11/03/5-reasons-why-no-one-will-ever-invade-america-probably/

[Capto]

Assuming that the greatest threat to American stability is external, of course.

[Camazotz]

Naturally it won't.

By "naturally" do you mean that the environment will be different? How so?

[Capto]

By "naturally" do you mean that the environment will be different? How so?

You're getting warmer.

[Camazotz]

You're getting warmer.

Okay. Could you be more specific? Yes, global warming will be an important factor in our long-term future, but 6 years? The avg. global temperature might be half a degree Fahrenheit warmer, sea levels not much higher, air pollution tolerable. It hasn't dramatically increased within the past 6 years, so what makes the next 6 years much different?

[Capto]

Okay. Could you be more specific? Yes, global warming will be an important factor in our long-term future, but 6 years? The avg. global temperature might be half a degree Fahrenheit warmer, sea levels not much higher, air pollution tolerable. It hasn't dramatically increased within the past 6 years, so what makes the next 6 years much different?

Well, actually, I was going to discuss how funding for science and research works and will change [which it doesn't work right now and it probably won't change given the general apathy of the public towards what we're doing, or at least trying to], but sure, global warming is actually going to change how we work a lot too, thanks for reminding me, given that temperature growth is actually exponential [regarding the logistic growth of the world's population]. By 2020, we'll be seeing the first signs of real, legitimate climate change, which is pretty troubling. Not only that but the whole alternative energy ordeal regarding our astonishingly quickly declining supplies of fossil fuels which is giving me such the headache, what with everyone shooting down every logical idea that our colleagues have come up with for the sake of oil profits. That combined with the continuing decrease in budget that our research is receiving is just sending us straight downhill. You know, we don't just make up designs for cool new apps and coffee makers, some of the research and development we do is actually important, Washington.

Well that was incoherent. Sorry, I'm just upset. I was thinking rather irrationally in the first post and in the beginning of this one. Disregard the above.

EDIT: Mainly upset because we really aren't getting enough funding. :(

[Camazotz]

Well, actually, I was going to discuss how funding for science and research works and will change [which it doesn't work right now and it probably won't change given the general apathy of the public towards what we're doing, or at least trying to], but sure, global warming is actually going to change how we work a lot too, thanks for reminding me, given that temperature growth is actually exponential [regarding the logistic growth of the world's population]. By 2020, we'll be seeing the first signs of real, legitimate climate change, which is pretty troubling. Not only that but the whole alternative energy ordeal regarding our astonishingly quickly declining supplies of fossil fuels which is giving me such the headache, what with everyone shooting down every logical idea that our colleagues have come up with for the sake of oil profits. That combined with the continuing decrease in budget that our research is receiving is just sending us straight downhill. You know, we don't just make up designs for cool new apps and coffee makers, some of the research and development we do is actually important, Washington.

Well that was incoherent. Sorry, I'm just upset. I was thinking rather irrationally in the first post and in the beginning of this one. Disregard the above.

EDIT: Mainly upset because we really aren't getting enough funding. :(

Ah, okay. I definitely understand your point on overpopulation and the affects it will have on a lot of things, such as global warming, but I still don't think 2020 will look radically different than 2014. If you said 2050, I would definitely agree with you there.

This is a bit off topic, but from what I've read, it looks like Earth can sustain 9-10 billion people, which we will probably reach in the next century. What kind of things will we (humans) do to keep that number down? Natural disasters, disease, famine, poverty will all do their thing, but how many countries do you think will have one- or two-child limits? Will more couples adopt? Will less developed countries be producing the most children?

[CutYouDown]

Assuming that the greatest threat to American stability is external, of course.

Great point, and it also helps to prove my point. One of, if not the only way, for America to fall in the next 50-100 years is from internal problems, whether they be the economy, rebellion(even more unlikely than invasion), or government issues.