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It depends on the timeline. I see a bright future for solar and it's only going to get brighter. When launch costs are sufficiently low or space-based industry
by jmyeet 4y ago
It depends on the timeline.
I see a bright future for solar and it's only going to get brighter. When launch costs are sufficiently low or space-based industry is sufficiently bootstrapped, space-based solar power collecting is going to get even better. And yes you can collect power in space for ground-based usage. The interim solution is by transmitting power. Ultimately you can even run cables (this is a deep topic).
I see climate change as inevitable just because humanity won't inconvenience themselves let alone invest massively in solving the problem. The only solution will be economic.
I'm actually reasonably hopeful. Our memories of past times are inaccurate. Even your date range (1790 to 1990) includes smallpox, polio, the Civil War, two World Wars, dropping nuclear bombs on people (twice), numerous other wars and the Cold War.
Part of your issue with an aging society is that misplaced sense of nostalgia, that false belief in whatever you grew up with is better or even "normal". Whatever that time is, it's gone. You can't step in the same river twice.
- morpheos137 4y agoHeraclitus. Last sentence. A man for the ages.
- PaulHoule 4y agoThe worst thing about an aging society is how it contributes to ungovernability. It has been the plan of Republicans since the new deal to get pensioners to vote to eliminate social security, but it’s a hard trick to pull and they blew the last chance in the GW Bush years. I was kinda shocked how Biden defeated Trump by out-OO ding Trump.
- mark_l_watson 4y agoActually, we paid for our own social security. I have paid a small fortune into social security in my lifetime. I do agree that Medicare and Medicare are freebies, but probably necessary to maintain a civil society.
- PaulHoule 4y agoWall Street is resentful that anybody gets a pension. Also the psychology of the right in America is as such: if people imagine one illegal immigrant is collecting benefits of some kind they’ll deny those benefits to themselves to spite them.
- dragonwriter 4y ago> Actually, we paid for our own social security > I do agree that Medicare and Medicare are freebies Medicare Part A is funded much the same way as Social Security.
- mark_l_watson 4y agothank you. I stand corrected.