A Glimpse into Past Futures

Yesterday I mentioned some NIMBY types. Opposed to a wind turbine, they were. I am sure they are also opposed to a coal fired plant and any sort of air polluting power sources. Yet, I am also pretty sure they are demanding more power, more electricity, and cheaper too. Along with cars that roar down the road like Corvettes while sipping gas like a Prius. And don't we all?

I mean, think about it... we want everything and at an affordable price. I know I do and, if you'll be honest, so do you. A $10,000 electric car that'll go from 0-60 in 4.4 seconds and carry 5 adults comfortably with room for golf clubs (gotta have them golf clubs) and go 600 miles between recharges. You'd jump on that, wouldn't you? I know I would. Did I mention those recharges should only take 5 minutes?

Well, it just ain't gonna happen, is it? That doesn't make us not want it, though. And get angry that we can't have it. Angry at government. Angry at OPEC. Angry at France. Not that France has anything to do with this.

And while we're at it, why can't we have planes that will carry 300 but only carry 150 on any trip? And tickets to anywhere should only cost $99 round-trip.

As I was driving across the country, I began thinking about all those things that were promised (sort of) back in my youth. Yes, I know the 50's were a long time ago and everyone was much dumber then (no cell phones or computers in the home or internet, etc) but they still promised us stuff and we believed them.

Domed cities with year round perfect temperatures. Highways with embedded guides that took over the steering and speed of your car so you could nap or play cards with your passengers until you reached your destination and were gently reminded that you needed to re-take control of the car. Personal airplanes (flying cars, actually) so you didn't even have to bother with those wonderful highways.

Of course, they also promised nuclear power plants would mean flat rate electricity bills and everything would be clean and efficient. And we'd all be happy and productive.

I remember this stuff. None of it has come true. Instead we have cellphones so people can annoy us while we eat at restaurants or interrupt music concerts. Our cars are getting smaller and more expensive while our gas prices keep going up. And just wait until we all have electric cars and we plug them all in at 6 PM each weekday night and watch the lights blink out all over our cities. I won't mention just how much more our electricity will cost us.

The future will never be what we imagine.