We simply don't know what technological advancements the future will bring. Development may have slowed but that is not what gives most cause for concern. Our biggest problem is that the worlds economy depends on growth, while there is a limit to how much this planet can handle in terms of resource consumption and pollution. We either have to find a way to decouple economic growth from increases in consumption or rebuild the international economy so that it can cope with negative growth. Further adding to the problem is that it is no longer possible to keep the poor 3rd-world masses in the dark wrt how miserable their situation is. The increased migration we now see towards Europe and North America is just the beginning of a stampede. It is just a fraction of the migrants that are refugees from wars. The vast majority are economic migrants. More fair distribution of resources globally is the only non-violent solution to this problem.
As for the US economy the dominating problem is that resources and wealth is accumulating out of circulation. It doesn't help business-owners that they are able to sell a handful items to the super-rich when the mass of consumers they rely on for their income no longer can afford the products. The US economy would have been much better off if the income-distribution among the populous had been as it was 20, 30 or 40 years ago. The de-regulation of finance and industry that has has happened since the 1980's can lead to total disaster if it is not reversed in time. Competitive markets are great, but un-regulated capitalism tend to converge towards private monopolies. Startups and small businesses need some basic forms of protection in order to maintain a competitive market.
Intentional backdoors are a horrible idea. I wonder how these imbecile senators would like to have a hidden unlockable door to their home? You know who you give a copy of your keys to, but you could never be sure who knows where the hidden unlocked entrance is.
Slashdot Mirror
We simply don't know what technological advancements the future will bring. Development may have slowed but that is not what gives most cause for concern. Our biggest problem is that the worlds economy depends on growth, while there is a limit to how much this planet can handle in terms of resource consumption and pollution. We either have to find a way to decouple economic growth from increases in consumption or rebuild the international economy so that it can cope with negative growth. Further adding to the problem is that it is no longer possible to keep the poor 3rd-world masses in the dark wrt how miserable their situation is. The increased migration we now see towards Europe and North America is just the beginning of a stampede. It is just a fraction of the migrants that are refugees from wars. The vast majority are economic migrants. More fair distribution of resources globally is the only non-violent solution to this problem.
As for the US economy the dominating problem is that resources and wealth is accumulating out of circulation. It doesn't help business-owners that they are able to sell a handful items to the super-rich when the mass of consumers they rely on for their income no longer can afford the products. The US economy would have been much better off if the income-distribution among the populous had been as it was 20, 30 or 40 years ago. The de-regulation of finance and industry that has has happened since the 1980's can lead to total disaster if it is not reversed in time. Competitive markets are great, but un-regulated capitalism tend to converge towards private monopolies. Startups and small businesses need some basic forms of protection in order to maintain a competitive market.
Intentional backdoors are a horrible idea. I wonder how these imbecile senators would like to have a hidden unlockable door to their home? You know who you give a copy of your keys to, but you could never be sure who knows where the hidden unlocked entrance is.