What lies in store for humanity?

See Herald's last post; it's worth more than the amount I posted.

I'll also add that fresh drinking water are being destroyed and used at an alarming rate consumed by the increasing amount of life.

I concur. The ultimate fate for humanity is extinction. Everything dies, eventually, including the stars, the moon, the sun and the earth will die -- evaporating into radiation ... "all of the stars in the universe will eventually run out of fuel and burn out."

The Universe, in theory, expands and collapses, hence, this life comes to an end to make way for a renewed one.

RE: Everything dies, eventually, including the stars, the moon, the sun and the earth will die ...
... in 5 BN years.
This is very much different from the statement that the Earth will meet the down without us ... tomorrow. Very much different.
One is to know that the 64th egeneration of our grandchildren will be forced to put gas masks when walking on the street, and very much different is for this to be our grandchildren that we personally know.
Moreover it is preventable. It's all about money and greed, isn't it.

RE: "all of the stars in the universe will eventually run out of fuel and burn out"
This is very general talk. You may go to the oncology and explain to the people with cancer and MS, and diabetes, and whatever, that 'all the stars in the universe will eventually run out of fuel'.
You may explain to them that the greed of the coal miners and the car producers, and the bank creditors and the casino investors at the stock exchange is not responsible for the increase of CO2 along exponent and for the drying of the trees ... the acid rain and the acidification of their blood and the subsequent Candida overgrowth ... and the cancer collapse of their tissues ... for all the tisssues sooner or later become victims of Candida ... in the cemetary.
Just go and explain this to them ... if you can.

There's a moral dynamic between behaving for what's good for the individual, and within certain periods of time, e.g. instant gratification/long term wellfare; and what's good for the groups within which the individual finds himself; and the behavior of groups in relation to themselves and the individuals that incorporate them. There's a balance among the complex of interests that's achieved by the moral dynamic.

You're not talking about the long term operation of the social contract, are you?

Um, no.

The reason I asked is that my understanding of the social contract requires reasoning individuals to subordinate their desires for the greater social good. Is that not a source for equilibrium?

You wrote,

That was my joke for the day! Thanks for the laugh.

Brilliantly stated, Irfrank. In many ways, we are our own worse enemy! And yet, I have not given up on our species yet because we do have the capacity to learn, albeit, sometimes at too high a cost.

I'm not sure we are progressing in a positive direction. In the Cuban missile crisis we managed to avoid mass destruction, barely. I just don't have a positive opinion of politicians. Unfortunately, it is often in their hands.

Yes, the US and Russia came chillingly close to nuclear war in 1962 over the Cuban Missile Crisis.

I'm in total agreement regarding these self-serving politicians and I share the same disgust for them. Since I've a strong inclination towards politics, I must admit I've never happened upon such a bunch of downright obstructionists as the current Republican Party who deliberately impede/delay the course of legislative, or other procedures. Today's Tea Party clowns are enough to make one want to swear off politicians forever.

The American people have not been well served by these economic terrorists. And you're correct in that policy making, well, "it's often in their hands."

Our species has this unremarkable knack for creating unnecessary hurdles for itself.

They are now willing to shut down the government for their political ends. The American people will pay dearly for their stupidity.

I do not think this GOP crap will shut down the government although they will come perilously close to doing just that. It would be political suicide for the Republican Party and the sane among them realize this, even O'Connell who is facing a tough reelection in Kentucky has said you may shut down the government but the Obama Health Care will remain as it's now the law of the land. This is primarily political postering by Ted CRuz who has the White House in his sight as his destination in 2016. In my humble opinion, I do not believe main stream America would ever vote for a Rand Paul, Ted Cruz or a Marco Rubio, as neither has an ice cube chance of being president in 2016. They are too narrowly defined as Tea Party extremists, and in fact, they are Tea Party Darlings.

The American people have their faults but the majority are not genetically mentally challenged. Give them the choice between a Tea Party type and a Hillary Clinton, or someone similar and nobody will vote for the Republicans who have alienated African Americans, Latinos, Gays, elderly, etc. Republicans are self-centered, and do not give a care for the poor, the defenseless, the elderly, the sick, or minorities. All the Republicans care for is powerful positions and making lots of money and to hell with those who cannot help themselves.

I cannot envision the GOP ever gaining the US Presidency unless they do a 180 towards immigrants and drop their overt racist behavior.

They've done it before, and I don't see them changing their SOP any time soon.

They're crazy, and some 35% of Americans are in full support of their destructive behavior.

TNCFS

I'm not exactly up to date on all the acronyms, so please enlighten me as to what TNCFS stand for? Thx.

I've been using my own acronym for many years, so I assumed most people knew what it meant.

TNCFS = There's No Cure For Stupid.

Firstly, let me say thank you for explaining the meaning to me. Secondly, I have not posted on this board long and am unfamiliar with all of the acronyms formed from the initial letters of other words. Also, it's not a good thing to "assume" too much of other posters.

If they dont understand a post it is possible to ask for an explanation. Only a few will try to put them down for asking.

Jeeez man...Why should we cure all diseases and end all evils n so on n so fourth ? Are you looking for a sort of unemployment of the soul as an ultimate accomplishment ? get out of that line of questioning...I mean dump it !!!

Stupid me.
I thought we would be better off without war and crime and sickness and death.