Week 5: Life in your Scenario 2
Discussion of the Week, on This Topic
Lindsey Alexander
For the past few weeks we’ve been thinking about what life in 2061 might look like. Last week, you did a great job creating three future scenarios. Over the next two weeks we’ll be talking and thinking about what your scenarios might mean for Minnesota. Think creatively and use the scenario to shape your answers! As you read through these, imagine how it might impact your life in 2060; we want to know what life might be like for teens like YOU, so imagine that you (miraculously) are your current age in 2060.
Read each of the 3 scenarios (go to Scenario 1; Scenario 3) and answer the five questions that follow:
Scenario 2 (created by YOU!):
- By 2061, the U.S. no longer trades internationally except for limited trade with Canada and Mexico. In Minnesota we focus on local issues and local resources. We export water to drier Midwest areas and benefit from our investments in wind technology in the early 2000s.We also benefit from last minute additions of solar panels, allowing even more power. We have created a regional republic government with Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa and South Dakota. We are now isolated from the rest of the United States.
- The five-state republic flourishes as a self-sufficient region. We have little need to travel long distances. We supply resources to all in the republic, but we figure out how to keep resources travelling the shortest distances possible. About 97 percent of young people graduate from high school annually.
- With such great payoffs from our initial investments, people look for more ways to keep the republic in a position of strength. The government mandates developers to engineer completely efficient structures capable of combating important environmental issues such as storm water runoff and climate change. Caps are set on the amount of energy a home or business can consume, so more and more buildings are equipped with renewable resources to harvest energy using wind, solar, and hydro technologies. We build underground houses to allow residents to have easier access to ground water and fertile soil, and share our technology with others.
- The five-state republic feels prepared and protected as the patterns of precipitation and climate shift worldwide. While states outside the republic are suffering greatly, they depend on the republic for resources. And the republic plays nice. The republic is also prepared in case of attack, however, because the need for resources continues to grow in other areas. Older generations worry about long-term stability, however. They believe communities within the US, and especially in the republic, have become disconnected from the world causing narrow-minded thought within the young generation.
In this version of 2061:
- What kinds of things do you do for fun? For example, what does a typical Saturday afternoon/evening look like?
- Where are your purchases produced?
- By what means do you communicate with your family and friends who don’t live nearby?
- If this was the future, which kinds of transportation and transportation networks would you most need for a strong community?
- What kind of transportation and transportation networks would you most need for a strong economy?
(The difference between #4 and #5 is that #4 refers to your transportation for your personal needs in your daily community life; #5 would be things that business would need. There is some likely some overlap there.)
Student Commentator Responses:
Louise E.
- While children within the republic aren’t working hard in school, they have many new gadgets to play with because of the booming economy. Children in states outside of the republic are not so lucky and have more traditional/out of date toys.
- Most products are produced within the self-sufficient area of the republic where resources are widely available. The raw materials/resources are then made in products in the numerous factories present in the republic. (Having many factories allow the republic to be self-sufficient.)
- There are now highly advanced computers the size of phones. Many people, use video chats on their computers in order to communicate with others.
- Good public transportation networks such as subways, light rails, trams etc.will be important because they will be eco-friendly be transporting more people at a time. Also they do not waste as many materials when they are built compared to building many more cars. Subways would be useful with the underground housing although I’m not sure how realistic the underground housing is.
- It is important to use renewable energy resources in order to be eco-friendly. Also, businesses should study ways to ship/transport good efficiently throughout the republic in order to reduce costs.
Hannah O.
- Well, my children are able to enjoy new toys because of the economy, but some of my friends don’t live in the republic—their children don’t get as many technologically advanced toys. As a parent and concerned member of the community, I spend much of my time reading online news about the world and energy usage.
- Much of the food and goods I pay for come from our republic, except a few things that come from our neighboring states ,and the neighboring countries, Mexico and Canada. Because we are completely self-sufficient, we don’t rely on other places to keep our republic working.
- My parents live in a rural Wisconsin town, my sisters live in Iowa and I myself live in Minnesota, and in order to keep everyone connected we utilize Skype and other video chat systems. Luckily phones have allowed us to send snippets of video when the children do something absolutely adorable.
- A strong transportation system that is reliable is important because in order to get people to use the network, they must be assured it is completely eco-friendly. Everyone is so focused on reducing our footprints that eco-friendly and safe transportation is a must. A long distance system that crosses the IA, WI, ND, MN borders is essential to allow the republic to be connected.
- Sustainable, reliable and energy efficient networks that don’t require the use of fossil fuels is essential because the cost of those fuels will increase as the resources become so depleted.
Joey L.
- Outside activities are partially restrained depending on the weather, but outside activities have become more valued. However, everyone has been drilled on fleeing to a nearby shelter when a siren sounds.
- Purchases are produced in regional government sanctioned underground factories, though it actually manages to be healthy and organic.
- Travel isn't terribly common to see people, though with the regional council it does exist. A version of Skype allows many to talk when face to face isnt possible, though weather can shut it down.
- Bicycles and greenways have been much expanded, in fact letting whole cities be connected by greenways for the intrepid.
- The economic transportation of the republic has become monorail, cutting over much of the former highways and replacing them with fast, economic and actually pretty green and efficient trains.
Daniel B.
- A typical saturday would probaly be me siting down with my family eating popcorn in front of a movie.
- They are probably produced locally becasue the US doesn't trade with anyone else anymore.
- I communicate with my friends and famly via email and a new and impoved phone.
- Something needed for a strong community is an engine that can run on elements other than natural resources.
- The rails of 2065 are run off solar heat so there self running.
Ann D.