I see the American people beginning to take a bigger stand on issues and policies. If this trend continues, and I believe it will, the government will be dominated by lobbyist groups and individuals who recognize their right to be heard. Groups with strong influence will become the norm rather than the exception as average citizens learn they have as much say as the rich and powerful. Americans will demand that action be taken and not just talked about.
With the growth of technology and the increasing need for education in that area, American society will evolve to be a more advanced culture. Communications will be used to phenomenal lengths. The explosion of technology we've seen in that last few years will seem small compared to the boom that will happen when people from all over the country begin to share their ideas and their experiences. Scientists and technologists from each coast will be able to collaborate on results of experimentation and in turn spend less time on objectives that won't work and more time on concepts and hypotheses that will.
Companies will have the opportunity to have offices all over the world, not only because of the increased uses of communications, but also with more advanced forms of transportation. I see planes like the Concord and trains like the TGV becoming more common and less expensive for the average person. This will allow executives to move between more offices. Products will be sold in more markets than ever before.
With the unification of Europe, competition will become more country to country rather than company to company. Like monopolies in the early Industrial Revolution, large, technologically advanced companies will force smaller corporations to fall by the wayside. Competition will be fierce and such companies will have to ban together and modernize. Only those that change with the times and can provide the technological services that society demands will survive.
Americans will play as hard as they'll work. Leisure time will see new and exciting changes. Sports and other recreational activities will boom. These multi-million dollar industries shall become billion dollar industries. The art and other similar forms of entertainment will see as much growth. Admittance to symphonies, operas, and the ballet will no longer be dominated by the rich. Every American will have the chance to be exposed to these cultural events.
With all these activities for off-work time, parents will have more experiences to share with their offspring. As the time spent together increases, families will grow stronger. The advanced communications system will be conducive to holding families together. Conference calling and computers will make it easier for parents to work from the home. Even despite the necessity of business travel, working parents will still be able to take an active role in their family.
The greatest effort on the evolution of American society will be how much of a role my generation and those after it are willing to take. I plan to take an active role and I certainly hope others of my generation will as well. Then, maybe, one day my vision will be a reality.