There are two possible futures in store for the human species. One future is full of light, wisdom, and high technology. The other future is rather bleak- one full of darkness, a world that has been depleted of it’s natural resources and scorched beyond recognition by the sheer power of nuclear weaponry. Many had predicted that by the year 2000, we would’ve had flying cars, hover-boards such as what were seen in the film Back to the Future 2, and an advanced space program of sorts that would’ve already put us on the planet Mars. We know however that this is certainly not the future we had inherited. But make no mistake about it- such a future on par with the sci-fi films could have already been manifested were it not for the crippling effects of three fundamental elements at play in our world- money, politics, and religion.

Did you know that the primary reason for not venturing to Mars is exclusively due to cost? This is also why we haven’t further explored the moon- or at least attempted to go some place else of interest. Technically we are able- the resources are at our disposal. Advanced forms of propulsion have been proposed which, given our current state of technology, are indeed plausible. Propulsion methods such as the ram-jet fusion engine would utilize the power of hydrogen explosions which could build upon each other exponentially without cessation. A propulsion system such as this would greatly bolster the single most crucial element in space travel which is undoubtedly speed. It has been proposed that we could near almost seventy five percent the speed of light utilizing the ram-jet fusion propulsion method. Trekking the stars would come at such ease if we simply shut out mouths about price and just did something that would stand testament to the potential that the human species harbors deep within.

While politicians are bogged down in budget disagreements, arguing over where to put billions of dollars, new technology is popping up which challenges us humans to get our s**t straight so that we might set aside our foolish love affair with this thing we call money and begin to use this new tech to further ourselves along the evolutionary path. A new world such as what has been envisioned by the so called “utopian” movements is possible- a world where most jobs are eliminated and replaced by machines. A world of high class and culture- an enlightened civilization that has learned to harmonize with the surrounding environment all the whilst expanding our horizons and setting foot on new worlds.

It is very hard to determine just how exactly our future will unfold before our eyes. Again, the technology and the know-how is here. We could literally transform our planet over night into a paradise of unequivocal ends where people would be free of all war, politics, and poverty utilizing the technology we have today. We could feed the whole world many times over. We could provide free energy to the whole planet using a combination of solar, volcanic, geothermal, wave, and tidal power. Nobody would have to work as most jobs could be automated in a heart beat with the present state of robotics. The crippling factors of cost, politics, and religion however are all that stand in the way.

Suppose one day we woke up and discovered that all the money of the planet had vanished into thin air. Would not the resources and raw materials utilized in the production of goods still be here? The answer is an obvious yes. Everything we needed would still exist on this planet- but it would just be sitting idly as we panicked like little babies over the disappearance of something as phony as money. How would the politicians respond to the vanishing of money? The smart thing to do would be to declare the entire world’s resources the common property of all people. Then to make life less difficult, machines would be sent out into the world to gather the resources and raw materials needed in order to produce the most basic of essentials for our survival. There would be a great transition which would follow as folks became oriented with the concept of living without having to struggle just to keep a roof over one’s head. Eventually the kinks of such a philosophical overhaul would be worked out and people would begin to live for each other, to help one another, to volunteer in whatever way they most possibly could in order to make the world a beautiful place for everyone living on it.

If cost were abandoned, our future would grow bright with an ever-increasing light as we could do so much to make this planet a truly marvelous place. And without money, what other than sheer talent alone would determine how much “better” someone is compared to one’s self? We would suddenly find ourselves mere equals- and each of us necessary for each other’s survival- especially if we were to adopt a voluntary model of civilization wherein machines performed only some functions necessary for the continuance of our livelihoods. If however we fail to abandon money and continue to let political and religious institutions guide the course of civilization, then simply do the math- where do YOU think we’ll end up as we continue to find new ways to destroy ourselves?