What will the future of the "American Family" be like in the next 20-25 years?
450409
I don't think that marriage will be so important as it is nowadays, and even nowadays the importance has dwindled down. Less people are eager to get married, and less women want to have children. So, in the next 20-25 years I think that the birth rate will have significantly gone down, and so will the marriage rate. Maybe more dads will be staying home and taking care of the kids, while moms will be the ones bringing home the bread.
770408
What happened to America....good question...\nI don't know if America will ever be what it once was....however, for it to try it has to face certain challenges in the 21st century.\nEssentially, America's greatest challenge is simple - itself. You. The person who throws around political terms such as ‘secular progressives’, ‘neo cons’, ‘libs’…all of these are detrimental to the greater good of Americans. The only way America can be hurt is by hurting itself, which it is currently doing in the mid-east...and has on a global scale since the Vietnam war. The hypocrisy of American politics is directly responsible for any misfortune that happens to the USA. Whether it be arming Saddam in the Iran-Iraq war, or the disasters of South American foreign policy/current problems with Chavez/socialism, giving North Korea technology in the 90s...Iran...\nall of these countries pose as a 'threat' to the American ideal because of reactionary politics towards the US . America's biggest enemy is it's 'pimp and hoe' foreign policy; it is it's media that does not show true violent images of Iraq, in an attempt to keep its people unaware of the reality of war. It's in the illusion that the most powerful superpower the world has ever seen is indeed that powerful - when domestically almost 1/6 of Americans cannot afford healthcare and live on the poverty line. It's in the illusion of divisive politics - wherein pundits debate not for the betterment of their country, but for their own agendas/egos. It's in the hypocrisy of embargoing Cuba, but trading with Communist China at a rate unprecedented in both countries histories. It's in the sensationalist entertainers that grace TV and movie screens everywhere to distract and condition it's public into thinking that we will all be movie stars, NBA players, pop stars....'Idols'...instead of having the public form a legitimate culture and become educated (not just in schools)\nAmerica's greatest challenge is confronting its own ugly underbelly in both politics/foreign policy and contemporary culture...then, and only then can America improve it's image globally, and develop its infrastructure in which all truly still have an opportunity to live comfortably - not just the elite. That, my friends, is America's greatest challenge. Not Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Liberals, Conservatives...\nAmerica needs to confront both the greatness of its history and its ugliness. America is the greatest melting pot in the world, which, in history, has prided itself on the tolerance of other peoples. Today, xenophobia is rampant, and pundits speak, not for their country, but their own beliefs. \nAmerica needs an Age of Reason, not religion. And then, and only then, will it be able to confront the challenges it faces in the 21st century.
194458
So far, yes.  Setting the precedent for the future.\n\n*In 50 years people will look at their crappy President and say, "Well, he might be bad, but he's no Dubbya."
500323
usa maybe in the next  roughly 40, 50 years?
991584
One of the series of books I like to read takes place 50 years in the future. The government created a "Professional Mom" category for stay-at-home-moms. They get a stipend for staying home with their children. I've always thought this was a grand idea - if only we could get it implemented. But it will probably not happen in my lifetime.\n\nOtherwise - create a home-based business like day care, or sign on with companies like Mary Kay, Avon, Tupperware, Discovery Toys, all those candle companies, etc. A firend of mine was a single stay-at-home-mom (she found the love of her life and got married recently and is still a stay-at-home-mom) and she supported herself and her 3 kids with day care and a hair and beauty salon that she operated out of her home.
1179454
Well the trend is already showing us that the internet is going to be almost like interactive tv with dynamic content (aka Web 2.0) and video will be found everywhere. We will be able to think of web pages more like channels and eventually it will merge so much with TV that we will probably start using the computer for both surfing and watching shows (example is ABC offering episodes of their tv shows for free on their website).\n\nThe bandwidth of cable is going to go to fiber optics for sure (Verizon has already started offering fiber to the home in parts of the east USA) and once that becomes common place, data transfer will almost be limitless.\n\nWe will become a species of instant information gradification and  totally dependent on information and communication. That is just the sad truth. However, I think it will also allow us to work from home and on the road as mobility will also increase.\n\nAs a technology expert, I am a bit anxious to build this future, as long as they stay out of implants in the skin, I am fine with it all. Every day I am helping to build this future and having fun doing it.\n\nThanks for the question.
297402
Excellent observation.\n\nPretty soon there will be only very wealthy and poor individuals/families.  There is no job security anymore so how can anyone buy a house or other objects related to the "American Dream"?  The American dream has evolved into a nightmare.
81072
Things will change and i think for good. Human beings will stop playing with nature.\n\nIn next 25 years the whole world come very close and there would not be any problems of race, cultures and terrorism as people will slowly realise that these things dont help a community to grow. \n\nScience will open new doors and we cant even think what all new things we'll see in next 25 years.
702542
Honestly, whether the U.S. military leaves or not, Iraq is bound to have a bloody next 5-10 or even 20 years.  And for what?\n\nFOR WHAT???
257986
By the age of 30 you will be married with 2 kids.
1145886
when bush's brother or relative run the country in the future............
1006428
I don't think the world is coming to an end any time soon.  However, the culture and politics of the world is rapidly changing so much so that if one were to be suddenly dropped 25 years into the future, I don't think they would recognize the place.   Some of the change is for the good.  Most isn't.  The values of a "what's-in-it-for-me?" society are quickly degenerating to the point that even a human life, if it interferes with someone's agenda, is becoming expendable.
820675
There are several scenarios that might lead to one.   The housing bubble might lead to one.  As people deside they no longer are going to pay their mortgages for overvalued houses and they are returned to the finance companies (banks) causing a national banking collapse.  That could do it.  \n\nAbout 20 to 30 years from now when oil becomes nothing more than a fond memory and people are forced to ride their bicycles to work, that will assuredly do it.  Of course we will no longer have to worry about an obese population.  \n\nI do not know at this point whether I will be glad I did not live to see it or not.  It should be interesting to a casual observer.  It will not be so interesting to the poplulation that has to adjust.  The Amish might get a kick out of it.
1174653
We will be married,happy and grandchildren if it makes you feel happy-and this is just the social life.\nAbout the climate,I think we will be so busy that you won't realise!
576789
umm...no, fiberoptics is not the answer. duh. Fiberoptics is good and fast, but it has serious cabling problems. 2020 is hard to predict but most likely things will be wireless, cellphones smaller and integrated with other stuff like  camera/phone/mp3 player/pda....sort of like we have now\ntv, well hdtv is about the limit on that, unless they make cable wireless....which I highly doubt. But recording shows and stuff will ofcourse be more popular. Most likely the tv will be combined with the computer or vice versa. But along with all this will come problems and people will complain, but won't realize that they are alot better then when it was in 2005.  There will either be multiple computer brands instead of just microsoft, apple, and linux, google will probably have an operating system. Intel will probably start going down the tube while AMD keeps getting better...like always. Perhaps more eco friendly cars, or other products. But truthfully, technology doesn't move along that quickly. Things will probably get more smaller or even become integrated into our bodys, things will be easier and better....but nothing will come as a big leap. After the invention of the semi conductor technology has only been taking very small baby steps, the closest big step is nanotechnology, and even that has it's problems. but ofcourse, Who knows? :)
1158119
I think you have to go back way further than 2000. Things are pretty much the same in my opinion.
627528
During the next 5 years, I hope to see a Democratic sweep in all state and Federal governments (at least we will get a different set of lies), I am afraid we will see rampant inflation, horrid interest rates, serious weather pattern changes including more and more serious hurricanes on the East Coast. I expect that during the next 10 years, our ocean levels to begin rising causing more and more flooding in the gulf and East Coast. We well could face a serious uprising of the population due to the Iraq ordeal...very much like we had with Viet Nam. I do not foresee good times ahead. I also think our problems with Mexico have just started. I hope I am wrong.