h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The past is the future. History repeats itself. In a number of ways things won't change. Of course technology and science will progress (for how long is another issue entirely), but a number of things won't change.

Examples:

1) A number of people will still be oppressed. This is because biologically speaking we are hierachical animals. There will always be someone who wants to put down someone else. From bullys in the play ground to leaders of nations, the pattern repeats itself. A top layer of aristocrats, a middle layer carrying out their orders and a bottom layer treated as scum to some degree or another.

2) Money will still be in existence. I personally can't see a moneyless society envisaged in Star Trek.

3) Disease. People will still be ill. If anything old diseases like TB are making a comeback. If all the diseases of the world were cured today others would quickly take their place. A strain of bacteria can produce up to 400 generations in a day. At this rate the mutations easily outstrip pharmaceutical research.

4) Waste. People will still produce waste. And if the Earth Summit anything to go by, curbing waste isn't really going to happen.

5) People will always be greedy in one or another. Materialistically or socially. It ties in with the idea that we like to think that we are better than others. Anyone who claims they think of themselves as equal to others is lying. How often have you made fun of someone you work with behind his or her back? Or even someone on mentioned on the news or in the media?