The 2080 Census: The World As We (Don't) Know It

NPR ^ | April 15, 2012 | by LINTON WEEKS

[SMGFan]

Census data from the past is really hot. When the National Archives posted details from 72 years ago — the 1940 census — online recently, millions of Americans stampeded the website to try to learn more about their past.

But imagine how cool it would be if, by some twist of time, the National Archives were to make available detailed census information from nearly 70 years in the future — the 2080 census.

We asked James Dator, director of the Hawaii Research Center for Futures Studies, what kind of information census takers will be soliciting seven decades in the future. Dator says that possible questions might include:

—Do you have a home, or "biophysical domicile"? If so, is it on Earth, the moon, Mars or elsewhere?

—What is your current sex?

—What is your permission number for drinking water?

In a minute, we'll show you more suggested questions from Dator — along with John Sweeney and Seongwon Park, two Ph.D. candidates in the University of Hawaii at Manoa Alternative Futures program — based on their research.

[SMGFan]

This all starts with Pres. Obama getting re-elected and appointing 1, 2, or 3 more justices to the Supreme court and all the Circuit Courts.

Anyone willing to give Pres. Obama four more years cannot seriously believe the damage will be reversed.

[Carriage Hill]

If those 3 questions are indicative of the state of this world, at 62 now, I’m glad I’ll be gone then.

[BelegStrongbow]

I agree. The Progressives can dream about the fantasy world they’d like to inhabit and do everything they can conceive to bring it about, but it will fall to pieces, even if they work like dogs to keep it in place. We have one last chance to make the reversal only badly painful. The alternative is for the system to explosively fall to pieces, terminate many good lives with prejudice and great pain and subject everyone to years if not decades of torment trying to work out the consequences. The price WILL be paid. The question is how peacefully and gradually can be make the payments.

[bigdaddy45]

Well if i understand the current opinion of Free Republic, Mitt Romney’s Supreme Court Justice picks would be no better than Obama’s, and that his Presidency would in fact be no better than Obama’s.

[SMGFan]

So, do many here at free republic plan to stay home, let the Dems gain in the Senate and House and then try to pick up the pieces in 2014 & 2016? Isn't this a defeatist attitude? We know what Obama will do, they cannot be certain what Romney will do.

I know I could never understand this and I could never change their minds. I admit defeat as well.

[dog breath]

I doubt that the questions will change that much, they will just have more trouble trying to figure out race.

[tsowellfan]

If the first question is indicative of the state of this world then Newt still has a good chance.

By the way, 62 is the new "middle aged".

[Carriage Hill]

I hope so; I’m voting for him in my state’s upcoming primary.
62 = “new middle aged”? Gosh, I feel so much better, already. LOL! (Actually, I’m in better health now than in the past 10yrs)

[Jack Hammer]

There will only be a handful of Americans, and they’ll all glow in the dark.

[patriot08]

The way things are going, the U.S will be under Muslim rule by then.