Last updated: 2020-05-25

This post contains my suspicions and observations about society in 2019. They are not necessarily true or accurate. They are just a sampling of thoughts that occurred to me while reading the news or studying various topics online. You can read the previous version here: Emerging Patterns 2018.

1. Conservatives are starting to push back on liberal ideology. For the longest time, I felt like liberals were scoring free points with little opposition from the right, but in the last couple years there seems to be more pushback then ever before. Conservatives are fed up with being ignored and increasingly concerned about the direction we’re moving in. This may also explain the rise of far-right organizations. Conservatism feels demonized in American society, but that’s because they don’t hold a majority and express themselves more openly. That is about to change.

  • Counter: There’s always been a back-and-forth between liberals and conservatives. This is just one of many predictable waves that happen slowly over time. We were probably leaving a period in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s where conservatism dominated and replaced it with liberal dominance. Now we’re on the way back.

2. Violence is reducing, including mass shootings. For awhile it seemed almost constant, but in 2019 violence seems to have slowed down. Hopefully this is because of measures we’ve taken and lessons we’ve learned over the past few years.

  • Counter: Far-left and far-right organizations and authoritarian power is only the beginning of an escalation in violence around the world. We may see a dip here and there, but that doesn’t indicate that it’s over. In fact, it would be dangerous to assume that.

3. The “Spaceport” industry is growing. Everyone has heard of spaceflight companies like SpaceX, but how many people are aware of the growing “spaceport” industry? This popped up in my feed a few times this year and I don’t remember seeing it before. Early investors and business owners are already stepping in to fill that void.

  • Counter: The idea that spaceports are taking off (no pun intended) is wildly optimistic. Spaceflight is making good progress, but we’re years away from any real need for a “spaceport” industry.

4. Minority groups are integrating into U.S. society more effectively than ever before. We’re seeing a significant uptick in diversity in the media, and minorities with better jobs and nicer homes. We’re also integrating better with each other and women are benefiting as well. The overall trajectory looks very positive.

  • Counter: I’m a middle income American white guy, what do I really know about the lives of minorities? Racism is still prevalent and pay disparities are still a problem. My observations may only indicate where minority groups SHOULD have been years ago and they’re still years behind where they should be now.

5. There is greater U.S. political and social instability with “Generation Rage”. I don’t like the term “Generation Rage” because it implies that it only affects a certain age group. From what I’ve seen, every age group is present in this madness. Instead of rational discourse and common decency, we’ve devolved into bickering and violence. I’ve never been more ashamed of being American and there is clear evidence that it’s destabilizing our society.

  • Counter: “Generation Rage” isn’t as influential as we think. Anonymous individuals on the Internet have always existed in other forms and powerful people aren’t overly concerned with them. Specific individuals on a case-by-case basis are more threatening and even they are mere annoyances compared to major issues like market instability, trade wars, Brexit, North Korea, Iran, debt and unfunded obligations, etc. That is where the real concern lies.

6. China is consuming a dangerous amount of the world’s resources. I’ve seen some charts of their resource usage and it’s scary. I have trouble imagining how it’s even remotely sustainable, especially as the world confronts climate change. China has to change if we stand any chance at saving this planet.

  • Counter: China is developing and this is what progress looks like. Their resource usage is expected when considering how many people they have. China will also use new methodologies and new technologies to be more efficient. Yes, they are consuming a vast amount of resources, but it’s not as if those resources are destroyed. They are converted into valuable objects and structures that in turn produce value for society.

7. Climate change is finally taking a central role across the world. The time has come for climate change to be front and center. Over the next 5 years we’re going to see it explode in the public sphere. It’s going to be part of every discussion regarding our future on this planet.

  • Counter: News feeds and social networking platforms are built to provide relevant information. My observation of climate change taking a more central role is merely an algorithm recognizing my personal interest in the matter. Climate change still has a LONG way to go before the average person cares about it and before our leaders take it seriously enough to make significant changes.