It’s 2035, and the sun streams brightly through Brandon’s window. He’s greeted by the cooing of pigeons perched on his windowsill. Across the street, he admires the striking mural on the coffee shop wall. The blues and yellows blend perfectly to create a vibrant beach scene. His neighbor smiles and waves as he strolls by on his morning walk with his robot dog. The trees are in full bloom, their flowers catching the spring sunlight, each petal sparkling like a disco ball. Almost nothing could disturb the natural beauty of New York City.
It’s 2035, and Myles wakes up to the harsh sight outside his window on the 130th floor of Musk Tower. The city below is choked with a thick black cloud of smog, blotting out the once-clear sky. He looks down, his gaze falling on two homeless people fighting over the last piece of bread at a soup kitchen, their struggle barely noticed by the wealthy businessman speeding by in his two-million-dollar flying car. With a sigh, Myles collapses back into his bed, wondering how the Earth he once loved became this barren, dystopian landscape.
These two conflicting realities raise an important question: what does the future hold for the U.S.? Will it progress or experience a decline?
The U.S. will improve.
Over the next decade, the U.S. is set to experience an incredible transformation. With cutting-edge innovations in technology, healthcare, and environmental sustainability, the country is on the brink of breakthroughs that will change life as we know it. The future isn’t just bright, it’s electrifying. From reimagining how we live and work to tackling global challenges head-on, the next ten years will be filled with game-changing solutions to create a more efficient, healthier, and sustainable America. Prepare for a future where opportunities are limitless, and the nation’s progress will be extraordinary.
Technology
Quantum computers (devices that take input data and change it based on specific instructions) are rapidly advancing and will significantly impact our lives in the next decade. In healthcare, they will speed up drug discovery by simulating molecular structures and interactions, allowing scientists to develop new treatments faster. Quantum computers will also play a key role in genetic research, enabling personalized medicine and improving the success rates of surgeries and treatments. In just a few years, they could even help diagnose patients by analyzing their DNA.
Beyond healthcare, quantum computers will revolutionize finance by solving complex optimization problems that traditional computers can’t handle. This will enable faster, more accurate predictions, enhance risk management, and optimize investment strategies. Financial institutions will be able to analyze vast amounts of data in real time, allowing them to react immediately to market changes. As well as reduce risk, and increase efficiency across global financial systems.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is another form of technology that will transform society. Initially focused on research and decision-making, AI is now branching into practical applications that will shape our future. One of the biggest changes will be autonomous vehicles, powered by AI. These cars will make our roads safer by reducing human error, leading to fewer traffic accidents. AI will also improve energy use in infrastructure, reducing waste and making society more energy-efficient and sustainable.
Then, there’s the rise of smart cities, powered by the Internet of Things (IoT). With the growing number of smart devices, cities of the future will be more sustainable and efficient. Sensors and connected devices will help manage resources in urban areas—everything from reducing traffic congestion to optimizing energy use in homes and businesses. Public transportation will run more smoothly, waste management will be more efficient, and overall energy consumption will be reduced, making cities cleaner and more organized.
These technologies are setting the stage for a brighter, more efficient future for the U.S. Yet, some dwell on everything that’s negative and don’t open their eyes to the incredible progress made in the U.S. These innovations are already happening, and they will only continue to improve life in this country. It’s not that hard to see how these advancements will make the U.S. a better place in the near future. So, instead of being a pessimist, look at the positive changes shaping our future because it’s clear that the U.S. is on the path to greatness.
Environmental stability and climate action
Climate change has been a significant problem for the U.S. With rising temperatures, tropical storms have become stronger, causing more damage to infrastructure, flooding, and other extreme weather events. However, the U.S. has been actively finding ways to reduce its carbon footprint and fight back against this growing crisis.
Over the past few years, the U.S. government has made considerable investments in renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and geothermal. By 2030, these energy sources are projected to make up 50% of the country’s electricity generation. With these clean energy solutions, less fossil fuel burning means fewer greenhouse gases produced each year. By decreasing the amount of greenhouse gases, the U.S. will slow the progress of climate change, reducing the severity of harsh weather events.
But that’s not all. There’s also been a major push for electric vehicles (EVs). Companies like Tesla, Ford, and General Motors are investing heavily in EV production. These vehicles run on rechargeable batteries, like a phone, and since they don’t use gas, they don’t release harmful gases or chemicals into the air. This helps lower greenhouse gas emissions and cuts down on air pollution, giving the planet a much-needed break.
Finally, the U.S. is investing in Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technologies. These technologies are designed to capture carbon emissions from power generation and manufacturing plants, preventing harmful CO2 from entering the atmosphere. For example, the U.S. is funding a two-billion-dollar project in Texas called “500Q.” This project aims to collect five million metric tons of CO2 produced annually an incredible step toward limiting the environmental impact of industrial emissions.
With solutions actively being developed, how can anyone believe climate change will worsen in the next ten years? From clean energy investments to electric vehicles and carbon capture technology, the U.S. is taking serious steps to reduce its environmental impact. To deny these efforts will make a difference is simply idiotic. These solutions are set to make the U.S. cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable. Anyone who doubts progress needs to reconsider the facts because the future is looking brighter than ever.
Healthcare
One of the most important parts of the U.S. is its healthcare system, and over the next ten years, the healthcare system is expected to see vast improvements. With new technologies like quantum computers and artificial intelligence (AI), health research will see a major upgrade. For example, quantum computers allow researchers to look at the molecular makeup of different substances and see how they interact. This technology will help create new drugs and treatments for diseases and illnesses. In addition, with quantum computers, researchers can create drugs much quicker than before.
But quantum computers aren’t the only technology improving the medical field. Artificial intelligence is also being used more in healthcare to help doctors diagnose patients. With AI, doctors will be able to make faster and more accurate diagnoses with the use of AI’s wide database. Looking at things like a patient’s genetic information and medical scans while simultaneously scanning all available medical knowledge with AI can help make sure doctors choose the best treatment options.
The COVID-19 pandemic was a turning point for the U.S. healthcare system, pushing telemedicine to the forefront and speeding up its use across the country. By adding telemedicine to healthcare, the U.S. can now reach more patients through virtual check-ups, making healthcare more accessible. Whether it’s a routine follow-up, mental health counseling, or a visit to a specialist, patients can now get care from home, saving time and cutting down the need for in-person visits. This shift is not just about convenience—it’s also a way to save money. Virtual appointments are usually cheaper than in-person visits, which helps lower healthcare costs for both patients and providers.
On top of telemedicine, hospitals are working toward a nationwide electronic health record system that will allow patient records to be shared with healthcare providers across the country. This will make it easier for doctors to access a patient’s full medical history, which helps them make better diagnoses and reduces the chances of mistakes. If a patient gets sick or injured anywhere in the U.S., the doctors they see will have more information to offer better care.
These are just the facts, clear-cut evidence that will show that the U.S. will improve. So how can anyone argue otherwise? Those who disagree don’t understand what improvement truly is. With healthcare getting better, the U.S. will be healthier than ever, providing faster, cheaper, and more effective care to patients across the country. That is the definition of improvement, those who disagree are foolish.
In conclusion, the U.S. is set for amazing progress in the next decade, driven by innovative technologies and bold initiatives. From healthcare breakthroughs offering faster, personalized treatments to the nation’s push for clean energy and electric vehicles, the future looks bright. With these changes already underway, it’s clear the U.S. is heading toward a more sustainable, healthier future. Instead of getting bogged down by doubts, let’s embrace this momentum and watch our country evolve into a better place for everyone. The facts are clear: in ten years, the U.S. will be a shining example of progress and resilience.
The U.S. will be worse.
It’s 2035, and Myles wakes up to the harsh sight outside his window on the 130th floor of Musk Tower. The city below is choked with a thick black cloud of smog, blotting out the once-clear sky. He looks down, his gaze falling on two homeless people fighting over the last piece of bread at a soup kitchen, their struggle barely noticed by the wealthy businessman speeding by in his two-million-dollar flying car. With a sigh, Myles collapses into his bed, wondering how the Earth he once loved became this barren, dystopian landscape.
Artificial intelligence’s impact on the future
Experts consider AI to have one of the biggest impacts on the future of the U.S. AI is a very dangerous tool though as it can be used as a weapon of misinformation, cheating, and laziness. AI is currently in its early stages of development, and it’s already being exploited by students and many others as an answer to their homework with no work or critical thinking. In the next ten years, AI will become widely more advanced which leads to more exploitation and less thinking required by humans. This contributes to the anti-intelligence movement that is currently going on in the U.S. People are becoming lazier and more interested in growing their money and popularity instead of intelligence. Science and learning have become uncool to the U.S. public. Kids grow up and instead of wanting to become scientists or astronauts they want to open a social media house or be a football player. This trend could become mirrored around the world as the U.S. is often a leader. With more advanced AI, this problem could become even worse as AI advances to answer questions faster and more efficiently. With people using solely what Chatgpt tells them, research and reading will severely increase leading to a less informed America.
The economy in the future
Currently, the U.S. is experiencing a growing wage gap between the wealthy and the poor as the middle class is shrinking and the rich are becoming richer while taking advantage of the poor who go deeper into poverty. The top 1% of Americans hold 30.9% of the country’s wealth while the bottom 50% of the country holds 2.6% of the country’s wealth. This is also mirrored worldwide as the top 10% hold half of the world’s income while the poorer people only hold 8% of the global wealth. In the next ten years, this is only projected to get worse as nothing is currently being done to address this growing problem, not only in America but around the world. If this trend continues, America and the world will grow worse and worse for the regular person as most countries will become oligarchies. Oligarchies are where a few rich people run the government. A current example of this is Elon Musk, who has a government official job and uses it to benefit companies like his. With oligarchies ruling the United States, prices will be out of control in the future and people have no chance of changing the laws regarding regulation of the prices. The U.S. is on track to become one, and in the future, it is feared this will only become worse.
Climate change
Climate change is possibly one of the most deadly factors in the next ten years. Climate change is going to destroy the Earth at some point if nothing is changed in American politics. Earth’s seasons will become extreme and unpredictable as the ozone is slowly being destroyed. One day the Earth will become extremely unpredictable. Animals will continue dying because of all the waste and pollution that come along with a modern human lifestyle. The beautiful views seen while driving to the beach will be gone, replaced with grey skies and clouds blocking the sun as a result of all the pollution humans emit. Again like with all the other problems, little to nothing is being done about this problem. In some instances, countries are even going backward, like the U.S. backing out of the Paris Climate Accords. The Paris Climate Accord is an agreement made by 195 countries to try and lower the average global temperature to a 2-degree change (C). The U.S. recently backed out of this, though, and has been cutting other environmental agencies in the government. Without these solutions and attempts, Miami and other oceanside cities will become flooded, and typically hot cities will experience terrible droughts and extreme heat.
Myles could wake up in 10 years and this dystopia U.S. could be what he sees when he looks out the window. It doesn’t have to be though, things need to change. The People with power need to institute laws and reforms to protect the flawed but still beautiful America that Myles gets to live in now. With these reforms, America can become a more equal place for the regular citizen and not just those one-percenters.
