OBSERVATIONS SINCE THE SPRING OF 1997

1.     For northern states , the "Wisconsin Plan" appears to have the backing of both Republicans, Democrats, and Independents. The welfare reform of late 1996 would indicate that this plan may be the model for the United States. The plan incorporates immediate work for subsidized mothers, penalties for unwed fathers, as well as education and training within a 5 year framework. (CEDAR RAPIDS GAZETTE May 19, 1996, 3a)

2.     In a March 11, 1996 issue of BUSINESS WEEK, workers still indicate economic anxiety. Full time careers are no longer available in the wider community. Families must base their livelihood on a series of transitional jobs and temporary agencies.

3.     Increasingly the two major parties have become funded by same or similar forces. A good example is the ADM which sponsors both parties. The difference between the parties is that the Republicans are more likely to support a corporate form of capitalism and the Democrats a very mild form of social democratic capitalism. (BUSINESS WEEK, May 7, 1996.)

4.     Conservative Gary Becker in the March 11, 1996 BUSINESS WEEK issue suggests that education be thought of as a human investment rather than consumption. In the same issue, Lester Thurow suggest that capitalism is heading into a new dark age, because it can not rally common goals for citizens. Further, he notes that no other system works as well as capitalism in terms of productivity and efficiency.

5.     In TIME, May 6,1996, American corporations have yet to find a way to deal with the stresses of two wage income families.. Further PHO's are now demanding healthy life styles and will deduct larger pay outs for smokers and others for hospital benefits.

6.     In the April 22, 1996 issue of BUSINESS WEEK, Robert Kutner suggest that we arre becoming an investor economy rather than a worker economy. Although 100 million Americans are shareholders, very few can live on their investment as the top one half of one percent own 59 of the total value. The real unemployment rate is roughly 14.

7.     TIME, July 15, 1996, indicates that futurist are now part ofacademia and the corporate world.

8.     The February 1994 issue of ATLANTIC MONTHLY, suggest an ongoing anarchy , crumbling borders, in the THIRD WORLD.

9.     TIME, October 2, 1995 suggests that global warming is already underway in the world and will have huge impacts on all countries around the world.

10. Lars-Erik Nelson writing for NEWSY, 1995, suggest that global wages will go down in constant dollars because most goods and services can be outsourced to Third World countries that still have the necessary infrastructure.

11. Richard Eckersley writing for the FUTURIST, December 1993 indicates that the western world is going through deep cultural crisis, because each new generation no longer as hopeful about the future. Indirectly, this affects crime, drugs, violence, and situational depression.

12. The above remarks also appear to be affecting a new generation of Japanese youth. The gen X of Japan seem to mimic the problems of other countries according to BUSINESS WEEK, August 7, 1995.

13. According to Prof. Gene Stephens (THE FUTURIST, August 1994) there appears tobe a global crime wave. He suggests community policing which appears to be reducing crime in the United States, although the USA still has the highest crime rate in western societies.

14. Alvin and Heidi Toffler suggest in THE FUTURIST, April 1995, that we are now clearly in the Third Wave of society formation. It is global in nature and local in orientation. They suggest that individuals and families be empowered with vouchers and tax credits to survive in the new economy. There will be portability in benefits and there will be left wing and right wing versions of this.

15. Michael Lind reviewed in BUSINESS WEEK, August 7, 1995, indicates that if continued extrapolations remain the United States will wither into a third world country like Brazil.

16. The March 20, 1995 BUSINESS WEEK suggests that we now have a universal currency and that is electronic money or hot money that can move and swirl in terms of billions of dollars each day to various countries. This will probably cause economic destabilization.

17. Cohen and Soloman suggest in their "Guns, Ammo, and Talk Radio" (Creators Syndicate, 1995) that this medium on a daily basis encourages indirectly the violent overthrow of the government.

18. Ultimate violence (human cock fights) as well as soft pornography are now common staples on cable television. (November 27, 1995 ofNEWSWEEK.)

19. A third of the world is now infected with tuberculosis(THE CEDAR RAPIDS GAZETTE, Noevember29, 1995.)

20. From the same source, there now appears to be only two antibiotics left that can minmize infections.

21. Benefits are being reduced to most workers in the USA according to BUSINESS WEEK, December 4, 1995.)

22. Acording to US NEWS & WORLD REPORT (September 8, 1995) the United States is the most profitable and productive country in the world. However, according to BUSINESS WEEK, (September 18, 1995) wages are now 59.8  since the peak of 1967.

23. According to US NEWS (September 25, 1995) the ozone hole is as big as Europe.

24. "Message for the 90's: Please Fence Me In" (Bob Greene, CEDAR RAPIDS GAZETTE, Nov. 29, 1995.) The largest increases in housing are being built within gated communities with a security entrance.

25. James J. MacKenzie and Kathleen Courrier "Be careful on gas taxes: day of petroleum recokoning nears" CEDAR RAPIDS GAZETTE, May 13, 1996. It appears that we have about 15 years of recoverable oil supplies.

26. THE CEDAR RAPIDS GAZETTE, MARCH 2, 1996, "Only about a third of the work force have full time, full benefits jobs.)

27. "The New Economics of Food" BUSINESS WEEK, May 20, 1996, "As global demand outpaces supply, both have and have nots are in for a shock.)

28. According to NATION, March 1996, the majority of national news and entertainment now come from four major sources or oligopolies. They are General Electric, Westing house, Disney/Cap Cities, Time Warner.

29. According to BUSINESS WEEK, August 7, 1996, the devolution of power and responsibility to the states is now a fact, but for the most part the states are not financially solvent to be able to run the delegated programs.

30. According to the POPCORN REPORT , on the whole Americans are cocooning by with drawing from the larger society and insulating themselves in their homes, (from futurist Faith Popcorn.)