Washington - Future, Hopeful

So, here's an interesting thought. One of the biggest arguments as to how to save our finite resources is to decrease population - a valid theory. What those against population decrease fail, while they are entitled to their opinion, do not realize this simple fact: if we continue to consume resources at the rate we do, at some point we will run out of resources to sustain people, and people will die and decrease the population, rather than just not be born and not have to suffer through death. Thus, regardless, population will go down, but not peacefully. Therefore, 200 years from now, if we continue on this same path, I think Washington, D.C.'s population will actually start to decrease, but people will be angry because they are dying of starvation and thirst. The roads will have deteriorated, since the ability to transport such heavy materials that go into making roads will be much harder to transport. The temperature in the summer will perhaps be an average of 90 degrees Fahrenheit, thus summer will be the season where most people die due to heat stroke, dehydration, etc. Air conditioners will be limited in usage since they consume too much energy, so people will be constantly uncomfortably hot.

The education system will suffer because there will be no more buses to take kids to school, and most parents would not risk their kids walking outside in the heat or cold, depending on the season. Of course, teachers will have too much trouble getting to work themselves, which will increase the size of classes, or cancel classes altogether. And, if people don't live near their work, with transportation being near impossible, the economy would suffer along with education. What this also means is that future generations will not be educated enough to fix the problems we made, which essentially guarantees the persistence of our effects. Another problem with a lack of education is that education-poor countries typically have worse government, which could cause the absolute demise of American power.

All the government buildings that are symbols of American power in D.C. will start to deteriorate, since future Washingtonians will have the resources to keep them stable. Thus, America will seem weak, as it can't keep it's greatest symbols up. One day, there will be tragedy when the Washington Monument simply falls over because of all the decay. All the cities Rivers will be at levels seen only in the gutters on the sides of streets, and the entire city will be enveloped in a smell of excrement and other waste. What once would have been a citing glimmering with prowess will become a fallen soldier than had once fought for freedom and - ironically - prosperity.

The gloomy vision I have proposed is a possibility to happen if we can continue on our current paths. While some may disagree and think that my assumption is hyperbolic, the fact that I can say these things and not have it sound like science-fiction to some shows how bad our current state is. What follows now is a possible Washington, D.C. if the world's effort to preserve the health of our planet works. In other words, what my hope is for this city in 200 years.

In a sustainable D.C., the pubic transportation will be able to take people to more places while consuming less, and with greater speed. For example, buses that run on only clean energy, or massive trams that can carry 1000s of people, and takes them all over the city while using minimal electrical power. It might be government mandate to take this transportation, but people should want to since it gets them to work/school/home much faster, cleaner, and with no traffic jams.

The transportation situation would improve our economy because everyone could get to work easier, less would have to bought on singular things, and we would stop destroying our natural resources, which is part of our economy.

Anyone could live where they would like, since getting to work would be much easier. Also, with less people in the world due to intentional lower birth rates, it is easier to get everywhere, which reduces stress in the world. The D.C. rivers will regain their full-water strength, and perhaps greater schools of fish could live in the river, adding a while new attraction to the city. Tourism would pick up, since our city would be clean, which would help economic matters, as well.

With lower populations, and reasonable consumption, enough food and water will be available for everyone, sustaining every happily. Thus, the world of a sustainable D.C. is a happy D.C. We must change our path, or the first scenario is the most likely of the two.