Cleveland in 2047
One of the things I like best about my job is that often I'll stumble across old news articles about how Cleveland's renaissance is "right around the corner." (The oldest one I've seen is from the 1940s. What were they longing for then, the old canal days?)
Yesterday I found one from 1971. Without telling you anything about what it said, I'll posit this question: what do you expect Cleveland to look like in 38 years?
Discuss.
Yesterday I found one from 1971. Without telling you anything about what it said, I'll posit this question: what do you expect Cleveland to look like in 38 years?
Discuss.
posted by Christine Borne at 7:51 AM
8 Comments:
Are you asking what the article proposed or what your readers think? I think the article probably mentioned flying cars and jet packs. This is similar to my vision of Cleveland in 2047, except my vision includes more zombies, feral cats and urban decay. Also I'm sure there will still be lots of people (and zombies) predicting that Cleveland's renaissance is coming soon while doing virtually nothing of substance to make it happen.
Right, sorry, that was unclear. 38 years from now, not from 1971.
I like the idea of zombies wearing jetpacks.
Also I would like to think that parts of the city will be in jungle-covered ruins, like Angkor Wat, so untouched that kids can actually go exploring in them. Like in the good old days, before everything was dangerous.
More or less, I expect it to look like it does today, to be honest.
maybe a little bit more like Detroit, when we eventually end up with casinos that drive us further into the ground, and even more vacant homes... One of the things that struck me though, was that there are still people up there who have stayed and take pride in their city despite the odds.
I'm sorry, I know that sounds so pessimistic.
On the other hand, according to a friend of mine who majored in environmental studies, we're in a good place because we've got a source of fresh water, and she thinks that the southwest will eventually be unable to sustain itself...
Ha ha, thirsty Southwest.
But seriously, fresh water is an awfully good bargaining chip. If things got apocalypse bad and the country fractured into warring city states, I could see Cleveland rising to the level of bronze-age Mycenae, while the Southwest goes all Thundarr the Barbarian.
There are a lot of assholes in the southwest, though. I'm sure they'll move in and dupe us into giving us all our fresh water, something simple like "Hey look over there, it's Big Chuck and Little John. Zoink!"
Funny you mention getting duped out of our water. My greatest fear is that the city will be enchanted by some charismatic (read: Hitler-like) business development savior who will tout selling off our fresh water as our economic rescue kit.
And then we really will have zombies with jet-packs.
I will welcome our zombie-jetpack-overlords, because really what else can you do?
Post a Comment
<< Home