that the hit on all of will be substantial but I think it's inevitable. I truly believe we (and my household is included in this) have been spoiled beyond belief. Our style of living is simply unsustainable in the world I envision in our future.

There are some things that could mitigate the problem such as upping the eligibility ages for retirement. I don't know about you but I fully plan on being a productive member of society long after I reach 65 as long as my health holds out. Now, I also know there's a part of me that still wants the option just out of fairness. If my parents and grandparents had that availability then why the hell can't I? My rational side then tells me I'm far healthier than they ever were and much more financially secure. My expected lifetime is at least a decade longer.

What blows us away for the future though is this whole economy based on continual population growth. It is in direct opposition to the fact that our world suffers severe problems from that growth in terms of environmental issues as well as resource allocation and disease proliferation. The underlying cause of all warfare is inevitably the desire for land and resources.

I think the ultimate answer to our woes has less to do with how conservative or liberal we are and more to do with some fundamental human cultural changes that take into account severely limiting our world population. The societal mores that have to be broken down for that to occur however are immense. I'm amazed at how quickly China instituted them but it's much easier in an authoritarian society.
Maybe this is an issue we can come together on across party lines.

Art