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Comment by AtHeartEngineer | Hacker News Reader

We are so close, probably within 50 to 100 years, of having technology far beyond what we can comprehend now. We have the chance to be multi-planetary, automate pretty much all work, and fullfil everyone's basic needs...if we don't destroy everything first.

I'm going to be real pissed off if we screw this up.

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We already have the means to automate pretty much all work and fulfill everyone's basic needs. We choose not to. As for multi planetary, why? Earth is paradise.

You can make anywhere a habitable paradise with enough energy. You don't even really need specific resources since with sufficient energy can you synthesize elements. A lot of people underestimate what the current projected growth of solar potential will lead to this century given its current pace in how much work you can do when energy is cheap and abundant.

You and I must have very different definitions of paradise.

No matter how much energy you capture, you can't replicate the multi-billion year process of evolution and growth in biodiversity that has led to the incredible present state of Earth.

It is pure madness to invest in colonizing other planets before we figure out how to sustain the ideal place we already inhabit.

For hundreds of years, after every leap in productivity, people have proclaimed the 'end of work'. But that never happens. One theory is that cost of living rises to offset generated wealth (historically, see real estate).

Ya I totally get that, but if we are raising our standards of living...or at least bringing almost everyone up to a baseline, that would be awesome. You know, not having to work 60 hours a week to just keep going.

...said people 50 to 100 years ago.

yes, the people 50-100 years ago - like H.G Wells - would probably think we screwed it up.

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