 |
Futurologist Says Global Pandemic Could Eliminate Cash
London Telegraph
Friday, Sept 19, 2008
If you were surprised by the financial crisis, wait until you hear what’s coming next. Futurologist Richard Watson journeys into tomorrow’s world
After a week when it’s been impossible to predict which financial giant will still be standing at the end of the day, let alone the year, it would seem like a fool’s errand to talk about decades down the line.
These days, if you raise your gaze to the horizon, you’ll find experts warning of a host of problems: melting ice caps, global pandemics, terrorism, the end of oil, meteor strikes, even robot uprisings.
(Article continues below)
It’s all too easy to become paralysed by such possibilities – and yes, there are ideas, discoveries and events over the horizon that we can’t possibly comprehend. But while the future is unknown and unwritten, we can begin to trace its outline, and prepare the first drafts.
For example, the financial services industry has been in quite a state recently. Despite today’s troubles, we can say that we’ll always need banking and insurance. But will we get them from the same places? Asda and Tesco already sell insurance alongside carrots and spaghetti, and are certain to expand their offerings.
What would happen to the big banks if Wal-Mart, Apple, Microsoft, Google and Vodafone all applied for banking licences to deliver services such as electronic payment, as I believe they will? And will we still need high street branches staffed by human beings once artificial intelligence really kicks in, and you can talk to a machine that’s checking the market every second for the best loan or insurance policy?
Even the nature of how we pay for such things will be different. It is estimated that by 2020, only 10 per cent of financial transactions will be in cash. We can safely predict that the idea of money as a physical object might well become extinct not long after – especially if a global pandemic starts us thinking about all the germs on those grubby notes. Instead, digital transactions will be made through computers, or cell phones, or even chips inserted into our forearms.
Prison
Planet.tv Members Can Watch
Fall Of The Republic
Right Now Online -
Don't Miss Out! Get
Your Subscription Today!
CANCER CONSPIRACY? Are
"they" suppressing the cure? Will YOU
be the next victim? Learn
the Secret Truth! - READ FULL STORY
-
- Social bookmarks
- Email this article
-
- Print this page
14 Responses to “Futurologist Says Global Pandemic Could Eliminate Cash”
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||
| By N2H | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
September 19th, 2008 at 11:42 am
I’d rather believe the prophecies in the Holy Bible !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWyQOh64Qy8
September 19th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErFOsoKzpD0
you dont have to accept this
its destruction by design
the banks will own everything and the people will own nothing.
the fool and his money soon seperate
September 19th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
And then there will be a robot parade, and they will wave the flags that the children make.
September 19th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
1984+Gataca+Logans run-Mr. rodgers = Idiot Nation
September 20th, 2008 at 3:45 am
Demolition Man coming true. Once all $ is digital, they will know everything you do and automatically tax for it you. For your convenience of course.
http://www.myspace.com/repealfederalreserveact
September 20th, 2008 at 8:18 am
Remember, the only way to be saved from all upcoming events is that YOU MUST DECLARE VERBALLY TO AT LEAST ONE OTHER PERSON THAT YOU BELIEVE JESUS IS YOUR LORD AND SAVOIR. Whoever declares Him on earth He will declare in heaven. That’s how it works. Now i’m not saying you will be saved physically, but definitly for all eternity.
September 21st, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Good grief. The rant above neatly symbolises why we are in the mess we are in, because of all sorts of people harbouring all sorts of delusions and fantasies like this.
Let’s not forget, shall we, that the ‘end times’ have been predicted many times before by countless nutters. All of whom were wrong. Because the world doesn’t work like that.
If Armageddon comes it will be because people MADE it come. And God will look down and weep at our ignorance of his meaning.
Oh, and the notion that an all-powerful God needs us mere mortals to do anything for him (such as start wars and kill other human beings) – because he cannot himself – is nothing short of blasphemous.
September 21st, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Sorry. I meant the rant BELOW. From ‘the patriot’.
September 21st, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Sorry I meant the rant BELOW. From ‘the patriot’.
September 21st, 2008 at 10:12 pm
jesus wont lend us money.
September 22nd, 2008 at 1:50 am
how much does that vincente’ fox douche look like saddam?
USA born mexico president..
some brother in law sh*t going on..
global plantation is for chumps and chickeneck circus chimps
This is the USA bitch.
you have about pushed far enough.
WE the people will push back and you wont wonder where we come from.
Americans must find their own way, we are being sold like cattle.
You will not like us when we are angry.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErFOsoKzpD0
the runaway train is folly
next stop nowhere land
GS
September 22nd, 2008 at 5:07 am
I think we tend to underemphasize Mother Earth’s role and the Universe’ role in shaping the future of mankind. History is replete with examples of civilizations (along with their technologies) being tossed onto the junk heap of good intentions gone wild. Also, I don’t see any big dinosaurs roaming around these days either.
Choose your poison: massive Solar burst hitting the planet, asteroid barrage, tidal wave, earthquake, volcano, pole shift, globewide storm…the list is endless.
September 22nd, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Ya Bull %@#$ GOLD and Silver will return… and has never left!
If only 1% of the people in North America(Canada&U.S.A) bought Gold and Silver there wouldnt be any left.
India and China are starting to buy this up with there american funny money!
Trust it will all be gone soon then youll see $6.000 to 10,000 per ounce Ladies and Gentilmen.
September 22nd, 2008 at 6:54 pm
vincente fox is a pig fucker