this post was submitted on 04 Aug 2023
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Is there anything that only the rich can currently afford but that everyone will have in the future? (lemmy.one)
submitted 1 year ago by nitneroc@lemmy.one to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml
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When the very first cars were built, only the rich could afford it, but now a large part of the population (in developed countries) has one or more.

What do you think will be such an evolution in the future?

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[–] taladar@sh.itjust.works 77 points 1 year ago (2 children)

The average person will always be able to afford water because if they can't they will soon cease to be a person. Watch out for statistical effects like that because they might mask the true horror of the situation.

[–] Gormadt@lemmy.blahaj.zone 28 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That line, "Cease to be a person," both applies to the sentiment of, "they won't live long," and, "when backed into a corner you see what someone can truly be."

Wars fought over drinkable water is not some far off fantasy but very well could (and likely will) become reality for many people.

The future for our little mud ball drifting through space suspended on a sun beam is looking pretty damn bleak.

[–] pensivepangolin@lemmy.world 8 points 1 year ago

My grandfather told me that the next world war would likely be fought over clean water decades ago and unfortunately it looks like that was another example of what a smart man he was.

[–] sorebuttfromsitting@sopuli.xyz 9 points 1 year ago (2 children)

i am concerned that drinkable water could become scarce

[–] Yendor@sh.itjust.works 21 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Water for drinking isn’t the issue - that’s about 0.01% of all water usage. The issue is irrigation for food crops, which is >50% of water use in many places.

[–] sorebuttfromsitting@sopuli.xyz 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

are you not concerned about the water for those crops?

[–] Yendor@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 year ago

I am a little, but compared to carbon emissions it’s not a big issue.

It’s a localised problem, so affected areas can solve it without needing the entire planet to agree. And we already have both political and technical solutions available to us. The only reason we haven’t implemented the fixes, is because big agriculture lobbies government successfully and it costs them no votes. But if the average voter has to stop showering because of water shortages, you can bet politicians will “solve” the water crisis in short order.

[–] redballooon@lemm.ee 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Where do you live? Where I am we were used to have drinkable water in abundance, and only now start taking about that maybe in summertime we need to restrict car washing or so.. what you say is something else entirely.

[–] sorebuttfromsitting@sopuli.xyz 5 points 1 year ago

I live on the edge of one of the watersheds north of cincinnati. i know of two different rivers who would like you to turn your yard into a rock garden.