Thanks @ecoalex for a wonderfully written and thought out post. I hold hope for this world and share your assessment of the impact of technology on the world. Having just left the UK under the cloud if brexit I would, however, like to contribute how I saw that country before I left. My wife and I were involved with the occupy protests back in 2011 and observed the incredible lack of knowledge in the general population, and lack of interest as well. Consumerism seemed rampant and consumption the only thing people were interested in. This has not changed, if anything it seems to be worse, with the idea that experts cannot be trusted and people denying very obvious unbiased evidence. In the UK the internet has also allowed a very dark streak of hatred to rear its head. This has hidden under the surface of that "tolerant" country for many years but was kept at bay because, as you say, most of humanity is good. Now, stoked by brexit, those who hold these views have a voice and now feel they are in the right so shout it from the rooftops. Unfortunately the general apathy we observed in 2011 means that this abuse goes unchallenged in the street and online except for a vocal minority. If this tend continues to grow on the western world then I see us going into a very from near future. I really hope that people will start opening their eyes and minds to the new possibilities that technology can bring, while learning how to live with less and more in harmony with the earth. Fusion reactors are the next big leap IMHO or hydrogen energy. Local smart grids will play a big part, backed by blockchain technology to regulate it.