Someday, I Envision …

I visited the Alexander Graham Bell museum in Sydney, Nova Scotia this week. I was amazed at how many innovative things other than the telephone he was involved in — not only technology associated with the transmission of voice [and images], but sound recording, aviation, hydrofoiling, etc. I found this quotation particularly intriguing: “I believe it will be possible in a very few years for a person to take his dinner in New York at 7 or 8 o’clock in the evening and eat his breakfast in Ireland or England the following morning” Alexander Graham Bell [1896].Well, I couldn’t resist. That got me to thinking how one with such foresight today might complete a sentence starting with “I believe it will be possible in a very few years …”. Whether I am a person with foresight is for others to decide in the future, but I thought I’d take a stab at making a prediction. Don’t forget that you heard it first right here in this blog post [before I became famous 😊]. …

I believe it will be possible in a very few years …

So here’s my prediction … “I believe it will be possible in a very few years for a U. S. citizen to have sensible choices when they go to the polls, to see the officials they elect conduct governmental affairs in a fiscally responsible and morally sound manner, and within the bounds dictated by civil interaction that is focused on producing results through consensus, do what they promised in their election campaigns they would do if elected”. …

I think initial movement in this direction is already underway. It began at least as far back as the early days of what is now called the Freedom Caucus, and the 2016 presidential election was a major inflection point. The specific path that will ultimately get us there may not seem clear right now, but I honestly believe the direction has already been established.

Write It Down …

It’ll be interesting to see if the museum that will no doubt be constructed about yours truly, that great blogger from the early 21st century, has this prediction posted within its walls. Even more interesting will be how it is characterized — like Bell’s intuitive prediction I’ve quoted here, or like Thomas Watson’s [IBM founder’s] 1943 prediction “I think there is a world market for maybe five computers”, or Ken Olsen’s [Digital Equipment Corporation founder’s] 1977 remark “Why would anybody ever need a computer in their home?”

So write it down, and tell your grandchildren to be on the lookout for this quote [if they can find the museum 😊].

Charles M. Jones