The Future Is Here – 2025

Well, someone’s vision for 2025 exceeded reality – unless you’ve been somewhere that looks like the above rendering. Not my city and surrounding population of about 500,000. We’re still bouncing along pothole-ridden streets like driving in a Mario Brothers video. One could almost conclude that the artist imagines the future will start in New Jersey, looking across to the past in New York City. Maybe it’s just me.

What do you hope the future looks like? Tomorrow, the next weeks and months, 10 years from now? Back in 1997 and 1999 when I had my sons, what did I think their future would look like? I couldn’t have imagined. I’ve never been much of a futurist, someone who can predict what our world will look like based on who we are and what our lives look like right now.

In the early 80’s, the 1980’s, when I joined my best friend after school as she fulfilled her duties as assistant to the accounting/business teacher, (yes, just one for a school of about 1,200) she plugged an odd looking, landline phone receiver into a big piece of equipment the size of a kitchen table. This was my first exposure personally to a computer. I never imagined this old, dial-up clunker would one day fit in my pocket and hold more information than my local public library did at the time.

Landline phones becoming obsolete? Very rarely using stamps for snail mail? Even the terms “landline” and “snail mail” and so many others? My oldest son making a living as a computer engineer? I didn’t imagine any of it, just as it must be hard for today’s teens to picture themselves sitting in a library to research sources for a paper, handwriting all the pertinent quotes and footnote info to include later when typing the paper, yes, on a typewriter .

When I attempted to peer into the future, I saw democracy spreading as people understood the importance of fairness. My naivete exceeded my knowledge of history. So, before one can predict anything, one must understand the past. Because I believed empathy was stronger than hate, the future looked kinder, more accepting. Although I didn’t know what the next big thing would be, I figured innovation involved cooperation and predicted the future would be cross-cultural.

Democracy, empathy, and innovation – have these shaped the future since the 80’s? The arc of our world, as I understand it, seemed to follow a path of societal evolution. Then, MAGA showed up and showed out. Racism hadn’t faded, hate hadn’t been deflated, and an us/them posture had not been dismantled. Rebuffed in 2020, they perpetuated their negative energy until they had an opportunity to magnify it again in 2024.

Not satisfied, MAGA has boycotted companies who choose to include and even celebrate people who come from various walks of life. They urge folks not to shop at certain stores, not to drink particular beers or eat a certain brand of donuts, all because the organizations dared to express that it’s okay to be who you are and for “others” to be themselves.

Watch out Costco – they’re coming for you next. Why? Not because of advertising or social media. What sin has Costco committed? The Board of Directors recommended shareholders vote against a proposal, initiated by The National Center for Public Policy Research, requesting a report on the financial risks associated with maintaining diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies.

The Board issued a statement. “We welcome members from all walks of life and backgrounds. As our membership diversifies, we believe that serving it with a diverse group of employees enhances satisfaction. Among other things, a diverse group of employees helps bring originality and creativity to our merchandise offerings, promoting the ‘treasure hunt,’ that our customers value.”

“That group also helps to provide insights into the tastes and preferences of our members. And we believe (and member feedback shows) that many of our members like to see themselves reflected in the people in our warehouses with whom they interact.” 

How could they? MAGA’s going to teach Costco a lesson. They’ve certainly brought a number of schools, both public and private institutions, and private companies to heel, even before the election. Now that they’ve got Trump and Elon in charge, governmental diversity programs or considerations will go by the wayside, just as ensuring racial diversity in university enrollment has done.

MAGA responded. “Time to cancel your Costco membership. DEI policies are divisive. Time to prioritize merit, not identity,” one wrote on X. Another urged, “Boycott Costco! Cancel your membership! Nothing can stop We The People to Make America Great Again!” the user wrote.

Paraphrasing my favorite line from Cool Hand Luke, what we have here in America is a failure to communicate. I can’t help thinking we’re just not in the same dictionary. Where I see “inclusion” literally, perhaps MAGA reads, “letting people who are ‘less than’ have openings or opportunities for which they are unqualified.” When people discuss “diversity,” I hear they want to hear from people with a variety of backgrounds and life experiences. It seems MAGA spurns diversity as polluting a perfectly fine status quo with meaningless opinions from the edges of society. If an organization values equity, I’m encouraged that they strive to reach their goals ethically. I gather MAGA feels that some people are more equal than others.

Looking ahead past 2025, what do you see? How will we, Americans, communities, coworkers, neighbors, and families be affected by the tides of change? Having lived through six decades now and learning about our history, the future I predict is angrier, more confrontational, and dominated by the Billionaire Boys’ White House. How might MAGA translate? Free from judgment for inappropriate or shameful behavior? Free to fully express every opinion with volume set on loud, always and everywhere? Confident in anything said or done by President-elect Trump, providing MAGA with a feeling of security?

Guess I need a translator app to understand MAGA, because I really don’t, even after hearing it for nearly 10 years. I do hope the long arc of civilization includes democracy, empathy and innovation. That’s my DEI.