Funny Thing Happened on the Way to 2050

There's a lot of people looking for green shoots out there. The economy sucks, climate change, the flip-flopping want/lack of desire for health care reform. So who better to turn to than Global Business Network who acts as a consultant for govt's and businesses alike. What do they consult on: the future. (Weeeee!)

Just so happens Slate has a piece on the GBN's predictions for 2050 of which they give 4 possible outcomes. These outcomes aren't "set in stone" predictions but when two of the four involve the dissolution of the United States and the third being a "global Napoleon" you know things are going to be good.

Just a snippet (gotta love those African hackers):

One of the timelines, the "Long Crisis," begins with "global storming," a
run of catastrophic weather events around the world. By 2023, the United States has defaulted on its debts to China. Eventually, in the aftermath of Global Famine II, the U.S. breaks into eight pieces. On the plus side, African biohackers find a cure for AIDS in 2026. Yippee!