Personally, as is often noted, “Idiocracy” is probably tops for current events… but for the farther future, I’d go Blade Runner Universe, most likely… just for the sheer scale of total biosphere degradation and megacorp control. How about you?
Personally, as is often noted, “Idiocracy” is probably tops for current events… but for the farther future, I’d go Blade Runner Universe, most likely… just for the sheer scale of total biosphere degradation and megacorp control. How about you?
Maybe recency bias, but a lot of stuff from the new Running Man hits home. Maybe not the murder TV show but (obviously minor worldbuilding spoilers):
Bifurcated society, where the have nots have to check in to enter the nice part of town. (Related story: A couple years ago, I visited America for a wedding. After the pre-wedding reception, I was walking back to my hotel through an upscale neighbourhood, in a suit. Within a half hour private security drove by, got out of the car, hand on gun and explained they’d received calls about me walking on the sidewalk. The guy then insisted he drive me to a more suitable area.)
Unions existed but reporting to them gets you blacklisted, people need work so safety regulations only exist on paper.
Veterans Affairs is taken over by the Y and reduced to a miserable hostel and not much else.
Time in a green park is awarded by lottery and only briefly.
Ubiquitous private security.
One media network, that is free and mostly exists to pit haves vs have nots. (Pretty much social media already)
Etc. I think the part that really gets me is you don’t have to imagine particularly hard to see us getting there.