Can you think of an invention that would make oil and corporations obsolete?

[Cyrano]

I've got one candidate. The replicator from "Star Trek TNG" that rearranges atoms to create just about anything you might want or need -- food, water, wine, fuel, you name it.

Of course, it's still science fiction, but virtually every invention of the 20th century was once science fiction.

With no need for corporations to supply human beings with material things, we might have only two things to worry about. (1)Corporations/governments banning the replicators, and (2) Religious fanatics declaring replicators "evil" and trying to destroy them all for interfering with "God's Plan."

Anyhow, that's my one idea for reaching a more Utopian world. What's yours?

[Hydra]

1. You need energy for that invention

I'd be happy with highly efficient electrolysis + efficient desalination

[MNDemNY]

3. 6 C cell batteries. We could just replicate them.

[MNDemNY]

2. Cool, could we replicate Reagan?

[EST]

4. A world wide plague virus?

A planet cracker bomb? A new coal gassification project that completes the warming and destruction of earth habitat would make humans extinct and the obviate the need.

[Hydra]

7. I vote super-virus

may the genetically lucky survive!

[Hydra]

8. dupe

[Mythsaje]

11. That's just sick. n/t

[BuyingThyme]

5. Democracy.

[Cyrano]

13. Nah. It's been tried many times and for some reason it never works.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

6. Are you kidding? Replicators get horrible mileage.

And you should see the exhaust they put out.

[ThomWV]

9. Magic Farie Dust

Just toss some around - Poof! Everything's better.

[Robbien]

10. How about all those projects about turning human waste into energy

Turning a huge environmental problem into an asset is something I believe some money should be thrown at.

The water desalination idea is also tops on my list.

[MNDemNY]

14. I'd like to teach the world to sing... ..... .... .... ...

[Richard Steele]

12. What if we had some magical way to generate electricity from wind, or sunlight? nm

[canadianbeaver]

15. thanks....made me laugh.......if it could only be that simple eh? nt

[ThomWV]

28. And everyone had an acre or two to put them on, that would be nice too.

[ewoden]

16. Dilethium crystals!!!

[Coyote_Bandit]

17. Ummmmm

Backbone. Unfortunately, it already seems to be in short supply.

:shrug:

[Vilis Veritas]

18. Water...to drink while I walk...oops.

not really an invention, unless of course it is supplied by Pepsi...

[woofless]

19. Room temperature superconductivity.

The key to total freedom.

[tecelote]

20. Oil is possible...

But, corporations will always exist in one form or another.

It's not the system, it's the people.

Capitalism can work if greed can be trumped by honor.

[Venus Dog]

21. It's already been invented by Tesla

at the turn of the 20th Century. Tesla wanted free energy for all people, but when J.P. Morgan finally realized what Tesla's true intentions were, he pulled his money from Wydencliff. After Tesla died in poverty, the FBI raided his apartment and took all his documents. Basically, our military has been using a lot of Tesla technology - the rest is hidden away somewhere I'm sure - probably in a humongous storage room like what Indiana Jones found.

:mad:

[BadgerLaw2010]

22. Working fusion reactor.

[The Traveler]

23. You pose two different problems

One problem regards fuel. The other regards methods of organizing human activity to achieve objectives.

A replacement for the corporation as a means of organizing human labor and capital is by no means inconceivable. It would be interesting to hear from those with a background in behavioral psychology or anthropology on that topic. The corporation is architected to support the goals of one human motivation ... the desire to acquire wealth. Hopefully, greed is not the only powerful motivation of people, and so other organizing principles must be possible.

The fuel replacement problem is tough ... but I suspect easier in comparison.

[Cyrano]

27. Cold fusion could solve the energy problem. And I agree with you that

it would be far easier to attain an energy solution than to overcome the worst of human instincts/traits.

[MyNameGoesHere]

24. sure a global

extinction of all human race. Maybe a good comet hit or something.

[melody]

25. Nanotechnology

It is already on the drawing board. :)

[blues90]

26. How about truth and awareness , that might do it .