It's the year 2059. How has the USA changed since amnesty passed and our borders were opened 50 years ago?

Question

A little bit of political science-fiction speculation here: The legislation was passed following the election of either democrat President P.C. Pander or republican President "Cap" Toole (take your pick, I'm easy). Describe what has happened since then and how our nation has changed in the intervening half-century.

Answer 1

Well, in 2059, after the Second Civil War in which the southern states from Texas west to California tried to secede from the Union and join Mexico, which resulted in millions of deaths and the complete destruction of California's state economy, speaking spanish in the United States is now outlawed, and we have a 51st state/security zone, formerly known as Northern Mexico. Drug possession now nets you 15 years of community service, guarding the security zone.

China has capitalized on our internal strife, and is now the 'go to' country for high-tech, having assimilated the Koreas, Taiwan, as well as Japan, as in a signature move of apologist politics, Administrator Shinobu declared China to have full deed and title to Japan as war reparations for japanese atrocities in WWII. It also had something to do with the fact that our own military had to leave asia to fight the Second Civil War.

American Hydrogen, a true industry winner after the war, now operates in the Security Zone under a special treaty signed by the US and Mexico in a guaranteed nonagression pact that promises that the United States will no longer attack any part of Mexico, and that Mexico City is safe. In return, companies like American Hydrogen are free to operate in the security zone, making use of easy ocean access to produce hydrogen with large solar electric plants. President Kawasaki, in her signature speech, declared that 'America's days of oil dependency are officially over', a statement that did not sit well with former oil exporting nations in the middle east, who are currently still battling famine.

The African Union, having finally decided that unity and cooperation are more important than nationalism, have been helping the middle eastern nations in their time of crisis by exporting now-plentiful agricultural products, which were greatly facilitated by the same solar paints that now power our town car minis, using africa's plentiful sunshine to push back desertification through water purification and transport, irrigating most of africa as you once watered your lawn(which is now illegal in the United States due to the years-long water shortages we're only now recovering from, shortages largely attributed to lasting damage from the 2nd Civil War and global warming, which is believed to have dried up several aquifers, requiring all of New Arizona's water to now be imported from California..

Mexico, meanwhile, has moved forward after the war, recovering from the post-war famine and invested its' monies in schools and self-sustaining agriculture, passing new laws that mandate that all homes be largely self-sufficient including having enough land on which to grow food to support the entire household. This law has resulted in the destruction and redevelopment of many former apartment complexes, and has remapped the mexican landscape to what you see today. Similar legislation is under consideration in Congress for the United States, but is secondary to concerns of desertification in our southern states.

South america has been instrumental in helping us meet our energy needs through ethanol imports, as well as the northern states whose climate has warmed to the point where they can now support more tropical vegetation, like sugar cane.

California, now having suffered the Big Quake of 2018 on top of the destruction of its' economy, is starting to show signs of life.
After 11 years with no electricity, the People's Republic of Southern California has once again established regular electric service. While still technically part of the United States, PRSC counts itself separate and unique, and the muslim leadership is proud of their capacity to carry on their religious heritage despite basically being shut off from the rest of the world. While they tolerate spanish-speakers, all official business in PRSC is done in either arabic, or finnish. English is still widely spoken, but after all federal funding was cut to PRSC for refusing to recognize the Pledge of Allegiance, Finland was instrumental in helping them to recover economically. President Kawasaki is still in talks with Finland, as she feels it's important to maintain a good dialogue to prevent PRSC from being completely isolated and a future source of problems. The 50 foot perimeter wall that surrounds PRSC joins into the main Southern Security Barrier(northern side), and extends as far north as Bakersfield, and then west to the coast, south of where the worst quake damage was, which was estimated to have caused some 120 billion dollars in damage in just 3 minutes. While some have protested the fence, President Filmore's words of 2022 still ring true for many: 'Good fences make good neighbors'.

Economically, america is starting to recover again, and while horse breeding has essentially taken hold as the main way to ensure future transportation needs, hydrogen cars are now starting to take to the roads, much as they did 50 years ago, but with today's disadvantage of the lack of any real car companies, suitable roads to drive cars on, and of course road violence, which so far this year has only claimed 500 lives.

The Plague of 2038, which got the west coast largely quarantined, has largely been judged to have passed. Instances of Levaritism, have not been seen in nearly the numbers that caused it to be declared a plague during those times. Today, only some 4 million people are estimated to still have Levaritism, and those deemed contagious have been resettled in quarantine camps in Montana, and Wyoming. The impact of the Plague was drastic, and today's US population of 104 million is fortunate compared to the impact of Levaritism overseas. Despite its' recent advances in high-tech, China and India were hardest hit by the plague, which cost each country upwards of 200 million people. Isolation and cremation were found to be the only way to handle the disease, for which there's still no known cure today.


So, despite our war, natural disasters(don't forget the firestorm of '44 that put Kansas permanently out of business agriculturally), and a plague, president Kawasaki is happy with our national progress back from the brink. Even New New York is bustling, New Boston now boasts over 2 million people, and with rail service expected to resume over newly laid routes built along the reformed eastern coastline, it looks like there might even be talk of starting up the steel business again. While the northern part of the east coast more resembles a narrow peninsula, it is still widely held to be worthwhile to try and maintain trade with Maine.

While no one expected the Great Lakes to expand as a result of global warming, our canadian neighbors have been helpful, helping to build the Michigan Channel, and spent billions to help us with our recovery efforts. Some cities like Chicago will never be the same, those trying to hold on in Chicago have called it New Venice, but great concern is shared over the stability and future of a city that now relies on barges and small boats to get around, and some buildings simply can't be used anymore, thanks to undermined foundations. After deciding to demolish several tall buildings, it was determined that even if the retaining wall were to be built, normal commerce in Chicago would simply be impossible, hence the decision to remove the seat of government 20 miles inland. Some laughed at the decision of the New Chicago fathers to build their city center on a 30ft. high elevated platform of solid granite, but those that saw the flood waters don't argue about it.
New Chicago might even be one of the first cities to have an airport again, after all these years, although environmentalists are solidly against the idea, saying that taking up 'the old ways' will take us back to the old problems, plus the fact that there's now regular ship travel through what was once the polar ice cap.
The new hydrogen-powered ships, which generate their own fuel by sun and wind, can now reach europe in less than 14 days, certainly not as fast as older ships that ran on oil or coal as fuel, but still capable of carrying 20 tons of cargo. Conventional sailboats have come back into vogue also, with new industries rising in states like Oregon in support of sail-making.

'Mutant fishing' has become the new outdoor recreation sport, especially in areas where power plants that were completely immersed after the Grand Tsunami of 2031. 3-headed fish weighing over 25 pounds have now been caught, and although the FDA has not approved of them for human consumption,
sport anglers are not dissuaded from their avid interest in catching 'mutie-trout' etc.

The global treaty governing use of nuclear power now states that due to tectonic instabilities that have increased from formerly dry regions of the earth being inundated, that it's in the best interest of all people to agree not to build any more power plants in the future, as the east coast fault line that opened right under a power plant was completely unexpeted, and declared a complete impossibility by leading geologists. After Iran's disaster in 2032, when their nuclear power facility fell entirely into a cavity created when 6 billion gallons of crude oil suddenly drained away through the bedrock, an event attributed to the Iran Quake of 2031, it's hard to argue that one.

What was once New Orleans is now 30ft. underwater, a popular attraction for scuba divers, but still technically off-limits by federal Ghoul Laws enacted after hurricane Zelda put paid to Miami.

Biker gangs: Road violence is down this year by some 30%, thanks in part to the institution of New Army patrols whose shoot-on-sight orders has driven most of the violent biker gangs off the highways. 'Ride-by's are still a problem, much like the drive-by's of 50 years ago, but less so due to the fact that many cities have barricaded many of their streets against 'immigrants', as well as the fact that horses are still very expensive, and gasoline is now upwards of $30 a gallon. Draft horses are especially prized for their ability to drag even the larger automobiles to smelting stations. All in all, though, with one continuous freeway now again extending almost coast-to-coast, president Kawasaki said in her last address that 'things are getting back on track', and it may not be long until we have the internet again.

Global communications are still a problem, the solar flares of 2011 took care of satellite communications until at least 2150, according to experts, due to the high persistent ionization of our exosphere, which effectively forms a barrier that can't be penetrated by radio signals. While NASA was able to retrieve the space station crew, the space station 'splashed down' in western africa after 20 years of no guidance signals/tracking from ground stations. 'That purple glow you see at sunset, along with the sporadic st. elmo's fire that you can get off metal sometimes' has put back space travel by 100 years, according to one expert.

All in all, though, we're on our way back...

Answer 2

America became so overwhelmed by all the problems facing her, that the politicians had no choice but to return America to the Indians. All native nations banded together and ruthlessly "deported" all foreign Illegal aliens. In the meantime The nation was placed under the rule of the Dog soldiers, and things were brought to a peaceful conclusion after some were made examples of. Being publicly staked over an ant pile to be eaten by animals in the night is an effective deterrent to most crimes. Instant death for many was the only option, for they attempted to argue. "Peace through strength" is the motto. oil was outlawed and many things harmful to the earth were also banned, A slower, more peaceful, less hectic lifestyle was embraced by the survivors of the peacekeeping process. The borders were secured, the ports were closed to all but basic neccessities and air travel was non existant. The bear, wolf and buffalo made a remarkable recovery in a short time. The grass grew, the rivers flowed and people were happy. America became great once more.

Answer 3

The U.S. is dead. As a result of it's isolationism, it has been fractured and regionalized. The Democrats and Republicans exist in name only as they no longer resemble what they use to be. The powerful People's Party became a strong contender and has the Presidency of the 6 different countries on the North American continent, which are the Mexican Confederacy, the Union of Canada, the Union of New York, the Confederate States of America, the Western States of America and the Great Lakes of America.

Technology has progressed as it should as all the countries have cooperated on computer technology. Sad to say, there have been many border disputes due to fishing rights, mineral rights (especially between the CSA and Mexico), the boundry line between the WSA and GLA and the boundry line between Canada and UNY. Many people have died and the world economy has shrank due to the destruction of the USA. These new countries are still trying to sort out their economies and many other countries are trying to secure trade rights with them.

Answer 4

Things are pretty much the same as they were 50 years ago, the prices have rised on things, but much less than they would have. Children are becoming bilingual at a much earlier age. International business booms. Racism is scarce, since many of the people entering the US are populating the empty parts of the US, ex New Mexico, Arkansas, Kansas. Welfare changes were made. No one originating in other countries is allowed any kind of welfare. Only natural born citizens, and the rules are more strict than ever. There is an increase of people in the police force, and crime is well under control. People are happier because families can visit with one another. And the economy is booming.

Answer 5

If Mexicans were granted amnesty, expect the entire country of Mexico to move to the U.S. among the countries south of them.

In 50 years, it'd be a 3rd world country--- maybe even a 5th world country...

50 Years is too far off to judge... We need to dodge the nuclear wars first. So, doing that, lets just focus on 5 years of outlook...

Seal our borders now and worry about little things later, unless it is obvious it threatens our 5 year plan.

--Rob

Answer 6

The constitution has been changed allowing the foreign born to become president. The wealthiest have completed their takeover of the world. In effect, democracy has been contracted out to the able administrators in the employ of the global capitalists. Only those who can further the aims of these globalists have any value in society. The rest of us have through our indominatable human spirit have learned to survive and adapt. They call us, the slum dwellers.

Answer 7

We're all eating beans and rice and tacos since the majority of the people are Mexican and Central American illegals. Its no longer safe to walk down the streets since the Mexican Mafia controls almost everything. And of course everyone is using the drugs brought across the border by all the illegals so almost everyone is high all the time and doesn't give a crap about anything. However, would-be presidential candidate George W. Jeb Bob Bush IV is promising to clean things up. Yeah, right!

Answer 8

The middle class tax base bought a large island in negotiation of independence with its prior third world country owner and declared itself a new country with very strict immigration laws based on skills, loyalty, and ability to contribute. These laws are enforced. Everyone there is doing fine.

Answer 9

it hasn't changed for the reason of amnesty, they never got it. the illegals were sent home, anchor babies no longer had American rights. people started getting paid for the "jobs Americans won't do" prices spiked for a couple weeks but then the economy stabilized itself. the American taxpayer got a break considering we were no longer bearing the brunt of the illegal and everyone lived happily ever after

Answer 10

here is my own little twist to this scenario.

In 2013 the USA announced it supremacy and forged its power upon corruption, killing of those who oppose, implimentation of puppet governments in other countries and a monopoly over all trade.
By 2025 the peoples of the world became frustrated and angered by the bully tactics of the USA, thus the collision of Trure freedom came together to bring the fight to America. In the seven years of the war the world was finally able to rid itself of the cancer called America.

Answer 11

70% of the nation is illegal?