Chris asked:

It seems to me that if the human race continues to go in the direction that it is going that we will be
doomed to live in a world of total control that will put free will and thought at a minimum or a stop. I
am interested in learning your thoughts and opinions on this subject.

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The idea that you pose, has been the subject of many philosophers. The first ones that made this
observation were members of so called Critical Theory in the early 20th century. The founder of this
group was Herbert Marcuse. Much later (outside Critical Theory) he wrote a bestseller about it:
One-Dimensional Man.

Marcuse was the philosopher behind Flower Power. This was a movement that started as a student
revolution in Paris in 1968. Often this movement is considered as in the meantime off the wall. It
stressed too much one-sided feeling, and that was not considered as serious in a rational world. But
the central idea that Marcuse stressed in his book is still valid: western society has become
dependent on economy and on politics, resulting in lack of freedom of mind. Already half a century
ago he made that observation, and things haven't gotten any better.

Marcuse measured capitalism by the unsatisfied needs of the population. That approach lost part of
it's attraction as soon as capitalism proved itself capable of delivering the goods. Still there are the
mental needs but the established system seems on the right way.

Marcuse once wrote, "obstinacy [is] a genuine quality of philosophical thought". With that thought in
mind Marcuse keeps stubbornly attacking the limits of capitalism, because:

(1) There are still wars, hunger plagues and ecological catastrophes.

(2) The contradiction between daily ugliness of society and art (the greyness of life versus colorful art)

(3) Massive manipulation of consciousness (especially through TV in all it's forms)

(4) No fulfilling work and security of life for the vast majority

(5) Signs of deep dissatisfaction beneath the surface of success (the general search for something
more).

These reasons make sense. This society, Marcuse optimistically argues, has the potential to be
"sound" but artificially maintains competition and violence as the basis for domination and inequality.

Back to your question:

At the moment you see that world leaders live in a rational and economic world. Don't expect
solutions from that side. At the same time voting percentages have never been so low. That means
that there developed a 'canyon of difference in views' between the top layer of society and 'the
masses'. Right now this is developing in a crisis. Who knows what'll happen

Please don't think in terms of "be doomed". That is fatalism, and what we need is action.

Henk Tuten