The Fall of Our Discontent

In the past few weeks I have begun what I refer to as my Fall Speaking Tour during which I am constantly moving around the country and being at home is more akin to a pit stop I love what I do and I love speaking to and interacting with people about the future and what lies ahead But that is a subject for another column This is about the fall of our discontentPeople are angry They feel that the values they consider fundamental to what America stands for are no longer being honored Voters simply don39t believe that their elected official are striving for the common good and longterm health of the country The current political landscape would horrify Thomas Jefferson Honest Abe would look around and wish for the more conciliatory Washington of the Civil WarPeople are scared The fact that security is more perception than reality has hit home for millions The rosy picture that we were sold amp8211 everincreasing real estate values safe pension investments a compassionate government the land of opportunity amp8211 seems to have vanished Crime is down but mistrust has soared When the American Dream is replaced by the reality of being just one more bad month away from being homeless hope is diminishedPeople are in a state of discontent Regardless of the topic amp8211 Washington politics the economy the lack of opportunity wars that seem to have no point except to reinforce our sense of no longer being great amp8211 there is a sense that things are not right We are discontentWhat I see is the promise of a new age a decade of transformation almost unparalleled in human history I speak often about the Transformation Decade the name I gave this decade back on January 4 2010The dictionary definition of transformation is quota change in form appearance nature or characterquot and by that definition I see transformation everywhereI recently had the privilege of being given a hard hat tour of the construction site that is becoming the Spaceport America in New Mexico Spaceport America represents pure vision Sir Richard Branson and subsequently others have and will partner with the state to initiate the private sector of space travel ushering in the next phase of our fascination with space exploration The Spaceport is emblematic of the future and the adventure of explorationThe stunning success of the iPad and of the incredible new touchscreen app phones is apparent in every audience I address What would people even 10 years ago think of these personal tactile mobile computers Science fiction authors would see their futuristic visions realized while Granddad or even Dad would have difficulty comprehending the freedom and personal power these devices provideEverywhere I go people know we are on the verge of essential different and exciting new forms of energy The Transformation Decade will be the singlemost dramatic decade in the history of energy as it will fully birth rapidly scalable alternative and renewal energy sources that will transform the economy and the physical landscape of our world This decade also will be the singlemost transformative decade in the history of health care and medicine confronting us with moral dilemmas we are not yet prepared to face Science Fiction again becomes factThe noise of our lives amp8211 the media the negativity that politics has become the economic difficulties we face the vision deficit that exists today in America amp8211 all make us feel discontented We may experience John Steinbeck39s quotThe Winter of Our Discontentquot after this fall as we move into 2011 and these anxious and angry times continue a bit longer We are headed for times of both upheaval and transformation of that is there is no doubt But as The Mamas ampamp The Papas sang way back in my youth quotThe darkest hour is just before dawnquotDavid Houle is a futurist strategist and speaker He has always been slightly ahead the curve Houle spent more than 20 years in media and entertainment Most recently David is a featured contributor to Oprahcom Check is out here wwwoprahcomdavidhoule David can be contacted at DavidDavidHoulecomRead all Davidamp8217s MediaBizBloggers commentaries at David Houle MediaBizBloggersCheck us out on Facebook at MediaBizBloggerscomFollow our Twitter updates MediaBizBlogger

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The Fall of Our Discontent

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David Houle

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