[estomagordo]

Since at least medieval times, civilization as a whole has tended to move towards freer, more democratic societies - almost without any meaningful, lengthy changes. This is particularly true since the industrial revolution. (Correct me if I'm wrong above.)

Given this, I find it hard to believe that future societies would somehow become more oppressive. Rather, I think true democracy will have reached virtually, if not practically, all of the world. Menial tasks have largely become automated. Most people are well fed, secure and have access to education and information. Brick and mortar stores (be they for clothing, groceries or anything else) are largely a thing of luxury.

Speaking of education, most societies do not emphasize a traditional educational path involving 3-5 years at universities like they do now. Higher institutions now play a larger role but the benefits of technology in information diffusion and communication now means we have more meaningful and regarded ways of acquiring knowledge in other places, in other periods of life and at different paces.

[badpun]

> Since at least medieval times, civilization as a whole has tended to move towards freer, more democratic societies - almost without any meaningful, lengthy changes. This is particularly true since the industrial revolution. (Correct me if I'm wrong above.)

This is a very Eurocentric view. In the rest of the world, this mostly wasn't (and still isn't) the case.

[estomagordo]

Yeah, I realize I'm being rather eurocentric. The setbacks have been longer and more plentiful in Africa and Asia, but I maintain that the trend is also true there.

[badpun]

Where exactly? I'd say that democracies took root only in places (such as India, Japan) which were conquered and then organized by western countries. Other than that, not so much.

[estomagordo]

I don't know of any African countries where the people's democratic freedoms are much more prevalent today than they were centuries ago.

[pgcj_poster]

> true democracy

Can you explain what you mean by this? Are there countries today that qualify as "true democracies"?

[estomagordo]

Oh, I should have worded that better. I do not have terribly high thresholds for this. I pretty much mean that I'd expect China to evolve into something more akin to a typical western European democracy, rather than into what we have in Russia, which imo is only democratic in name.