What's Next? 9.11.01 - observations on the effect of World Trade Center attacks on Americans

American Demographics, Oct 1, 2001

This attitude shift toward the placeless society makes cities less of a necessity. But our gregarious nature will keep us with other people. People don't like to live in isolation. The second reason we have cities is for economic factors. That's where the workers were, that's where the telephone switchboard was, that's where the suppliers were.

We will still have cities. But economic factors, which historically encouraged the formation of cities, are becoming less important. Therefore the engine behind city creation is weakening. As a result, you will see rural property values go up in relation to city property values.

The only way that we can win against terrorism is to sacrifice personal freedoms. How willing are we? Big time. That's what's happening at the airports right now. It's taking a couple of hours to get through the airports. People are saying, 'You know what? Strip me. Search me.' People agree to wait two hours at an airport. People are willing to give up their freedoms if they realize the reason for it.

GIO GUTIERREZ

30, FUTURIST, INSTITUTE FOR ALTERNATIVE FUTURES, ALEXANDRIA, VA.

Cities are going to be much more vulnerable to different kinds of crime. This event will bring international and domestic terrorists out of the woodwork. We're going to see our cities disrupted by small groups of people. There will be disruptions in communications, plundering in financial institutions - all kinds of disruptions. It will be unlike anything else we've ever seen. People will be unable to access their banks, or communications. They will experience the loss of power in their homes or neighborhoods, and biological hazards.

We will continue to have high rises; they're very symbolic for us. They represent innovation, technology, industrialization and power - those are a lot of the reasons people [from other nations] hate us. But these high rises are very symbolic of our culture. There will be changes in design. They will have to be very strong to withstand possible threats, as well as be designed to have escape mechanisms, like escape pods, or some other way to get out should a catastrophe take place.

There will be a strong desire for preventive technologies and safety mechanisms even in the home. People are going to want to feel safer and will be willing to spend the money. I think that you will see a small decline in the number of people traveling on airplanes. We don't know what will be next - perhaps we will not be allowed to bring bags on board. Teleconferencing will become more commonplace. Trains and other forms of transportation will become more popular.

This whole situation, people said it's going to bring us together, but I think this is going to tear us apart. There will be great debate over what kind of action we should take next and how to move forward. In one day, we're all so united in the sense that we cry together, but the sentiments that follow will divide us. We don't see the world in the same way, and this can be the driving wedge that separates us.