John Priddo, the United States editor for The Economist, shares valuable insights on Jimmy Carter's presidency and lasting principles of empathy and human rights. Tom Standage, Editor of World Ahead 2025, discusses predictions on global trends, the unpredictable nature of future events, and the divergence in AI adoption. The conversation also examines how perceptions of Carter's leadership have evolved and highlights the complexities of forecasting in a rapidly changing world.
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Carter's Early Presidency
Jimmy Carter, a peanut farmer, became president during challenging times, including an oil crisis.
His attempts to address these issues, like suggesting carpooling, proved unpopular, affecting his approval.
insights INSIGHT
Carter's Presidency: Initial Perception vs. Reality
Carter's presidency, marked by economic struggles and the Iran hostage crisis, was initially viewed as a failure.
However, factors beyond his control, like the Ayatollahs' actions, contributed to these difficulties.
insights INSIGHT
Carter's Overlooked Achievements
Despite initial perceptions, Carter achieved successes like the Camp David Accords and the SALT II treaty.
He also deregulated the airline industry and appointed Paul Volcker to the Federal Reserve, impacting future economic policy.
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Foundation is the first book in Isaac Asimov's renowned Foundation series. It introduces Hari Seldon, a psychohistorian who predicts the imminent collapse of the Galactic Empire and the ensuing dark age. To mitigate this, Seldon establishes the Foundation, a group of scientists and scholars on the planet Terminus, aimed at preserving human knowledge and laying the groundwork for a new civilization. The book is a collection of interrelated short stories that follow the early history of the Foundation as it navigates various crises and challenges predicted by Seldon's psychohistory[1][3][4].
After a single term and a landslide loss to Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter’s presidency was judged unduly harshly. What matters, though, are the principles he held dear for all his 100 years. The first of our series The World Ahead outlines the big trends coming in 2025 (11:39). And a reading list for those who want to know how Elon Musk thinks (20:42).
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