It is difficult to establish a connection with our future self, and even more so with our future society. But why is this so? Recent scientific research published by Slate presents an interesting predicament in our ability to think about the future, deep within our brains. Analyzes have shown that when people think about their future, their brain scanners light up in the same way as when they think about a stranger. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay This can explain a lot of things: why it's difficult to invest at a young age, to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and to get by. the relationship you know probably won't last but is fun, for now. Studies show that the more your brain treats your future self as a stranger, the less self-control you exhibit today and the less likely you are to make prosocial choices, choices that will likely help the world in the long run. - Jane McGonigal, Ph.D. and senior fellow at Slate's Institute for the Future. The same article featured a study by the Institute for the Future, which found that 53 percent of Americans surveyed said they "rarely or never think about something that might happen in 30 years." » This phenomenon called the “future gap” may mean something to you if you are part of the majority of Americans. This seems very true when considering the policies we are implementing in government today. Senators and congressmen who are constantly up for re-election are not part of a system that encourages long-term investment. As a result, public education funding, federal education subsidies, and child care are significantly reduced. Taxes are also being cut and minimum wage jobs – held by many young people – remain at embarrassingly low rates. Advocating for the future requires a certain conviction of one's own character, beliefs, and faith in future generations. The truth is that time doesn't slow down for anyone, as demonstrated by the adage that a stone thrown on the road will still be there when you catch it. There is an interesting story about a boy named Andrew. As a child, he lived with his mother, father and younger brother in a one-bedroom house where the family struggled to put food on the table. When famine struck their village, the four borrowed just enough money to make the long trip to Allegheny, Pennsylvania, where Andrew began working at age 13. Life for a poor immigrant family was difficult. Andrew's father died seven years later, leaving Andrew as the sole breadwinner. As formal schooling was not an option, Andrew often spent his free time at the local public library where he developed a thirst for literature and music. He eventually learned accounting at night school, while working during the day. Of course, this Andrew is Andrew Carnegie, the man who would become the richest man of his time. “There is no cradle of democracy on earth like the Free Public Library, that republic of letters, where neither rank, nor office, nor wealth receives the slightest consideration,” Carnegie would later say. He would go on to found a foundation for international peace, the Carnegie Library, Carnegie-Mellon University and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Under his leadership, the Carnegie Corporation of New York would devote $125 million to.