PJ O'Rourke (Token Republican at various mags) points out that as a culture even our dreams of tomorrow are slipping. He's a funny guy, but in this case his commentary is a sad reflection of humanities slip from utopian to dystopian dreams.

When our parents were kids, the future was fashioned in Buck Rogers gleaming art deco splendor, celebrating the triumph of man and science. Now we have dark visions of bleak corporate nightmares filled with mucus and smog. Science is no longer a great enabler, it is a badly mishandled ticking time bomb which we had best put away before we shoot an eye out.

This attitude affects the dreams of our children. Without those triumphant visions, is it any wonder why many choose to hide in virtual worlds? Why few choose the sciences any longer? Even Disney is having trouble with this in their tomorrow land attraction, relying first on Retro Dreams of Tomorrow, and then on a house nag.

As a parent remember that your visions of the future will affect your children's. Look for books/media which promote a positive future, not to make your children naive, but instead for them to realize deep down that such a thing is possible. Read to them from a Tom Strong comic or two, watch the Robinson's as well. Even better do a science experiment or two, something to spark that sense of wonder.