What writer do you think came the closest to predicting the way things are today in the world ?

Question

Defend position.

Answer 1

In America I'd say Orwell's 1984, especially with the use of language (Orwellian double-speak) by people in charge.  

Answer 2

Vonnegut in "Slapstick". He was talking about right now. 2008. Remember. Dr. Wilbur Daffodil-11 Swain is president of the USA. He's one half of a grotesque set of genius fraternal twins, though his smarter sister, Eliza has been locked away in an asylum because she was not suitable and was unable to speak. Wilbur presides over the end of Western civilization, which is collapsing under the weight of its own decadence and the depletion of the world's petroleum reserves. Meanwhile China has emerged as the world's only remaining superpower, thanks to the Chinese ability to miniaturize  themselves so they can remain cloistered by the billions in their closed society. They have gained power by training entire groups of people to think as one, cementing their world status even as they get smaller. The Chinese become so small they are inhaled by Westerners, creating a plague that destroys civilization outside China. So lets look at right now in 2008. *Western civilization is struggling with declining oil supplies and economies in shambles. (check)   *China has become a superpower and is teaching entire groups of its citizens to think and act as one. (check)  *The Chinese are getting smaller, so small they could fit into a pocket protector and maybe even teleport themselves around the world. Now I will not (check) this, but then I don't believe those little Chinese gymnasts are 16 years old either.