Forecasting future disaster is a no-win proposition for the forecaster. If
the warnings of disaster are heeded, the disaster will be averted, and the
forecaster will be criticized for "crying wolf." If the warning of disaster
are ignored, the forecaster will have failed to effectively avert the
disaster, and generally will suffer its consequences along with those who
wouldn't listen. Most would agree that it's better to forecast potential
disasters, even if they don't occur, and thus help avert them -- even if the
forecaster reaps only ridicule for his or her heroic efforts. But, don't
expect to be rewarded for being the carrier of bad news - even when the
"news" is about the future.
Although the current subject of discussion is Y2K, the same principle holds
for those who forecast economic decline, ecological destruction, and social
decay if we fail to heed the warnings signals of unsustainability.