Now What Predictions

By Renn Vara

I so don’t want to be pessimistic about this latest Congressional effort to “solve” our economic woes.  But what choice do I have?  Their track record is not very good.

So here are my predictions for the coming year or two:

• Within three to six months, press stories will begin to emerge about misused funds, wasteful projects, and political money kickbacks.
• The economy will continue to collapse and questions will begin about how the stimulus isn’t working and more federal cash infusion is needed.
• The debate between Republicans and Democrats about the need for personal and business tax cuts vs. additional federal cash infusion escalates to a fever pitch.  Partisanship reaches ever higher levels of discord.
• Results from public polls say we’re losing faith in President Obama and his ability to deal with the failed economy.  His approval rating begins to badly fall.
• Later in the year as the economies of China and India falter, the strain on our ability to have our debt supported will be in question causing our federal payout to escalate, driving our national debt ever higher.
• By 2010 or 11, the transition from depressed prices to the emergence of inflation begins with U.S. governmental panic to balance the domestic need for cheap money and the international demand for higher rates on purchasing our debt.
• Near the end of 2011, international markets lead by China fail to purchase the U.S. debt.  The markets panic in desperate search for safe havens for capital.
• The world economy drops further into a tail spin but this time there is no available recourse.  The money has run out leaving few if any options to finding any form of credit.
• Near the end of 2011, the world is hit with an international event which causes major world powers to revert to old divisional habits and possibly all out war.
• Due to the lack of revenue, U.S. local and State governments fail to provide normal public services and citizens are left to fend for themselves.  Houses become mini fortresses.
• Those who have the ability to muscle their way alone because of family savings or property separate themselves from the general public and those who have little to no refuge turn to crime to survive.  Society as we know it is out of control.
• By 2012, . . . well you know.

This is the common tale you hear from doomsayers.  And while I don’t really believe this could happen, I am preparing just in case; getting out of debt, finding ways to make my house useful for independent living, building large walls.  Ok, not really doing that yet.

So here are a few questions.  What are you doing to make sure this fictional scenario remains fictional?  Assuming you knew this was going to happen, what would you expect our political leaders to do differently?  If you could come back from 2012 knowing this doomsday scenario was in fact real, what would you do right now to keep it from happening?  What would you demand from your political leaders?  Let me know.

Thanks for reading my crap.