You’ve been wondering, how could I possibly miss out on the wonderful opportunity to make my predictions for the coming year?
Maybe I am having trouble facing the world today. Or I’m just burnt out on the whole looking into the future thing. Some of both…
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Because you expect it…because you asked; here are my predictions for 2008 and beyond:
Energy prices are a concern and will have additional unanticipated impact on the economy. Prices will continue a roller coaster ride but will not go as high as some predict despite additional conflict that we are going to start in the middle east.
Unemployment will rise, as will inflation. This will stir fears of recession among some, and the administration may actually admit to problems…but only to push their pet solution. The proposed solution will be the same as always; tax cuts. It won’t work and the wrong people will get blamed. As usual. …And since working-class families have been living with a declining economy for almost a decade, things won’t seem all that different for them.
More economic news: Some things we’ve gotten used to buying cheap will suddenly and unexpectedly become quite expensive, catching many off guard. This is not really related to energy prices. Many will have to adjust their lifestyles toward fewer consumer goods. The chickens are coming home to roost and each change causes another spiral.
There will be a surprise announcement regarding Iraq in the summer or fall of 2008. This will change the minds of many.
Unreasoned fear will continue to dominate American politics, despite a “new hope.” Manipulation of public perception has completely replaced all core values among the power elites, and we’re all going to pay for this lack of true vision.
A new high-tech “non-lethal” weapon will be use for the first time in 2008 – perhaps on American citizens. This will cause a few will finally to believe that their government is out of control, but the majority will continue their narcissism-induced coma.
More natural disasters will cause the usual band of shameless manipulators to claim that it is the end of the world and “God’s Judgment.” As in the past, they will continue to be wrong.
A major corporation will file for bankruptcy, causing brief stock market panic. This will be dramatic but short term. However, volatility will increase in general, and there will be some declines.
There will be increased terrorism activity or many alerts of alleged terrorist activities in the latter months of 2008.
Another tainted food episode will cause a few people to wonder if the whole “small government/industry should regulate itself” mantra was such a good idea after all, but nothing will actually be done about it.
A young media personality will die unexpectedly. This will receive more attention than America’s declining status in the world.
Let’s take a look at what we can expect in the future….
This is the beginning of a transitional period; increased instability and uncertainty as the birth pangs of a new way of life. Much of this will be perceptual rather than actual.
Investigations! Hearings! Lots of political crap for the coming year, but absolutely NOTHING will come of any of it. This is not a judgment about the truth or fallacy of any accusation of impropriety but more a statement about the vulgar and calculated tactics – and the cowardice – of those who hold elected office.
Politics will be at center stage all year; first for the hearings, later for politics. And in the area of politics, we will expect some major surprises for those seeking the presidency and for those who already hold office.
The war/occupation in Iraq will continue to drag on with even more soldiers sent and increasing frustration among the American public. Toward the end of the year, things may seem to improve a little. Threats to end it all will amount to nothing.
Wars and rumors of wars… the drumbeat for new invasions, attacks will increase. New straw men, new scare stories. It’s all in the cards.
Expect another panic cry of epidemic this year. Bird Flu may be the culprit but nothing will come of it.
Increasing signs of instability in the American economy – including a declining dollar – will not stop the stock market from having a record year.
Industrial accidents will have a banner year, causing some people to notice that the government no longer does much of anything to protect workers. There will be deaths, there will be talks of reform. Nothing will be done.
US prison populations will reach crushing levels. Already America imprisons more people than any other country but this year the crisis will cripple state budgets.
Wildfires and forest fires due to drought will be the chief disasters of the year. Some will jump on this to call attention to global climate change while others will dismiss it as just coincidence.
Corruption in government will be highlighted, and some may go to prison. The big boys will stay safe for the most part. However, expect some sudden departures from office both in the USA and abroad, like rats deserting a sinking ship.
Steroid and other drug use in professional sports will become a topic for the handwringing folk. This is more about perception than reality. Nevertheless, the public will demand a human sacrifice so some athletes may go to jail.
Expect some terrorist scares – but actual attacks are unlikely, or at least, nothing big. They will be more useful another time…
Tainted food, contaminated medicine… Americans will learn that they can’t trust anything anymore. But shutting their eyes will be so much easier.
Finally, I’m concerned about an assassination attempt in the latter part of the year. I don’t think anything will come of it, but this is another sign of worldwide political upheaval.
The Way that can be spoken of is not the Eternal Way;
The Name that can be named is not the Eternal Name.
The Nameless was at the beginning of heaven and earth;
the named was the mother of all creatures.
…A bit of wisdom from Lao Tsu, interpreted by the artist.
My thoughts for the coming year…
It shouldn’t be that big of a year in politics but I think it will be anyway. For one thing, there will be some new political scandals and embarrassments. For another, there is a chance that there will be some changes due to congressional elections. Despite the prediction of others, however, nothing big is going to happen.
Global warming will be the topic du jour this year; with the same groups defending and denying. But denial will be losing this round.
It should be good year for a stock market comeback. Be aware, however, that America has been partying on borrowed money and the consequences of that will begin to appear this year. It might be a good time to buy gold.
Look for the usual collection of natural and man-made disasters for an otherwise quiet year. Some may even inspire the usual collection of hucksters to pronounce that it’s the end of the world… again.
Changes in the Supreme Court may abound this year. Many will hail the turn but regret it later. Opposition will talk a lot but ultimately do nothing.
Epidemic scares based on food supply contamination may be big news.
It’s about time for another school shooting, prompting the usual hand-wringing. Nothing will change.
A religion scandal is on the horizon. Maybe several of them. You can’t hide the hypocrisy and money-grubbing selfishness of the evangelical leaders forever, you know. Their evil will catch up with a few of them this year, but the worst of them will still be wandering around sucking the blood of their gullible followers.
In fact, I think this will be a year when religious hypocrisy will be exposed in many. Remember: The more a person talks about how religious they are, the more awful stuff they are hiding. It’s always true. I guarantee it.
The Catholic church will try to reassert its iron hand rule. Back to the 12th century!
Look for more failures at NASA.
The year may close on a note of false hope.
And of course, a million other things I haven’t foreseen – will happen. That’s just the way it is.
A fault line is just offshore from where I live; it is the boundary between the Pacific and the North American tectonic plates. You know, those things that can’t exist because the earth is only 6,000 years old. Nevertheless, sooner or later the Big One is going to hit, and since I live about 10 feet above sea level and miles away from anything higher, I probably won’t be around afterward to talk about it. But others will be, and that’s what I want to stop before it starts.
You may remember how the fundamentalist servants of Satan informed you that the Indonesia tsunami was caused by God’s hatred of homosexuals. Then hurricane Katrina destroyed New Orleans because of God’s hatred of abortion. Clearly, the Fundaservants of Satan tell us, God demands innocent victims to appease Him.
Let’s be clear, The Pat Robertson-John Hagee-Jerry-Fallwell-James Dobson cabal preach and believe in human sacrifice. Their religion uses Christian words to lure-in the gullible, but they preach human sacrifice: There are homosexuals in the world and because we haven’t risen up collectively to slay them, God will kill 250,000 innocent people in Indonesia. Then, because women are still allowed to get abortions, God kills people in New Orleans. The message of radical religionists is clear: God demands innocent victims. …
I can’t stop them from TRYING to use my future death as evil propaganda, but I’m going to mitigate it by talking about it in advance.
Now, I know the Robertson-Hagee-Falwell-Dobson cabal will deny advocating human sacrifice. It’s one of those things you can’t openly admit to, but it is the basic truth of the evil religion they preach.
Let’s look at their arguments: Jerry Falwell said that 9/11 happened because we “tolerate” homosexuals, feminists, and civil libertarians. Okay, fine, what is it that you think God is demanding, that we KILL these people? Apparently. But if we don’t, then God seems satisfied with the killing of people who are not any of these things.
Same with Indonesia, and Katrina… John Hagee gave a whole sermon about how thousands died in hurricane Katrina because God was pissed-off about our “tolerance” of homosexuals!
Yep, God is mad about homosexuals, abortion, etceteras. And God’s solution, according the evil servants of Satan, is to kill the innocent. Lots of them.
Sooner or later, the teachings of the Robertson-Hagee-Falwell-Dobson cabal will lead to voluntary (intentional) human sacrifice, and when this happens the final tenuous link between their teaching and Christianity will be severed.
Here is what is going to happen: The Robertson-Hagee-Falwell-Dobson cabal will continue to preach and teach that natural disasters are caused by God’s anger. People will get the message that the way to prevent natural disasters is to kill people. That way, God is satisfied and so He decides to leave us alone for a while. This is the way ALL human sacrifice cults work.
Sooner or later, a big hurricane or some other threat will be approaching the US. Somewhere, quietly, a group of followers of the radical religonist servants of Satan will congregate and decide to try to save us by selecting some symbolic victims. The first ones will be selected from among the “undesirables” of the world: homosexuals, the retarded, the liberals, the feminists. It will all be quiet and behind closed doors, but they will pray to God in Jesus’ name, that His anger will be satisfied by this sacrifice, and that He will turn the storm.
Storm predictions being what they are (inaccurate) it may seem to actually work. The storm doesn’t hit where they thought it would, or it wasn’t as strong. Then word will begin to spread that God spared us because we provided an appropriate sacrifice. From there, the Robertson-Hagee-Falwell-Dobson human sacrifice cult will spread like wildfire.
Of course, the next time maybe the storm hits anyway. If anyone with some rational ability is left, they might notice that the whole human sacrifice thing really doesn’t work. But true believers in the Robertson-Hagee-Falwell-Dobson doctrine are more likely to conclude the sacrifice wasn’t good enough to satisfy God. They will need to kill more people next time. Maybe the victims weren’t innocent enough. Maybe – they will ponder – they need to kill some virgins, or some babies. God must be appeased.
This is how these things have gotten started for a hundred thousand years.
If you’ve ever wondered how people can do such evil as killing their own children to appease some imagined God, now you know. This is how it works, how it has always worked, and how it will work AGAIN – right here in the USA, thanks to the Robertson-Hagee-Falwell-Dobson cabal.
So I’m telling you right now… when thousands of us die as a result of a massive offshore earthquake and subsequent tsunami, it will be the scientifically predicted result of plate tectonic action – action that is inevitable and has occurred regularly for thousands and thousands of years. I will NOT be a sacrifice to an angry God.
Do not believe the Robertson-Hagee-Falwell-Dobson liars, the servants of Satan who pollute and corrupt the loving message of Christ into a cult of human sacrifice. They lie. Their filth is poised to take over and replace real Christianity, and it will if reasonable and rational people don’t act to prevent it.
God does not go around killing innocent people, or allowing them to be killed because he is pissed-off about some thing or another that the Robertson-Hagee-Dobson cabal tell you about. That’s nature in action. Period. It is the way the world works.
The Robertson-Hagee-Dobson cabal do not speak for God, but enough people think they do that I will predict an established human sacrifice cult in the USA by 2025, unless a concerted effort is made to stop it (which seems unlikely at this point).
Again, in closing, I repudiate their position. I reject the evil message of the human sacrifice cultists and I refuse to be used as an example for their evil purposes. Spread this message!
Knowledge is the only way we can stop them, and spreading of knowledge depends on you.
Don’t let them use me. Don’t let me down.
Due to requests, but with some degree of reluctance, here are my thoughts for the coming year. Don’t count on this becoming an annual event. I intend to keep most things to myself in the future.
The war in Iraq will not go well. People will get tired of the endless reports of casualties and no progress. Deaths will be part of endless bad news. Despite increased dissatisfaction, however, nothing will be done. Nothing will change.
Political battles in America will amount to nothing. I expect to hear a lot about immigration, tax cuts, minimum wage, health care, social security, and – of course – war. But nothing is really going to happen. Just lots and lots of talk and posturing.
Changes in the Supreme Court will signal a shift away from freedom and toward fascism. Most won’t see this coming because it will be a gradual process.
Terrorist attacks will make the news. We keep being threatened, so prepare for the real deal. This is more likely abroad rather than inside the USA, however. Fear will be ratcheted up to maximum levels as those with a stake in keeping people scared will use every event to consolidate power.
Natural disasters may dominate the news. Shameless criminals will use this to declare “THE JUDGMENT OF GOD” on America and/or the world, continuing their shameless self-promotion from last year. They are just making stuff up, of course, in an attempt to promote themselves. TIP: Anyone who claims to speak for God is a liar. Don’t believe them and don’t associate with them.
Speaking of religion, leadership will change hands in several areas of religious power. There will be new faces of evangelicals and perhaps even a new Pope. Oddly, new faces in evangelical leadership may signal a softening of the draconian hyper-politics of the past, whereas if you see a new Pope you can expect an attempted return to The Dark Ages… at least for Catholics.
All of this is part of the continued ascendancy of superstition and the decline of science. I don’t expect to see any reversals in this process for a while.
The face of evil will be revealed. Few will notice.
Now go live your lives… but live them awake.
And they ask me all the time how I knew – how could this be. In a moment, I will tell you …
Baghdad, A Prophecy
Acrylic on unstretched canvas
16″ x 20″
(2001)
Before war fever, before 911 … I knew this was coming. If you ask me how I knew, then I’d have to answer it’s complicated.
Call it a feeling enhanced by knowledge. I knew President Bush had appointed people to powerful positions from the Project For A New American Century – a group that had been sitting on invasion plans for years even at that time. I knew they would be looking for any excuse. Then came September 11 and even as one tower still stood I said to those present that this would be the way it would all get done.
It is not my place to act as judge, but history will do that – hopefully history will be written by those who are willing to tell the truth.