Predictions!

[The Whiskey Priest]

Based on the following 12 facts:

1. Inflation is again on the march.
2. The Federal Deficit is out-of-control
3. The US Trade Deficit is unsustainable
4. The era of cheap fossil fuel is over
5. Wages are stagnant
6. Poverty is increasing
7. Jobs are being sent off-shore faster than ever
8. Consumer debt is greatest in history and growing
9. Congress is eliminating the social safety net
10. The US is embroiled in a costly war
11. China and India are positioned to become the economic world power
12. The gap between the US haves and the have-nots is widening

What do you see for the next 24 months?

[RagAss]

1. Fitz in Gitmo....what else ????

[Birthmark]

2. 24 months?

I'm not sure we have 24 days, maybe not even 24 hours if the big investors begin to acknowledge reality.

But to answer your question, in 24 months the US will be in the worst economic/social crisis in its history.

[bonito]

3. Sink or swim

Swim as always. Peace

[byronius]

4. Peace In Our Time?

[Alcibiades]

5. Could it be

a global recession caused by slack consumer demand in the world's largest economy, in turn caused by nearly everything on the list?

Actually, you don't need to go 24 months out. This particular chain of events has already started. Energy costs will be reflected in the cost of other goods, sooner or later.

[greatauntoftriplets]

6. I may finish....

my book tonight.

[Giant Robot]

7. Oh you forgot one

13) Average U.S. savings rate at 0%

[Giant Robot]

8. But to answer you're question

starvation, people freezing to death in their homes, an ever increasing amount of consumer debt and mortgage foreclosures, heck maybe a return to good old fashioned soup lines. And the government will tell people its all right, TV will still show Paris Hilton and how rich she is so everything has to be all right, and they will be too tired or cold to do anything about this.