Energy
In a few months, Americans will be protesting and raising hell about energy. They won't be protesting and demanding Green Jobs. Everyone knows that was a pipedream boondoggle. Our "Green Economy" is a future reality. It is not necessarily mythological, it is simply a ways off from being a driving force in our economy.
No, the protests I am predicting are for oil. There will be demands for our government to do something about the price of gasoline. The closer our price of gas approaches $5 per gallon, the sooner you can expect the consumer protests. I have a fourteen gallon tank in my "economy" car. At $5 per gallon it will cost me $70 to fill my tank! Some economy!
Instead of doing something useful, like ending the moratorium on drilling and pumping from the Gulf of Mexico or drilling in ANWAR, he will do a temporary fix like releasing some oil from our strategic reserve. The President will speak honestly and sternly with our overseas oil suppliers. None of it will matter as by the time President Obama starts his second term, we will be at six dollars a gallon. At that point, it will cost $84 to fill my tank.
By the way, Cuba and Russia are drilling in the Gulf. Why can't we?
Libya
The President and Secretary Gates have promised us that there will be no boots on the ground during the Civil War in Libya. That's good. Now, can they make the same promises about the U.N. Peacekeepers that will have to be there to maintain the peace after the Civil War is over?
Those American Troops will be Peacekeepers, not warriors. Their reasoning will be along the lines of "NATO does not have the resources and we wish to prevent atrocities and other types of war crimes. Thus, it is critical to the maintenance of peace in Libya that American troops take a role with the U.N. Peacekeepers."
Those American Troops will be Peacekeepers, not warriors. Their reasoning will be along the lines of "NATO does not have the resources and we wish to prevent atrocities and other types of war crimes. Thus, it is critical to the maintenance of peace in Libya that American troops take a role with the U.N. Peacekeepers."
Iraq
When American troops leave, a security vacuum will be created. Entering that vacuum will be Iran. Iranian revolutionary influence has been evident in Iraq since the fall of Saddam's regime. Shiites are the dominant sect of Islam in Iraq and after the Americans leave, watch how fast the balance of power there goes to hell and the security situation degrades. Then, Iran will decide they must occupy the eastern half of Iraq to maintain their own security. That will create a rather nervous situation for our friends in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
China
Despite great success in managing limited capitalism in a communist country, China is a time bomb looking for the right time to economically implode. The PLAPF, People's Liberation Army Police Force, is the iron bars that maintain order in the country. There are a number of religious movements and political ideals and activists the Chinese government is working hard to keep under wraps. China is working hard behind the scenes to suppress any thought that is not government approved. Consider the great efforts they went through to stop the Jasmine Protests.
The stress between the "Haves," people living in the Eastern industrialized part of the country, and the "have nots," those living in the more agrarian West China, will continue to be an internal pry bar, stressing the social and political order. The new leadership that is expected to take charge of the country in 2012 will have its hands full.
California
I appreciate the hard work Jerry Brown has put in to tally the budget cuts he needs to balance the state budget. He only needs about $14 billion more to balance it. He will not get the tax increase or tax increase continuation he wants. California does not have an income or revenue problem. It has a spending problem.
Governor Brown says the Republicans, who represent small regions of the state, are holding up the ability of the State to tax its people. Oh my, the tyrrany of the minority! Those few Republicans in the State Senate and Assembly represent every Republican in the State of California at this time. I can't believe the Democratic leadership honestly believes the people of this State will vote to increase their taxes. They need to meet with their constituents who are not on CalWorks (welfare) or taking money from the state in retirement or as payroll. It is amazing that those on the Government dole seem to have the largest lobbies and the loudest voices.
North Korea
Thankfully, Kim Jong Il is a non factor at this time.
