Curmudgeon's Corner

My Dusty Crystal Ball...

Posted by Al Campbell on Dec. 31, 2012

U.S., Wisconsin, Quality of Life, Political, People Making A Difference, Economy, Healthcare

None of us has that proverbial ‘crystal ball’ that helps one foretell the future, but that seldom stops us from making predictions anyway.  So here goes…

~The Fiscal Cliff will not likely be averted because it is too rich a vein for the Democrats and the President, and because the Republicans are powerless to do anything but pose for ‘holy pictures’.  If a ‘deal’ is reached, you can be sure it will increase taxes far more than it will reduce our expenditures.

~ObamaCare will cause costs of health insurance to increase significantly given the requirement that all be covered and that there be no greater difference than 3-1 for rates for the oldest down to the youngest.

~We are very likely to see a 2013 recession that will be of greater magnitude than that we’ve experienced to this point under this Administration.

~Political discourse will continue to be shrill at least throughout 2013, and probably for several years beyond.

~Gun control measures being sought by those who desire to see that happen will again fail, but do not be surprised to see a ‘backdoor’ effort that will be aimed at restricted purchasing of ammunition in addition to the outlawing of large magazines.

~Wisconsin will again see a nasty race for the Supreme Court seat now held by Roggenstock, one which she may lose unless she can muster a lot of campaign cash.

~Sen. Chris Larsen (D) now the Senate Leader for the Democrats will find himself in difficult positions given that it is tough to be a good leader and still appear to be the partisan his members will desire to see.  That will not diminish his penchant for political drama, however.

~Boehner may continue as the Republican House Leader but he has been emasculated as much by his performance as by the sniping of the opposition.

~Walker will work diligently to reach the goals he has set for himself, but the 250,000 increase in employment may be tough to achieve given the forces at work.

~The Defense Budget will be trimmed significantly no matter whether or not sequester occurs; that is not a sacred cow of this Administration that believes it can find many better places where the ‘saved’ money could be employed.

~President Obama will become more strident in putting forth new propositions given his political strength following his victory over Romney and given his deft and decisive maneuvering of the Republicans into the position they occupy, a feat the Republicans seemed only too happy to assist him in achieving.

~ObamaCare will very likely result in more workers being employed as part-time employees just as it will cause quite a few employers with 30 or fewer employees to end the provision of health care coverage.

~We will recall the phrase uttered by Rahm Emanuel, “never let a good crisis go to waste”, more often in the second Obama term than we did in the first for there will be more crises probably by plan than by accident.

~Our newest Senator will be a good deal more visible than the person she replaces.  Sen. Kohl was not a very productive member of that group of 100.

~There is some question in my mind as to whether or not Sen. Ron Johnson (R) will run for a second term given the ineffectiveness of his caucus and the truly uphill struggle he faces if he is to be an actual reformer in the Senate.  I hope my fears are dispelled because we need more people like him of both persuasions who view themselves as temporary occupants than of permanent holders of their seat until they decide to retire.  He is among the few in that body who have actual experience in the private sector.