Where are we heading and what are we doing in this handbasket? Prognosis thread

[Martinus]

So, since we have a pretty good number of rather smart people I wanted to start a thread asking for your predictions about the next fear years, mainly in economy but also in politics etc. It seems it's almost a given now that we are in a double dip recession (or is it?) so will we go into depression/stagnation or rebound? Will Obama stay in power for another term? Will Euro survive? Will the world end in 2012?

Discuss.

[Tamas]

I think we may go on business as usual like after the internet bubble, until the green energy bubble hits us.

But also this may very well be a fork in the road for the EU. It will probably not remain as it is now, halfway between integration and loose partnership. The troubles are in fact an opportunity to force through reforms making it the USE on the long run.
There is always opportunity in adversity.

[Zanza]

Why do you think that green energy will lead to an asset bubble, Tamas?

[Tamas]

Why do you think that green energy will lead to an asset bubble, Tamas?

Well, I just mentioned it for dramatic effect. But I think that with the current state capitalistic-ish system we have, we are moving from one artifically inflated bubble to the next, and I can't right now think of any other sector which could bubble-fy. Biotech might, but there are insane practical advancements to be made there. And in wind or solar energy - not so much, imho.

[Iormlund]

The green bubble already imploded over here. We're ages beyond you guys.

[Zanza]

It doesn't have to be some newish field of technology. The last bubble was in real estate after all.

[Martinus]

It doesn't have to be some newish field of technology. The last bubble was in real estate after all.

Well, for Tamas, private ownership of real property is probably innovative. 

[Neil]

It doesn't have to be some newish field of technology. The last bubble was in real estate after all.

Well, for Tamas, private ownership of real property is probably innovative. 

Hey now.  It's not like you're from a much better place.

[Zanza]

It doesn't have to be some newish field of technology. The last bubble was in real estate after all.

Well, for Tamas, private ownership of real property is probably innovative. 

[Tamas]

It doesn't have to be some newish field of technology. The last bubble was in real estate after all.

Well, for Tamas, private ownership of real property is probably innovative. 

God damn this has to be one of the biggest pot-meet-kettle moments in the forum history.

Besides, you are the socialist, not me

[Neil]

Besides, you are the socialist, not me

I think it's a mistake to assign a concrete political ideology to Martinus.

[Martinus]

Besides, you are the socialist, not me

I think it's a mistake to assign a concrete political ideology to Martinus.

Indeed. Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative.

[Martinus]

God damn this has to be one of the biggest pot-meet-kettle moments in the forum history.

Besides, you are the socialist, not me

I'm not a socialist. I just temporarily support ideologies that destroy family values and undermine judeo-christian foundations of our society.

[Neil]

Besides, you are the socialist, not me

I think it's a mistake to assign a concrete political ideology to Martinus.

Indeed. Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative.

I don't think of you as being especially imaginative.

[Tamas]

God damn this has to be one of the biggest pot-meet-kettle moments in the forum history.

Besides, you are the socialist, not me

I'm not a socialist. I just temporarily support ideologies that destroy family values and undermine judeo-christian foundations of our society.

the very foundations which keep a lynchmob from hanging you from a lamppost. They have several options to justificate that:
-you are gay
-you are rich
-you have a very jewish-suspectible profession