News. Politics & Economics: 2012 Predictions Please!
News. Politics & Economics: 2012 Predictions Please!
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0a

Original Poster:

24,160 posts

225 months

Thursday 15th December 2011
quotequote all
As per the title, what 5 events do you think we will see happen in N, P & E in 2012. Here are mine:

1) The Euro collapses. Starting with Greece and spreading via Italian debt owned by France. The many, many summits and accords along the way fail to reassure the markets and ‘the event’ (a bank collapse?) snowballs out of control of the ECB who cannot have meetings fast enough.

2) Ed Miliband is replaced as leader of the Labour Party. Labour tolerates him at the moment because they are ahead in the polls. However Europe will dominate the news and is already ranked as the third most important issue to voters. Cameron will receive praise for his strong leadership during the Euro collapse and the calls for Ed to stand down will grow.

3) Recovery of the Lib Dems to 12-15% share as they are hostile to the Conservatives and define a solid Lib Dem position. Conservative moves to minimise Lib Dem influence on government will help them win back some of their old voters. They won’t exit the coalition yet for fear of electoral annihilation.

4) Gold price hits $2,000 plus – reversal of recent losses due to turmoil created by 1) above and resulting terrible economic data out of all markets.

5) American backed Israeli raid on Iran. Evidence will surface (perhaps fabricated!) suggesting a raid could only be carried out within X months timeframe before becoming too dangerous and Israel will act on this.

Over to you smile

Edited due to inability to count.

Edited by 0a on Thursday 15th December 00:20

scenario8

8,003 posts

210 months

Thursday 15th December 2011
quotequote all
That's five, isn't it? Inflationary pressure hitting within the OP? That's an omen for the future.

0a

Original Poster:

24,160 posts

225 months

Thursday 15th December 2011
quotequote all
scenario8 said:
That's five, isn't it? Inflationary pressure hitting within the OP? That's an omen for the future.
Quite right, QE hit before I finished the post.

EDLT

15,421 posts

237 months

Thursday 15th December 2011
quotequote all
The Euro will collapse thread will be still be going in the summer.

A celebrity will do something unbelievably dull and it will be on tv, the internet and in the papers for six months.

The world won't end in December.

scenario8

8,003 posts

210 months

Thursday 15th December 2011
quotequote all
I'll have a proper go then.

1. Things won't get significantly better on the economy. Much flux and simultaneous turmoil.

2. The European body politic will get an historic kick up the backside.

3. My God there'll be no escaping the Olympics in N,P+E. For good or bad. But mostly bad considering bad makes much better copy.

I'll add a four on a personal note. The missus will win (or lose, depending on your perspective) the battle of personal freedom against age as her ovaries are finally put to use.

Fittster

20,120 posts

244 months

Thursday 15th December 2011
quotequote all
Clegg is ousted as leader of the lib dems, lib dems join labour and Dave leaves 10 in order for Ed to move in.

Financial Sector exposed to market corruption comes to hound the taxpayer again, dusting off 'too big to fail'.

Population through out Europe and the West become more disillusioned with representative democracy and decline in voter turnout accelerates.

People fail to get the point of the book The Black Swan.

Edited by Fittster on Thursday 15th December 01:11

scenario8

8,003 posts

210 months

Thursday 15th December 2011
quotequote all
Fittster said:
Clegg is ousted as leader of the lib dems, lib dems join labour and Dave leaves 10 in order for Ed to move in.
fiver on that?

hornet

6,333 posts

281 months

Thursday 15th December 2011
quotequote all
Sarkozy loses the election on the back of French downgrade, starting a big swing against further euro and EU integration as people finally get tired of the whole sorry mess? Bank or three taken into state ownership. Lots more "last chance to save" summits.

0a

Original Poster:

24,160 posts

225 months

Thursday 15th December 2011
quotequote all
Fittster said:
Clegg is ousted as leader of the lib dems, lib dems join labour and Dave leaves 10 in order for Ed to move in.
A frightening prospect.

O/T the next election is set by the Fixed Term Parliament act as 7 May 2015. Paliament cannot be dissolved unless a motion of no confidence is passed and no alternative government is found, or a vote for an early general election is agreed either by at least two-thirds of MPs.

What happens if the lib-dems leave the coalition, but refuse to join Labour, and then Labour and the Lib Dems refuse to endorse a vote for an early election (say their poll numbers are bad)?

Are we stuck with a government that can do nothing?!

EDLT

15,421 posts

237 months

Thursday 15th December 2011
quotequote all
scenario8 said:
I'll have a proper go then.

1. Things won't get significantly better on the economy. Much flux and simultaneous turmoil.

2. The European body politic will get an historic kick up the backside.

3. My God there'll be no escaping the Olympics in N,P+E. For good or bad. But mostly bad considering bad makes much better copy.

I'll add a four on a personal note. The missus will win (or lose, depending on your perspective) the battle of personal freedom against age as her ovaries are finally put to use.
Oh bks that is next year isn't it, I had genuinely forgotten.

I predict the first "Olympic coutdown" news story to be in January.

Fittster

20,120 posts

244 months

Thursday 15th December 2011
quotequote all
0a said:
Are we stuck with a government that can do nothing?!
And that's a bad thing?

hornet

6,333 posts

281 months

Thursday 15th December 2011
quotequote all
EDLT said:
Oh bks that is next year isn't it, I had genuinely forgotten.

I predict the first "Olympic coutdown" news story to be in January.
The first?! We've had them for what feels like five years!

Look on the bright side, at least they'll be out of the way soon smile

Mr Happy

5,905 posts

251 months

Thursday 15th December 2011
quotequote all
1: Multiple 'foiled' terrorist attacks on the Olympics
2: We will be blamed for the Euro going down the tubes because of Cameron's veto
3: We will have one huge 'bad news' story covered up by Team GB winning gold medals at the Olympics
4: Iran will probably glow in the dark for the next 500 years as their "it's only for power" nuclear gubbins goes critical and ends up going pop. US/Israel/UK will be blamed for this along the same lines as Stuxnet
5: The iPhone 5 launches and becomes the biggest selling Apple device since the iPhone 4S

Gokartmozart

1,671 posts

236 months

Thursday 15th December 2011
quotequote all
Obama loses election to Romney.

Civil unrest spreads across major Russian cites.

Leaked reports show radioactive contaimination was far higher and widespread than reported from the Fukusima explosion.

Berlusconi suffers fatal heart attack while in prison.

Brite spark

2,106 posts

232 months

Thursday 15th December 2011
quotequote all
0a said:
2) Ed Miliband is replaced as leader of the Labour Party. Labour tolerates him at the moment because they are ahead in the polls. However Europe will dominate the news and is already ranked as the third most important issue to voters. Cameron will receive praise for his strong leadership during the Euro collapse and the calls for Ed to stand down will grow.
Labour already going behind in the polls.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16175503


0a

Original Poster:

24,160 posts

225 months

Thursday 15th December 2011
quotequote all
Brite spark said:
Labour already going behind in the polls.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16175503
Yes, as the article says most labour votes agree that the gov should not borrow more. Miliband is arguing against Cameron and against the electorate in Europe, MPs will start to grumble if the polls move more in 2012 as I think they will when the Euro goes.

Bing o

15,184 posts

250 months

Thursday 15th December 2011
quotequote all
UK, US and EU slip into depression - contagion spreads to Asia.

Credit Crunch II starts and banks take more public money/fold.

Several governments are changed in Europe, some by violent protests.

Following the withdrawals of troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, the US start provoking the Chinese over resource rich Myanmar/Burma and their territorial waters using Human Rights as a cover (plus ca change).

New cold war starts in the Pacific.

North Korea goes a bit more mental.

The winner of the X-Factor 2012 is still considered more important than any of the above by 90% of the UK population and media.

thinfourth2

32,414 posts

235 months

Thursday 15th December 2011
quotequote all
Fittster said:
0a said:
Are we stuck with a government that can do nothing?!
And that's a bad thing?
Well look how badly effected Belgium was after spending 541 days without a government.

Highest growth of any eurozone country

AJS-

15,366 posts

267 months

Thursday 15th December 2011
quotequote all
1. Something unexpected will happen.
2. Expert's predictions will prove wrong.
3. Politicians will blame experts for their predictions being wrong.
4. Experts will blame exceptional circumstances for their predictions being wrong.
5. Plans based on those predictions will go wrong.

ringram

14,702 posts

279 months

Thursday 15th December 2011
quotequote all
Core Euro area countries downgraded by rating agencies
Euro further depreciates
Predictions of breakup
Indirect Monetisation by ECB of sovereign bonds accelerates
Massive rally on the back of monetisation proves temporary
Euro area muddles through slowly lurching towards full integration and transfer union
Long term prospects after so much reform are positive
Commodities remain in strong demand as rising world population keeps pressure on
Watch for the curve ball from Iran for Oil prices, mega spike on the cards
Malthusian trends gather pace

My guesses