No point in trying to sleep. I'm too stunned by the hatred and stupidity of this country that I no longer recognize. I'm so glad to be on the sensible, Democratic west coast. The rest of the country now feels like enemy territory - too dangerous to ever consider visiting Orange Hitler states, that's for sure.
BUT, I came here to make some predictions for the next four years! That way, when they come true, I can TRULY say "I told you so!"
1. First one is easy - stock market collapse - My guess is that it'll be down by at least 10% by the end of the week, and it will never recover to where it is now in the next four years. All of our retirement accounts will follow suit. I'm cheating on this one because the US futures and all foreign markets are already collapsing to near this point already. I wish Republicans would EVER consider considering CAUSE and EFFECT!
2. Obamacare will be revoked - 20 million people will lose coverage, and anyone with a pre-existing condition will be totally screwed. Those unemployed 22 year olds in mom's basement? No more insurance coverage for them either! People without insurance wait longer to see a doctor, so naturally are much sicker. They go to the ER, where they pay nothing. The HOSPITALS, however, pass the cost of those savings of the uninsured on to - you guessed it - people who DO have insurance! Premiums are gonna jump faster than EVER in the next few years!
3. Wage stagnation - Trump doesn't even pay his own contractors, but maybe he will when the Republicans decrease the minimum wage! See, if you have to pay one employee $8.00 an hour, wouldn't it be BETTER to get 2 employee's for $4.00 each? Maybe not that extreme a percentage, but who knows. It'll devastate the very people who voted for Trump, so hope they enjoy getting by on less. Best case scenario for those earning minimum wage is that it'll just remain frozen where it is. Of course, that'll never keep up with...
4. Massive inflation - If he truly adds tariffs and ends our trade agreements - which he SWORE TO GOD he would - then all the plastic crap that idiot Republicans buy at Walmart will skyrocket in price. That'll show the "elites!"
5. Elimination of protection for LGBTQ community - Bigotry won! You don't wanna serve Frank and I (who pay taxes toward the street and infrastructure that makes your business possible) - we will have no rights. Religious Freedom laws will eliminate gay marriage in a bunch of states, but I'm hoping that the new Trump Supreme Court won't just do a mass retraction of all gay marriages. Trump said that was want he wanted to do, Mike Pence passed laws to outlaw anyone who sought gay marriage licenses in Indiana, so maybe a stacked Supreme Court could actually make it so.
6. Destruction of public schools - Trump said he would slash the Department of Education. Teachers are totally screwed. Less money means more students per worse paid teacher. Huge classes lead to less learning which leads to stupider people who can't get decent jobs later in life. EXACTLY what the Donald needs to man his golf courses and hotel lobbies. And vote for him, of course.
7. Massive rise in violent crimes/terrorism within the US borders - Oh, I know that he said he would yugely reduce these things, but his Third Reich approach to minorities and immigrants can't help but increase radicalization within our borders. People within targeted communities might recognize a troubled soul who is approaching their snapping point, but why would they ever go to the authorities with the information? The "authorities" are now a symbol of Trump himself, and NEVER to be trusted! Trump voters now know that they can attack minorities as Trump has normalized this behavior. Civility is over, the KKK is celebrating bigly!!
Anyone else got some predictions of the immediate future? Wars? Normalization of sexual assault?? Acceleration of global warming??? I feel like this is as good a place as any to stop for now.
America, what the FUCK have you just done???