Complete this sentence: My biggest concern for the next four years is...

[ktowntennesseedem]

... the Supreme Court. We will hopefully only be stuck with the Chimp for four years, but we'll be stuck with a conservative court for decades, and that thoughtmakes me sick to my stomach.

:puke:

What do you think?

[billyoc]

1. Explosions in large population centers,

here and abroad. :scared:

[struggle4progress]

2. ... that there will be so much bad news, everyone will be overloaded.

[bowens43]

3. Keeping my two teenage sons out of the oil wars.

[MuseRider]

63. That would be my primary

concern as well. Everything concerns me but first above all else I must figure out how to help my almost 19 and my 20 year old sons. They will not be cannon fodder for this maladministration.

[vanboggie]

75. Ditto n/t

[Captain Ron]

4. That Iran will develop a nuclear bomb and then use it.

What would happen in the world then?

[alittlelark]

12. OOOOOKAY.....

[maxsolomon]

64. here's what would happen:

we, or russia, would nuke the fuck out of them.

iran is a bunch of assholes, but they're not fucking crazy.

fear is the mind killer, mr. 6 posts.

[dkofos]

68. If they do they will use it on the isralis

[Walt Starr]

5. Stashing away enough capital so that when the Dems lose in '08

I can get out of this country.

[RafterMan]

6. Global war and economic collapse

Wish I was kidding.

[Cornjob]

25. Thay have already started!

Already the cost of basic commodities has skyrocketed. Most folks don't realize that the price of steel has doubled during the past year. So have the prices of many chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and food items.

Wages will never catch this spiral.

On the war front. I think its a toss-up whether Turkey will invade Kurdish Iran, or North Korea will move south.

Not good at all.

[newyawker99]

49. Hi Cornjob!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[idiosyncratic]

7. the environment.

Of course I am also very concerned about the Supreme Court, the war in Iraq, the reduction of our personal freedoms, but as an avid camper and hiker, I am really concerned about what * has done to the public lands and proposed wilderness areas out here in the west.

These changes truly are not reversible. Once they start oil and gas drilling in an untouched area, it will never recover -- certainly not in any time our children or grandchildren will see.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

8. Jeepers, where do I start?

Probably the total collapse of Iraq, resulting in a Vietnam-type disaster with casualties of that magnitude, leading to the restoration of the draft., as well as the constant threat of terrorism provoked by the Iraq invasion, which in turn will cause an even greater loss of civil liberties. I believe we are truly screwed.

[BootinUp]

9. The incompetence

of the current administration because it will lead to serious economic problems. Remember it was during Reagan that this country saw many more families become two earner households. Whats next? probably a downward trend in home ownership.

[hatrack]

14. Are you familiar with Scott Burns?

He writes on money/investments/business for the Dallas Morning News. He's also very conversant with issues like water shortages in the American west, falling oil discovery rates and the kinds of things that Larry Kudlow and the rest of the corpo-hos don't talk about.

Anyway, (and your post about decreasing home ownership made me think of this) one trend he's hinted to watch for in the next ten years is a substantial increase in geriatric suicide, as the money runs out for millions of older Americans.

[BootinUp]

18. Could be

sounds like a smart guy, I'll remember that name. :)

And yes that is a horrible picture to imagine.

[Maccagirl]

10. Every post has been spot-on

and I'll include that I'm worried about the RW/fascist mindset will be even more entrenched and powerful in *'s second term. Of course every terrible thing that happens will still be blamed on libs.

[hatrack]

11. Waiting for the North Atlantic Current to collapse

Either that, or waiting for a nuclear explosion in Tampa, Boston or San Diego.

[Crowdance]

13. The draft

and its threat to my children. I'm going to miss them if I have to send them to Canada without me.

[DaveinMD]

15. Democrats tearing each other apart

as is done here every day.

[Booster]

16. Some idiot setting off a nuclear bomb, whether it be our idiot

or another country's idiot. It will start a chain reaction joined in by every country that has a bomb. I truly believe Bush is salivating at the thought of setting one off.

[The Wielding Truth]

33. Our idiot is developing new nuclear weapons that he has to try. He

will let some nation sneak through some dirty bomb so we can retaliate with his new nuke.Oh such a waste this administration is.WE could be curing cancer. That could be our evil enemy. No,it's are freedoms and middleastern fears that they cling to.

[Mr. Mousie]

17. Whether we can build a movement to stop these people.

That's my main concern. That we build a movement that isn't afraid to get in the streets and take on the fascist agenda of Bush's ugly crew.

[murray hill farm]

56. my biggest fear too

The complacency of the American people...the burying the collective head in the sand..that belief that..even though it is happening...and continues to happen more and more..people go to work..if they even have jobs..look the other way so they do not have to see...and continue to say..."no, no..this cant happen in America." Folks do not want to see..too scary...so go back to the old belief that if i do not see it and do not admit it, it isn't happening.

[Warren DeMontague]

19. My biggest concern is what will happen to Scott Peterson.

Will he get the death penalty? Life in Prison? These are the most important questions facing America today. I simply MUST know all the details!

Second to that, of course, is Michael Jackson. What will happen with his trial? What salacious tidbits will be released? Will we get enough media coverage? Is such a thing even possible?

Kobe Jackson, it seems, will not be having a criminal trial. Such a disappointment, because we were all waiting for that one. However, the civil suit could provide at least a few weeks of non-stop media fodder.

Other than that, I'm really looking forward to more celebrity and show trials. Why, sometimes I wish I could have three tvs in the room, so I could watch one celebrity or show trial on CNN, one on MSNBC, and another one on FOX! There's just so much... news out there to take in!

Nevertheless, I have full faith in the media that they will keep me informed and abreast of these events, which are by far the most important things happening on the planet right now.

[BootinUp]

20. ROFL n/t

[ktowntennesseedem]

21. For the "glass-half-full" crew, here's something positive:

And judging by the wide range of replies, I feel safe in saying this.

For the next four years, we get to say "I told you so" over and over.

Small consolation, and of course the trick, much as it is now, is to get anyone who will listen.

[mtnsnake]

22. The environment. I love the outdoors, the mountains, animals, everything

We already know we're screwed on everything else like the war, the economy, and the supreme court justices, but I really feel especially concerned about what's happening to the environment under this madman. Bush has rolled back an obscene number of laws that had been put in place to protect the environment, all in the cause of greed.

[A Brand New World]

23. Keeping my only child (son) from being drafted into this moron's

illegitimate war.

[Eric J in MN]

24. an attack by Al Quaeda worse than the one on 9/11 (nt)

nt

[natureman]

26. The Environment

The Bush Administration is already going after the last unspoiled wilderness areas in Alaska. It just makes me sick. I want my kids and grandkids to see these unspoiled areas. We must conserve these areas and progress towards alternative energy. I am so pissed!

[Cadence]

27. The complete dissolution

of democracy and the constitution. The complete absence of independent, investigative journalism in the media. I heard somewhere once that our little democracy experiment will only work so long as we have a free and fair media keeping things in check. That no longer exists.

[juslikagrzly]

35. Agree with this one!

Scary times ahead.

[lasttrip]

28. further economic collapse.

[Fleurs du Mal]

29. The Supreme Court and Environment

Idiots in charge of either will have lasting impacts.

[deminflorida]

30. I have no concerns....they have broken it, let them TRY and FIX

it...

It can't be fixed. An insurgency takes decades sometimes to resolve. We will continue to bleed money and precious American lives in this unnecessary endeavor.

This is the biggest bunch of damn crooks in American history.

But the blood is not on my hands.

At least I'll be able to sleep at nights knowing this.

[ThorsHammer]

31. Where to start

Message:
Iraq: This could be our generation's Viet Nam. We've already lost 1000 Americans, uncounted numbers of Iraqis (many whom were innocent; "collateral victims" to the far right), spent billions, and for what? I supported the Afghan war, but opposed Iraq as it's a diversion from the real threats (Al Queda, N. Korea, Iran).
- Addendum to this: Dissolution of alliances and pissing off the world. We've always been a world leader, but it's pretty hard to lead when you're going against overwhelming world opinion.
- Second addendum: The war starts going even worse, leading to a draft. Terrorism increases as the war breeds more animosity towards the U.S.


Economy: Absolutely brilliant move on the tax cuts and sqaundering of the budget surplus (sarcasm here). I don't like the idea of deficit spending, especially if the driver is to cut taxes for those who don't need the extra money. Also managed to oppose the inheritance tax, which I find asinine. Given that the government must impose some taxation for revenue, I believe it's much more fair to take it from those who did nothing to earn it (heirs/heirresses) than from those who actually have to work for their money (current wage earners).

Further domestic polarization, if possible. IMO, 9/11 gave us a great chance to come together as Americans and drop the red/blue, liberal/conservative, R/D crap. That has been squandered over the last 4 years, and I don't see anything that would give me reason to believe he will seek bipartisanship.

[newyawker99]

50. Hi ThorsHammer!!

Welcome to DU! :toast:

[ThorsHammer]

60. Thanks for the kind words Newyawker99

[EndElectoral]

32. Bush

[proud_Kucitizen]

34. Patriot acts

2,3,4,5........

[prairie populist]

36. the U.S. Constitution

[Contrary1]

37. How many times I can

laugh at the Bushies, and tell them "Don't come blubbering to me, it's your fault for voting for him", without getting beat up too badly.

Seriously...World War III

[Name removed]

38. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

39. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Wolf1728]

40. American Education

1) With Dubya and the Christian Right wielding so much power, they may finally get their God agenda into the classrooms. Well that would be one giant leap backward for American Education. Let's teach Creationism (or is it called Intelligent Design now?). While we're at it, move into geology and talk about Biblical explanations for the Grand Canyon. Also, bring forth evidence for the Great Flood.

2) Dubya's speaking skills are horrible and what kind of a role model is that for American students?

For too long, American Students, when compared to students in other industrialized countries, have been finishing last or close to last in math and science skills. Dubya's "educationable" ideas are not going to reverse this situation.

[newyawker99]

53. Hi Wolf1728!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Wolf1728]

61. Thanks for the welcome NewYawker

Hey we're neighbors. I live in Boston.

[henslee]

41. not getting on the stick regarding midterms.

[Piperay]

42. The environment

NOTHING else matters if you can't breathe and don't have clean water. Once the environment is distroyed it is gone forever.

[corker]

43. perpetual war...

poisoning the environment and economic meltdown, basically I'm worried about our country in chaos....

[lil-petunia]

44. the constant erosion of our few remaining civil rights

This administration is mad. Mad with power, mad with war, mad with the need for control, mad with their wish to stomp out any dissent.

[Delphinus]

45. The rape of the environment ...

was the first thing that jumped into my head. But, now that you mention the Supreme Court, that's right up there as a tie with it.

[hamerfan]

46. That John Ashcroft...

Will be the next member of the Supreme Court...

[Forkboy]

47. Surviving

[Hatchling]

58. Agreed.

Just living through it...and hoping/praying that we don't see another Repub in the WH in '08.

[Goldeneye]

48. total destruction of the environment.

[greenohio]

51. We don't learn anything from this election

and continue to lose.

[rockymountaindem]

52. ...the national debt and the declining US dollar.

[Rambis]

54. WW III

Iran, Syria here we go?

[willysnout]

55. ... that the Democratic Party will implode in a fratricidal orgy ...

... of recrimination and pointless idelogical debate, allowing the Republicans to lock in their dominance for the next 50 years

[Skidmore]

57. that we'll see the rise of gulags and death of due process and

redress through the rise of activist conservative courts.

[ShaneGR]

59. That the far left and the middle left will kill each other....

Resulting in more lost seats in congress and another Republican in office from 2008 to 2016.

[MsConduct]

62. That the repugs will abolish the two term limit. n/t

[JeffInRick]

65. That things won't be bad enough....

...for people to realize that we are on the road to hell.

[ktowntennesseedem]

73. Right on! and welcome!

I've posted here a number of times already on this one. Things will get worse, but they must get bad enough and fast enough to get everyone's attention. If it happens to gradually, there's less shock value, and people will just start accepting a bleak future.

:scared:

[midnight armadillo]

66. The implosion of the US healthcare system

Rising inflation and healthcare costs, combined with Bush's proposed elimination of the business tax deduction for healthcare, will combine to totally derail US healthcare, such as it is.

After that, the draft. At age 30 I'm in the potential age bracket for a new draft...

[FubarFly]

67. ..all of the above.

and then some.

[dkofos]

69. Dems don't win in 2006 and we are stuckwith one party rule

until we are forced to take back the country by force.

:wtf:

[suegeo]

70. Ensuring that people who dissent don't get "disappeared"

Or that the chimp's mental health screening doesn't label all the people who disagree with the neo-cons as "mentally ill" therefore, the gov't must lock them up.

Oh, and another Bush Admin manufactured terror attack somewhere in order to get the sheep to line up for the slaughter.

[GoSolar]

71. environmental destruction.

Bush is causing damage that can never be repaired.

[mcscajun]

72. That another terrorist attack here will take the US right over the edge...

...into willing, rampant fascism.

A gullible, ill-informed, fear-ridden populace will rollover and play dead for anyone who will keep them safe...or at least appear to be really tough and looking like they're doing it. We're half-way there, now.

Another attack here equal to or worse than 9/11 will let the dogs loose for good and all. Overturning the two-term limit would be a walk in the park...and that's just for openers.

Long-term, though...the Supreme Court makeup and our descent into theocracy is our biggest risk, IMHO.

[leanin_green]

74. That Rex84 will become a reality

Marshall law will be enacted after the discovery of a terrorist(s) with a nuclear device within the country. The Constitution will be suspended and the war state created. People of Middle eastern descent will be rounded up, eventually all black Muslims or any Muslims, any "sympathizers" will be included(this means all of us)and the internment camps for the Japanese/Americans from WWII will begin to fill. I know this sounds a little out there, but, does anybody remember the question that was asked by a Democratic Senator during the Iran-Contra hearings of Olie North? A Senator asked something about Rex84(I don't remember the context), all I remember is the immediate cessation of the hearings at which time they went into closed session. I've researched it, it exists.

[ScreamingMeemie]

76. My children. Not getting in line. Not "presenting a united front" for

something I don't believe in...simply my babies. :hi:

[leyton]

77. Making sure Democrats get their game together,

come up with coherent positions, establish a courthouse-whitehouse media strategy and run a candidate with crossover appeal.

[Jack Bone]

78. First off..maybe as soon as Feb. '05

The House Committee On Unpatriot Activities

then down the road a ways...

lotsa soup kitchens & long, long lines

[floridadem30]

79. The supreme court nominee

[chefgirl]

80. My biggest concern

There is nothing that has me concerned more than the fact that my son will become old enough for the draft during dickheads second term.

Many things scare the shit out of me when I think about what he is doing around the world, the face of America that he chooses to show to country after country.
I worry that 9/11 wasn't lihop or mihop and we'll get hit again, and this time a whole lot worse.
I worry that our economy is hanging by a thread right now, and some country like China is going to own our asses outright, sooner than anyone ever thought it could happen.

Yet still, I wake up EVERY single morning worrying that I'm going to hear on the news that the draft has been reinstated, and my only child could feasibly be taken from me to further the unholy agenda of this obscene little fuckstick in the White House.

-chef-

[ktowntennesseedem]

81. My oldest turns 18 in '08

Fortunately for him, he is blind in one eye, from birth. If things get bad enough that they have to draft him, the whole world is pretty well screwed by then any way. Still a big concern for him, because he is starting to ask questions about what it was like during 'Nam. He knows he won't get drafted, but it seems he's worried about his friends already.

I don't see how this administration and a Republican congress can bring back the draft; it would be political suicide. But then I think back on so much in the last four years that I would never have imagined, and I start to think that we will have a draft as soon as they can figure out how to blame it on the Democrats. Shouldn't be too hard, they've tried to blame everything other problem in the world on the Dems.

[chefgirl]

83. You are not the first person to say that

I've had people tell me time and again that they couldn't possibly get away with reinstating the draft. Yet, in the same breath, they all seem to say the same thing you just did...

>>then I think back on so much in the last four years that I would never have imagined, and I start to think that we will have a draft<<

All I can say is I pray every day that the first part of what you said turns out to be true, because the really scary part is, no matter how much I may say that this maniac will never get my child to use as cannon fodder, the truth is, I have absolutely no idea how I would go about accomplishing it, and in the end, I know I will most likely lose that fight.

I've never known a fear quite like this in my life. I'm nearly paralyzed by it, and it only keeps building, day by day.

I thank God that your child won't have to face it, and pray to God that mine won't either.

-chef-

[ktowntennesseedem]

84. I try to focus on positive things, but the fear is still very real.

It's mostly speculation at this point, and until something actually happens to make those fears a reality, there's no use in worrying about them.

However, given the course of events of the last four years and the direction this administration seems hell-bent on taking us, those fears are justified IMO. Its not a question of if, but when will those fears become reality. From this thread, it's obvious a lot of us are worried about a lot of different and equal important things; the only surprise will be in which of those nightmares will all-too-real disasters.

[Heath.Hunnicutt]

82. The creation of a class of RFID-tagged migrant workers paid < minimum wage

Really, I think it's part of the plan. See RFID GTID articles on Vicente Fox administration, Southwestern Horse Ranchers Association, and follow your nose.