I hope I'm right

[scheming daemons]

Peruse through the forums here at DU and you'll likely see post after post predicting something bad and then ending with ... "I hope I'm wrong."

Doesn't matter the subject. Civil rights, health care, the economy, Iraq, Afghanistan, you name it. A completely pessimistic, distopian vision of the future followed by the disclaimer... "I hope I'm wrong."

But using the word "hope" here is not correct. Because anybody who has such a negative outlook on the future has lots of emotions running around in their brain, but "hope" isn't one of them.

I think many DUers got so beat down by 8 years of Bush and Cheney that their minds cannot accept that it might be different now. It's a weird form of Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome.

I'm proud to say that it has not afflicted me as of yet.

So here's what I have to say to all of you.....

- I predict that a robust, sweeping Health Care Reform bill will be on President Obama's desk before Christmas..... I hope I'm right.

- I predict that the economy will grow in the final 2 quarters of 2009, and that positive job growth will begin in the 1st quarter of 2010..... I hope I'm right.

- I predict that by January of 2011, less than 25,000 American troops will still be in Iraq.... I hope I'm right.

- I predict that by the beginning of Obama's second term, the Taliban will have been completely routed in Afghanistan and the draw down of troops will begin.... I hope I'm right

- I predict that the Democrats will lose less than 10 seats in the House in 2010, and will lose less than 2 in the Senate as the Republican party will have still not gotten their shit together.... I hope I'm right

- The demographics of this country are getting younger and browner. The "old white" majority that is predominantly conservative and easy to manipulate with fear tactics is slowly dying off. Because of the continuing demographic change, I predict that the Republican Party will be a minority party in congress for at least a decade - until they come to grips with the demographic realities and change their message and leadership accordingly..... I hope I'm right.

- I predict that a humming economy with several quarters of positive growth, a health care situation greatly improved over the current status quo, and a renewed respect for America around the globe will lead to a landslide victory for Obama in the 2012 election, no matter who the Republicans run.... I hope I'm right

- I predict that, before his first term is over, Obama will sign a bill repealing DOMA and will have abandoned DADT.... I hope I'm right


Finally... I predict that, despite all of the above coming true, DU will still have a sizeable population of posters who will be predicting the sky will fall... and then ending their post with "I hope I'm wrong."

On this... I know I'm right.

[JuniperLea]

1. I know you're right!

Great catch on the meme!

[NanceGreggs]

2. ...

:applause: :applause: :applause:

[scheming daemons]

13. Those coming from you are like Tiger Woods saying I'm a good golfer...

...thanks...

[babylonsister]

3. Ooo, snap! Great job! nt

[WeDidIt]

4. I hope you're right, too

but I'm not too optimistic that you are.

[livetohike]

5. I thought it was just me who was depressed with all the negativity

lately. Great post :toast:.

[villager]

6. I certainly hope you're right, too -- any similar optimism on the climate change front?

We could use some there...

[scheming daemons]

10. I think it is too late to stop, but I am optimistic in one way.....

... we will slow it down enough that our modern science will permit us to adapt to changes in time and still thrive.


.... I hope I'm right.


;-)

[panader0]

7. Well worth a rec!

[grantcart]

8. I think you will be

[MineralMan]

9. Just Say NO! to Nay-Sayers!

That's my advice.

[byebyegop]

11. "The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives and the dreams shall never die." - Teddy

[Arctic Dave]

12. I hope I'm wrong but I think this post won't make to the greatest page.

:hide:

[hfojvt]

14. unless you are Nostradamus

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x9006187#9006229

your predictions are not really worth discussing any more than anybody else's.

However, if the fifth floor of a building is on fire and I live on the second floor, it is nicer to get some warning about said fire rather than listen to somebody happily predicting that it will be put out (as if by magic) before it endangers my family and my belongings.

Of course it is one thing to warn about a fire on the fifth floor, and encourage plans for escaping the building and/or putting out the fie, and it is another to just wail that "the roof, the roof, the roof is on fire" and proclaim that we are all gonna die, or worse yet, express joy that the mofo is gonna burn.

But it is also another thing to just predict that the sun will come out tomorrow because you hope it will without either evidence or plans.

[scheming daemons]

21. Nostradamus was a fraud

[hfojvt]

22. did you even read my link?

You should. I think it was kinda funny.

[lamp_shade]

15. You're sooooo right.

[Pangolin2]

16. I think you are wrong, and I hope

I am too.


:D

[deaniac21]

17. I BELIEVE !!!

[Echo In Light]

18. I'm currently re-reading the philosophical writings of SF legend, Philip K Dick

... re his political activism during the Nixon era. Amazingly accurate insight into the barrage of questions, thoughts and feelings one entertains and experiences in the good fight against the police state. The OP made me think of it...

[scheming daemons]

20. I'd be interested in that.... what's the book called?

[Echo In Light]

24. The Shifting Realities of Philip K. Dick: Selected Literary and Philosophical Writings

http://www.mossdreams.com/philipkdick.htm

[Cha]

19. It's the positive approach that

works for President Obama and his Team and that works for me, too.

Thankfully, there are a lot of DUers around here who are interested in the facts..not some negative, speculative hypothesis based on their FEAR.

[voc]

23. Kick n/t