Scary Political Prediction of 2004 Now Coming True
 

Greetings,

In 2004 - July 24 to be exact - I wrote a piece entitled "Committing Heresy: Get Bush Out In 2004". As I was finding out some of the results of the recent election that piece flashed into my mind and I re-read it to see how close my Election Prediction was from 2 years ago. Let me reprint it here for you to judge - and comment on...

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Committing Heresy: Get Bush Out In 2004
© 2004 by Michael Ross

I'm going to commit heresy, as far as some (many?) of my readers are concerned. Initially, you are going to think I've joined the dark side. Lost my marbles and done a Kerry flip-flop. But read me out before deciding on your final judgment.

Bold statement: George W Bush must lose the election this year for all our sake.

Okay. First the bad stuff. And number one on that list is The Patriot Act. What would have to be the worst piece of legislation to come out of any democratic government that I can remember.

With that, and the Department of Homeland Security, I am now forced to have a biometric passport (and I live in Australia!). Upon entering the U.S. I get my photo taken - and maybe even my fingerprint scanned - and pretty well treated like a felon. Nice way to treat someone coming to your country to spend money - NOT!

Granted, this might appear as the government doing its job - protecting the personal and property rights of its citizens. But that is all it is doing, only appearing to do its job, not actually doing its job. You cannot claim to be protecting someone's personal and property rights while simultaneously taking those rights away, can you?

But still. At least it is kinda in the right direction.

Dubya is for tax cuts. Good plus here. And for this reason alone he could be worthy of getting re-elected. And I'll elaborate more in a minute.

So on the one side you've got tax cuts and on the other side there is the Patriot Act.

From a financial point of view, the tax cuts are tempting. But to have all banking transactions monitored under the guise of protecting the country in case terrorists want to transfer money around, kind of defeats the point of tax cuts. It's giving me a little bit more money while monitoring my transactions and taking away my freedoms. And I'm supposed to be thankful for this?

Anyway. Some time in the next year or so, the Clinton/Greenspan Stockmarket/Real-Estate Bubble is going to finally burst for good. Stocks already tanked and now it is just a matter of time before real estate goes the same way. And judging by conditions in Australia and their mirror image in the U.S., that crash is not too far away. The only thing preventing it being Greenspan's interest rate manipulations. But they only delay it, not stop it from happening all together. So some time at the end of this year (maybe even before the election) and certainly in 2005, the real estate market will tumble and bring everything else down too.

If Bush wins in 2004, then the crash will happen on his watch. He will try to fix it. To turn the economy around. This will first be done as it is always done - by printing money. The economy will be in such a state that this will have zero effect. The ONLY thing which will help the economy will be to ABOLISH INCOME TAX and instigate a FLAT CONSUMPTION TAX. To make tax a true "user pays" system.

This will immediately put money (a lot of money) into the hands of the citizens. And this action will also turn the economy around. And could, in all reality, see a continuously booming economy.

HOWEVER, this will take time to get in. And if the economy tanks as much as I think it will, then come 2006, Bush will lose control of the senate and congress and won't be able to get his tax reforms pushed through. And he will lose control because the left will blame him for the crash - even though the events for the crash were set in motion by Clinton/Greenspan back on Clinton's watch.

So come 2008, the GOP will lose and Hillary (who will be Kerry's VP running mate in 2004), will win in a landslide. We will then be with 8 years of Hillary at the helm. And as she is a self-confessed socialist, then the economic future looks very bleak indeed.

BUT, if we let Kerry win in 2004, then the crash will happen on his watch. In 2006 he will lose control of the senate and congress. And in 2008, the GOP will get back in a landslide and can then implement the much needed income tax abolishment.

With no income taxes (private and company) individuals will be more financially able to pursue their goals. Companies will have more money to reinvest to create further values - which will mean more jobs and a flourishing economy.

Because there will be so little tax being collected, compared to today, there will be no need for the behemoth IRS. Just the savings on IRS running costs alone could run a small country.

Other government departments would also fall by the wayside as people didn't need them any more. The welfare state would diminish of its own accord with the booming economy.

The economy is at a stage now where nothing will stop the crash. Bush won't try for abolishing tax at this stage of the election campaign. In fact, not too much of anything will get done between now and election time. Which means, the crash is inevitable. It is going to happen. No-one can stop it at this point in time.

Now. If Bush wins in November, there is little hope he will be able to get tax cuts put into effect then. Just consider how much trouble he has had with the minor tax cuts he's trying to get made permanent at this point in time. When the economy dives and the GOP loses the senate and congress, Bush will be a powerless leader doomed to wait out his term and the GOP will be defeated mightily by Hillary.

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There was some more but it had to do with Australia and our conservative govt and the election of 2007. But besides, it looks like my prediction from two years ago is coming / has come true. So WiLL we see the first lady of old become the POTUS in two year's time?

Michael Ross

Re: Scary Political Prediction of 2004 Now Coming True
 

This election was a vote for change. A lot of Americans are not happy with many issues and it showed at the polls.

I saw Tom Delay on TV saying how things that need to get done will not get done now with Democrats controlling the house and possibly the Senate. My question is why didn't they get down when Republicans controlled the House, Sentate and Presidential office.

Will be an interesting election in 2008

Mark

Re: Scary Political Prediction of 2004 Now Coming True
 

Hi Michael,

Its amazing how astute your observations were back then.

Anyways, my post is not about politics, more about privacy...


All countries check your passport for identity purposes. Now they even take your fingerprints - for identity purposes. Why is that bad?

I don't know how personal rights or privacy rights are violated by giving your fingerprints. Has anyone ever refused to show their passports to the authorities because it violates their privacy?

Sooner or later, we are going to move towards using better technology. A century back, all they had was paper - and so all they used was paper identity (passports, ration cards). But now we have better technology for identity - finger print recording, biometrics etc - and we will start using it - sooner or later.

You know what would be cool? Having no paper identity on you. No drivers licenses or passports. Just use your fingerprints instead. It is more secure, will be less costly in the long run, and we will even save a few more trees.:p

Maybe get rid of paper money and credit cards too - just use fingerprints for exchanging money... I think that'll happen someday.

And what of my Freedom and Privacy???
 

Ankesh,

Thanks for your thoughts.

When someone is arrested on a Criminal Charge they have their Photo taken and their Fingerprints. Upon entering the US I am subjected to the Same treatment a Criminal is, just by someone I do not call a Police Office - they are probably called Immigration Office or Insert-Name-Here Officer.

It is bad because for it to work - as you mentioned - it requires my Fingerprints to BE ON FILE. If they are on file and each Scan double checks that file, ALL my movements and the like are being recorded/tracked. I am Thus NOT FREE... and have NO PRIVACY.

Please tell me why THAT is a Good thing?

Michael Ross

Re: And what of my Freedom and Privacy???
 

I'm trying to understand Michael... would it be ok if they take your finger prints at the airport if everyone in the US (not just criminals) also had to submit their finger prints for records?

I don't see any difference between using finger prints or passports - for identity. Even while you show your passport, you do tell that you are entering the country. Your privacy is affected. (Can you enter any country anonymously?)

I'm not saying give permission to the authorities to check your identity anytime they want... I'm saying converting paper identities to digital identities seems like a good idea.

Anytime the authorities now ask for your paper identity, they can in the future ask for your digital identity (entering a country, driving violation, voting).

Re: And what of my Freedom and Privacy???
 

Ankesh,

Thanks for trying to defend your position.

By the way, nice dodge... answer what you think you can and don't answer what you cannot.


Let's change this question to something equally as valid...

"Would it be ok to shave your head at the airport if everyone in the country had to have their head shaved?"

And let's take it futher...

"Would it be ok to tattoo you with a number at the airport if everyone in the country had to have a number tattooed on them?"

It's the Same Question with different scenarios on it that all represent infringement upon my person.

The Propblem with using Fingerprints as ID is as I stated... they Must be on file and be accessible, insantly. And as such, each Check will be recorded.

So I fly in without a passport and let my fingerprint be scanned. The computer Instantly brings up my ID details so the Officer can see if it is me or not.

I want to buy something. I have my fingerprint scanned so the shop's computer can carry out the transaction by removing money from my account into theirs. This requires my print-file in the Master Computer be checked. Another check leaves a Footprint behind - where, when, what for.

I have Instantly LOST ALL PRIVACY. No longer can I buy something without the gummit knowing what it is, when it is and so on. My life is an Open Book to ANYONE who cares to take a look.


What you need to Learn about the gummit is the Creep.

Let me show you how this works with a Real Life example...

Years ago some doink down in this country went postal and killed some people with guns. Now this Event took place in a state that had the Strictest Gun Control measures of Any state in the country. The Doink was UNlicensed - and therefore going by ALL laws of the country should Not have been able to buy a gun Anywhere. One of the guns he used had been confiscated by police in another state 6 months earlier in a raid (how this guy got it was never mentioned) and his other gun was not available to the public.

So an unlicensed guy managed to have two guns no normal Australian could have while living in a state with the toughest gun laws. As a result of the killings our country decided to Disarm the population to an extent. It banned...

ALL semi-automatic rifles of Any caliber

ALL shotguns with a magazine capacity of more than two, regardless of caliber.

New laws included...

1: Must have Valid reason for owning a gun. Self defense was NOT considered a Valid reason. Only "Member of a shooting club" or "Permission to shoot, from a landowner" is considered a Valid reason - as is Profession, with Proof to back it up of course.

2: All amunition Must be kept locked away Separate from the firearm.

3: Firearm Must be stored in disabled condition - taken apart if possible, bolt separate, etc.

4: All firearms Must be locked in a safe bolted to the floor or weighing at least 150kg

5: ALL firearm owners Must do a Safety Course

6: ALL firearms owners Must Register Their Guns - so the authorities know who has the guns and Where they are.

7: If you move, you Must inform the relevant state body Where you are moving to so they can Update the gun registry database.

8: All illegal guns - just made illegal - Must be handed in by a certain date otherwise jail time for you.

What this meant was... if a police officer had to visit you they could look up your details on their car's onboard computer to see If you had any guns, what they were, and how many - and - if anyone else in the street had guns.

During the implemtation I had Two licenses for two different states. I moved three or four times and Never updated my gun database details. I also let one of my licenses laps.

The Day After one of my licenses lapsed there was a note in the letterbox from the local police. It informed me I HAD to hand in my guns IMMEDIATELY or they would come and get them from me. I had 24 hours to respond.

I called them to speak to them about it and Asked how they found me since I had Never updated my gun details. They told me How they tracked me via my driver's license.

So as I updated my driver's license from one state to the next a couple of times, Those details were stored with my gun details. So they ALWAYS knew where the guns were.

They tracked me because of Creep. Being able to track via a driver's license was NOT part of the new gun legislation. But the powers of that legislation saw Creep take ahold.

Until your gummit decides YOU are a criminal overnight and Forcible Takes your posessions away from you, you will NOT understand on an intrinsic level why I do not Like gummits or trust them, and Why I value my privacy so much as I do. You will not understand why I am so vocal when people - like you - are so willing to think giving up privacy for an APPEARANCE of convenience is a good idea.

NOTHING that infringes upon my privacy is good. And while today it's fingerprints, it's only a Short Step to needing it for fincancial transactions as you mentioned, and then saliva swabs to enter a country and DNA matching and so on. Even fingerprinting us at school and keeping those files on record In Case we think of committing a crime - we have to protect the children will be the reason - and so on.

Look at how much privacy we have lost already in the last 30 years. And no-one notices.

While *I* cannot stop it from happening, I will certainly voice my concerns when someone else is so ready to give up My Privacy for Their Conveniece.

As it stands now with the US and their fingerprinting upon entry... I will NOT visit that country for a vacation. I've been before and Loved the place. And would equally Love to go back. But not now, because the gummit's actions tell me they do not welcome law abiding honest citizens of another country and would rather subject them to the same treatment as all criminals get. It would have to be a Very Compelling Reason for me to visit the US now. But vacations are right out.

The ONLY way I would see fingerprint IDing as being OK is...

When you get your passport you submit your fingerprint via electronic scan. When you arrive in a country you Prensent your passport and have your fingerprint scanned. The scan is cross-referenced with the data on the passport's microchip and image to Verify that it is you. And all the while your fingerprint scan is NOT kept or recorded and is instantly deleted of all computer memory.

If the Country wants to Log me in as a visitor, then I am fine with that. But I am NOT fine with having my fingerprints Recorded by the gummit of another country just so I can visit for a vacation.

Michael Ross

Re: And what of my Freedom and Privacy???
 

Giving finger prints is not the same as cutting all your hair or getting a tattoo. Giving finger prints neither hurts you nor changes your appearance.

What I'm debating is the tools and what you're debating is what the government can do with the tools.

They tracked you even though you haven't given them any finger prints - haven't they? They can track you even now - whenever you use credit cards, through your drivers license etc.

There was this story in the news some time back - they found 7 fake passports of a well known gangster - who was in the Top 10 wanted list in India. He could travel the world as he pleased. Now if they had finger printing technology, he wouldn't be able to use 7 different passports. His traveling would have been restricted. He would probably have been caught if he tried to travel through plane. Finger printing is a more secure way of identity checking than using passports.

I'm all for "upgrading" the technology - the tools.

Re: Scary Political Prediction of 2004 Now Coming True
 

Funny how Americans are expected to obey and comply with other country's laws when entering that particular country, and if we object we are deported back to the US and asked not to return, but when those not from our country come here, they want to fuss about complying with our laws.

Also funny how everyone wants to come here, get jobs and take American money and send it back to their country, because their own country's money has no sustainable value.

Even more funny, people protest how unfair America is to them for not allowing illegals to have the same rights as bona-fide US citizens are entitled to, but us Americans are not allowed to have the sames rights, special treatment or even hold a job in another country unless we bring the work with us.

Mr. Ross, I've been to many countries in my life and I can't begin to tell you the hoops I had to go through to enter a country or how I had to check in with the local law enforcement agency to inform them where I was staying, all because I was an American. It had nothing to do with security measures or terrorists, just being an American.

Your belly aching has no merit in my eyes and your argument is self serving. If you don't like our new methods, upon entering the United States, fine. Don't come here.

Matter solved. One less drain and complainer on our society.

From the Trouse
Woody Quiñones

Re: Scary Political Prediction of 2004 Now Coming True
 

Well said, Woody!

Here's another side of the story about illegals and their so-called 'rights'. By coming into this country illegally they have already shown their disregard of our laws, so why should they have ANY rights other than to be deported at their expense (instead of ours)?

Tho' I feel for their predicament, to a point, because of the economic and other hardships they were trying to escape, I hold no sympathy for those who come here and break our laws without so much as a 'gee, I'm sorry...what was I thinking of?'. I'm sick of their demands. They have no right to demand anything of us.

To top it off, I'm tired of hearing about all the jobs that Americans wouldn't do and they will. Baloney! If they didn't do them we could force those who go on the dole to work, if they're able. It might also encourage even more mechanization and innovation if their 'help' wasn't so readily available.

Unfortunately, it is true that the breaking of our laws to come here illegally is not the only law of ours that they break. They're ready pickings for the exploiters and drug dealers to blackmail into being mules and runners since they're afraid of being turned in, sent back, etc.

Illegals, whatever else they are, are a real threat and drain on this country. If they're so damned ambitious, why don't they work to improve their country by following in our footsteps and doing likewise? We've never hidden our methods under a rock...they're there for anyone who wants what we have to emulate right where they are. Learn, listen, ask for help if needed, then follow through right where they are from originally. Political problems are just that: problems that can be attacked and changed from within. Where there's a will, there's a way.

Sandi Bowman

Re: Scary Political Prediction of 2004 Now Coming True
 

Thanks for being so patriotic Woody.


This law of finger printing was passed when I was staying in the USA. And you know what - there were hundreds of *Americans* who didn't like the law either!

Were they a drain and a complainer to society too?

I think we should try to remain a bit more civil here.

Patriotism is good. But having an "everyone else can go to hell" attitude is not.

You didn't like how a few other countries treated you? Well - its your right to complain. But don't go: just because the other countries treated me poorly, we can treat people from other countries poorly too. Your thinking should be on a higher level than that.