First: Politics
- Mitt Romney will win the GOP race handily;
- Even if I am wrong about Romney, whomever wins the GOP will go on to beat Obama, America's worst President since Peanut Grower, Jimmie Carter;
- Putin will be forced out of Russian Politics - you heard it here first;
- Bob Rae will be confirmed as the Liberal's Permanent Leader;
- The NDP Leadership race will not be won by Thomas Mulcair despite his sizable lead in the polls (45%). He will be beaten by one of two dark horses - Peggy Nash (16%) or Paul Dewar (5.5%) and my money is on the long shot Dewar;
- With Mulcair's loss, the NDP's slide down in Quebec will quicken with their former supporters going to the Liberals the Bloc and to the Conservatives. The Liberals will be the big winner.
- Alberta must by law go to the polls this Spring. I see the Tories winning by a minority with the Wild Rose becoming the Official Opposition. As polls stand today, the Tories would cruise to an easy Majority - they won't though;
- Great Britain's Tory Government will fall and in the subsequent election, PM Cameron will regain power, this time with a majority;
- North Korea will move closer to detente under its new Leader;
- Pakistan's Government will be taken over - once again, by its Military.
Second: Government
- The Governments of the West will continue to slash and burn as State Debt continues to overwhelm the economy;
- This will continue to be most evident in Europe and even here in Canada, where federal government programs will be dropped / scaled back and high paying government jobs lost - 10 to 15 % of our federal current work force will be gone by this time next year;
- Given it is an Election Year in the United States - there will be much resistance to 'slashing and burning' and besides, Obama does not have the make-up to do what is necessary. Accordingly, most of their cutting will come in 2013 and 2014 under the Republicans and it will assuredly come.
Third: Civil Discourse
- The Civil Discourse (riots) that have plagued Europe will continue and will become even more violent as cuts in their social programs accelerate and more radical elements will involve themselves. Deaths will mount;
- There will be some of this occur in Canada but nothing to scale given that our economy is doing well. Few if any deaths can be expected;
- Civil Discourse in the US will occur but it will be muted given the 'put off' of tough measures into 2013.
Fourth: Economy
- Our economy will continue to outpace the G-8;
- Our dollar will end the year higher than its US counterpart;
- Interest Rates will continue to move sideways;
- Gold, Silver will out perform most other investments.
- Oil will stay consistently above $100 per b. and much higher should my prediction below in regard to Iran come to pass;
- China's role internationally will modestly diminish this year as their exports soften but a rise in its domestic economy will put this country in good stead for the future.
- We enter 2012 on the brink of financial collapse in the West and our collective state debts threaten to overwhelm our respective economies - Canada as well. My guess is that we will muddle through for one more year but the clock is ticking and sooner - rather than later, Governments must get their balance sheets in order. Europe save for Germany has been downgraded, the USA is subject to a negative credit watch - as is our dear Province of Ontario. These things can only be expected to get worse in 2012 but as I said, with a bit of luck we in the West may be able to muddle through for one more year. That's my prediction.
Fifth: Foreign Affairs
- The Islamists will entrench themselves in power in the Middle East putting to rest, once and for all, any thoughts of an Arab Spring. The Dictatorships will be seen as the 'good ole days'.
- Iran will meet its 'comeuppance' most likely at the hand of Israel or perhaps even the USA - but the cat and mouse game that has gone on for the last few years will come to an end. The fact that Obama is in an Election Year and is desperate for voter support will also be a big factor in this.
We, as Canadians, live in the Best Country in the World - we are so very fortunate. We have been given natural riches and resources beyond comprehension and we are possessed of a people who are not afraid of hard work.
We are indeed Blessed - in the coming year and always.
As I see it..
'K. D. Galagher'
