2017 Predictions

[DoomYoshi]

Netherlands leaves EU
Mass Riots in Hong Kong
WHO finally admits that Zika is a U.S. government-engineered virus
Iran signs formal alliance with the US&A
Choi Soon-sil is revealed to be an extraterrestrial
Thailand gets a 21st Constitution since 1932 and a 13th military overthrow (this might be my prediction for 2018 if it doesn't happen this year)

[waauw]

In continuation of your list:
GRRM will finally finish Winds of Winter
China will crack down on Taiwan
Merkel will be re-elected

[muy_thaiguy]

Trump tries to start several wars because someone in some remote village said they thought his tv show was overrated.
Melania Trump starts a campaign against cyber-bullying, while Donald calls some kid on Twitter a "fat loser that's stupid. sad".
Putin labels saxi as "expendable" and his posts take a sudden turn in tone. Almost as if someone else took over his account...
Erdogan continues to label anyone and everyone that dares criticize him as "a follower of Gulen" and has them locked up. Some never to be seen again.
BYU becomes even more reviled amongst college sports fans.

[Anarkistsdream]

Pipeline spills destroy the few water tables we have left in the United States... U.S. invades Mexico for cleaner water...

[waauw]

Pipeline spills destroy the few water tables we have left in the United States... U.S. invades Mexico for cleaner water...

Mexico builds wall to keep americans out.

[Dukasaur]

In all seriousness, by the end of the year I expect to see the first concentration camps in the U.S.

[2dimes]

Different from the big pen in Washington?

[notyou2]

Prices go up.

[riskllama]

chatstevens will continue to be an idiot in GC.

[DoomYoshi]

chatstevens will continue to be an idiot in GC.

reported for baiting

[riskllama]

chatstevens will continue to be an idiot in GC.

reported for baiting

go read GC right now, you stoopid f*ck...

[jgordon1111]

In all seriousness, by the end of the year I expect to see the first concentration camps in the U.S.

Probably correct Duk. Question is who will be in them and why?

[Symmetry]

In all seriousness, by the end of the year I expect to see the first concentration camps in the U.S.

Apart from the ones for Japanese-Americans during WW2, of course. Or the camps for Native Americans before that.

But, hey, first if you're ignoring the others.

[warmonger1981]

Not race but religion. Muslims=camp recruits.

[Dukasaur]

In all seriousness, by the end of the year I expect to see the first concentration camps in the U.S.

Probably correct Duk. Question is who will be in them and why?

I expect it will be the Mexicans, at first. Trump will attempt to fulfil his pledge to deport the illegals. However, American business can't handle losing that much cheap labour all at once. Last time they tried to wean American agribusiness off of its supply of cheap labour, there was a civil war and the countryside was laid waste. So this time, I expect Trump will listen to the entreaties of the agribusiness moguls and keep the labourers here. Instead of deporting them, they'll be herded into work farms where they'll continue doing the work they're doing now, but for even less pay.

A legal dodge similar to the one that Bush used for Guantanamo will be used. For two hundred and fifty years the Supreme Court has upheld the principle that the Bill of Rights protects everyone under American jurisdiction, regardless of whether they are citizens or not. The Bush era saw the first cracks in that principle; the Trump era will blow it to smithereens and completely strip away any Rights for those who are not full-bore citizens. They're stacking the Court with right-wing extremists who will play along. After that, the Mexicans will be slaves in all but name.

America already has a very large prisons-for-profits business sector. This will simply be a huge expansion of it. After the Mexicans, the Muslims (under a vastly-expanded Patriot Act) and then pretty much everybody who makes Trump feel insecure.

Remember Niemoeller's poem? Within our lifetime, its updated version will be common knowledge:

First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.

First they came for the Mexicans
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Mexican.
Then they came for the Muslims
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Muslim.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.