At the beginning of each year, there’s always some banter about things that happened during the past year, and a few predictions about what will happen in the coming year.
With the current state of the nation and the world, I’m not sure predicting what’s to come is as easy as it once was. But by the same token, I’d say that current state makes it pretty easy to predict things that won’t happen.
In no particular order, here are some things I believe won’t happen in 2020.
•Members of the U.S. Congress on both sides of the aisle won’t reach an accord on, well, anything.
I think it’s safe to say that the era of compromise and accord has passed. Now it’s all about who can argue loudest and with the most buzzwords.
•Elon Musk, founder and CEO of SpaceX and about a half-dozen other companies, won’t listen when someone says he can’t do something.
At this point, why would anyone doubt this guy? He’s already proven to be an entrepreneur like no other in history, and he’s hardly gotten started. I look forward to when he had his Starlink satellite system completed and people in remote parts of Kazakhstan can get actual high-speed internet as easily as folks in big cities.
•Many Americans won’t stop complaining about issues they don’t know many facts about.
Facts schmacts. Let’s just make claims and proclamations and place blame without having much – if any – real evidence to back what we say. Isn’t it just more fun that way? It’s like lots of folks just live like they’re always on the Jerry Springer Show.
•The Chinese government won’t honor the desires of residents of Hong Kong.
No way can that fly. Heck, that would probably lead to having to respect and honor the wants and needs of all Chinese citizens, and we can’t have that, now can we?
•Members of the Iranian government won’t honor the desires of Iranian citizens.
Why should they, when it’s obvious they know to run the lives of everyone on the planet?
Death to Israel! Death to America!
Come on, really?
•Kim Jong Un won’t stop being a silly distraction.
If this clown and is really the threat to the U.S. and Western civilization that he wants to be portrayed as, I’ll eat my entire hat collection. And his sorry version of North Korea is as good an example of repression as there ever has been. I don’t understand why he’s allowed to get away with half the stuff he does.
•Longhorns fans and Sooners fans won’t kiss and make up.
Just sayin’.
•Many Americans won’t stop acting as if they’re “entitled” to all kinds of free stuff.
Hey, the government and the rest of the public has “enabled” this for so long, it’s probably a little too late to consider ways to curb it.
•The U.S. media won’t alter the way it presents virtually everything as the next big catastrophe.
That storm crossing the continent? The biggest ever. That decision by a state court somewhere? It changes everything. That disease spreading among wildlife? We’re all next. Let’s face it: We’re doomed.
•Many Americans won’t pay much attention to all the noise.
There are still people who recognize that the life God gave us is worth living. Despite all the ridiculous strife, there are many wonderful, positive things worth focusing on, like family, friends, work and quality free time.
•The U.S. media won’t stop picking on President Donald Trump.
I guess he’s just any easy target.
Anyway, have a great 2020 – no matter what doesn’t happen.
Doug Davison is a writer, photographer and newsroom assistant for the Houston Herald.
Email: ddavison@houstonherald.com.