Your comment post should be at least 330 words this week due Thursday by
11:59 pm (worth 70 points) and you will be responsible for responding
(respectfully) to one of your classmates in at least a one paragraph reply
entries by Sunday at 11:59 pm (worth 30 points
What Are Your Predictions for 2017?
Bubbles and balloons float over revelers at an event in Tokyo
welcoming 2017. Related
SlideshowCreditKoji Sasahara/Associated Press
For our
first Student Opinion question of 2017, we wonder: What do you think will
happen this year? What predictions can you make for global, national or local
events? For your own personal life? Why?
Much of
the speculation about changes this year is focusing on politics as Republicans
are about to seize control of the House, Senate and the White House for the
first time since 2006. In the introduction to the Run-Up podcast
“Predictions
for a Trump Presidency,” Michael Barbaro writes:
Here’s
something we did not predict a year ago: that Russia would hack the Democratic
National Committee to undermine faith in the 2016 election and that the winner
of that race, President-elect Donald J. Trump, would shrug off the entire
episode by telling the country to “move on” as he stood next to Don King, a
boxing promoter and convicted felon.
Nope.
We did not see that coming. Because predictions are hard — even hazardous. But
as the final days of the year tick down, The Run-Up wants to look
ahead, carefully, to 2017, when a new White House, a new Congress and a new
political reality will take over in Washington.
But you
might also want to read articles that make predictions about the year ahead
in sports (will
the “Patriots capture the Super Bowl, deflating the Cowboys”?); food (will
“French food, Filipino food, smoked food, whey, cannabis” be in style?); technology (will
we see more robots, augmented reality and self-driving cars?); or fashion (“a
whole new spin on nuptial trends” thanks to Serena Williams?).
— What
predictions can you make about the presidency of Donald J. Trump? Why? How will
his presidency affect the U.S. and the world?
— How
will a new era
of Republican control affect our nation? What specific Obama-era policies do you
expect may change? Why?
— What
do you think could happen in the realms of culture, the arts, fashion and
style? Be as specific as you can, especially about the aspects of culture that
interest you most.
— When
it comes to your life and your loved ones’ lives, what do you hope or believe
will happen?
— Do
you agree with Mr. Barbaro that predictions “are hard — even hazardous”? Why do
humans love making predictions? How can that sometimes go awry?
— Which
of your predictions most worry you? Most comfort you? Why?
— Do
you have any milestones coming up this year, such as a significant birthday or
a rite of passage such as a graduation? In general, what do you most look
forward to in 2017?

