January 18, 2004: Trends for 2004 - Gerald Celente

Gerald Celente, director of the Trends Research Institute and publisher of the Trends Journal, delivers his sobering predictions for 2004 and beyond based on careful analysis of current social, economic, and political trajectories. Known for his accurate forecasting track record, Celente warns of economic instability, social demoralization, and increasing authoritarianism in American society. His bullet points for the year include potential mutiny in Iraq, the continuing decline of the Catholic Church as a major institution, terrorism trends, and wild cards that could devastate the economy while stripping away more civil liberties. He predicts income and benefit decline for most US workers, the growing gap between rich and poor, and the emergence of a "sheep-like society" increasingly willing to surrender freedoms for perceived security. Celente forecasts a recession by 2006, discusses gold as an investment hedge, and analyzes the effects of the war on terror on tourism and international relations. He explains his methodology of tracking current events to project future outcomes, distinguishing his approach from pure prediction by grounding forecasts in observable trends. The conversation covers entertainment industry changes, clean food movements, real estate futures, and the miserable holiday sales figures that didn't make mainstream news, painting a comprehensive picture of America's trajectory in the new millennium.