1/3/2018 44 Numbers From 2017 That Are Almost Too Crazy To Believe | Zero Hedge

44 Numbers From 2017 That Are Almost Too Crazy To Believe

by Tyler Durden
Tue, 01/02/2018 - 08:16

92
SHARES

Authored by Michael Snyder via The Economic Collapse blog,

2017 went by way too quickly.  Donald Trump’s first year in the White House shook up the entire planet, and nobody is quite sure what is going to happen next.

Personally, as 2017 began I was still having a hard time actually believing that Trump was going to be our president.  Once he was finally inaugurated on January
20th I was able to relax a little bit, but at that point I had no idea that I would soon be running for Congress here in Idaho as a pro-Trump candidate. 
As 2018 begins, I think that it would be good to look back and remember some of the most important things that happened over the past 12 months. 

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The following are 44 numbers from 2017 that are almost too crazy to believe…
#1 During Donald Trump’s first year, ISIS lost 98 percent of the territory that it gained while Barack Obama was in the White House.

#2 The price of Bitcoin rose more than 1,300% during 2017.

#3 According to the Washington Post, one out of every ten young adults in the United States has been homeless at some point over the past year.
#4 The United States has lost more than 70,000 manufacturing facilities since China joined the WTO in 2001.
#5 On Donald Trump’s first full day in office he was 70 years, 7 months and 7 days old, and it happened in year 5777 on the Hebrew calendar.
#6 The all-time record for the number of retail store closings in the U.S. was absolutely shattered in 2017.  According to the latest figures, a total of 6,985 store
locations were shut down last year, and we are expected to break the record again in 2018.

#7 Incredibly, the number of retail store closings in 2017 was up 229 percent compared with 2016.
#8 When Ronald Reagan entered the White House, the federal government was about one trillion dollars in debt.  Now we are 20 trillion dollars in debt with no
end in sight.
#9 Prominent names in the financial world such as John McAfee and James Altucher are predicting that the price of Bitcoin will eventually reach one million
dollars.
#10 According to the most recent numbers that we have, 41 million Americans are currently living in poverty.

#11 A recent CNN poll found that only 37 percent of Americans have a favorable view of the Democratic Party.
#12 Ever since the beginning of April, Congress has had an average approval rating of less than 20 percent.
#13 The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up more than 5,000 points in 2017, and that absolutely shattered the previous record of 3,472 points in 2013.
#14 At one point in 2017, the total market cap for all cryptocurrencies combined (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, Litecoin, etc.) surpassed the half a trillion dollar
mark.
#15 Wildfires burned an astounding 9,791,062 acres over the past year.

#16 It is being reported that less than 50 percent of all third, fourth and fifth grade students in the state of California meet minimum standards for literacy.
#17 At one very poorly performing elementary school in California, 96 percent of the students are not proficient in either English or math.

#18 Back in 1960, an average of $146 was spent on healthcare per person for the entire year, but today that number has skyrocketed to $9,990.
#19 Thanks to Obamacare, an appendectomy is ten times more expensive in the United States than it is in Mexico.
#20 Thanks to Obamacare, a family of four in Virginia is now facing the prospect of paying $3,000 a month for health insurance.
#21 It is being projected that the average rate increase for Obamacare plans will be 37 percent in 2018.

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#22 In 2017, we found out that 264 cases of sexual harassment involving members of Congress have been settled for a grand total of $17,250,854 since the
start of 1997.
#23 Economic growth is starting to pick up under President Trump, but the U.S. economy only grew at an average rate of just 1.33 percent over the 10 years
prior to 2017.
#24 It is being reported that homelessness has become so pervasive in ultra-liberal Seattle that “400 unauthorized tent camps” have popped up around the city.
#25 One survey that was conducted in 2017 discovered that 78 percent of all full-time workers in the United States live paycheck to paycheck at least part of the
time.
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#26 According to the Federal Reserve, the average U.S. household is now $137,063 in debt, and that figure is more than double the median household income.

#27 A staggering 59.8 percent of younger Millennials (18 to 25) are now living with relatives, and overall an all-time record 38.4 percent of all Millennials are
currently living with family.
#28 Boston University professor Larry Kotlikoff says that the federal government is facing a fiscal gap of 210 trillion dollars over the next 75 years.
#29 According the National Center For Health Statistics, nearly 40 percent of all U.S. adults are now officially obese. That is an all-time record.
#30 Our obesity epidemic is now costing us 190 billion dollars a year.
#31 Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos of Amazon.com, and Warren Buffett now have more money than the poorest 50 percent of the U.S. population combined.
#32 At this point, 20 percent of all U.S. households have “either zero or negative wealth”.
#33 U.S. stocks have have increased in value by more than 5 trillion dollars since Donald Trump was elected.
#34 For the season, NFL television ratings were down about 9 percent, and many believe that the anthem protests were the primary cause for the ratings decline.
#35 One very disturbing survey found that less than one out of every four Republican members of Congress support building Trump’s border wall.  This is just
one reason why we need to vote out the RINOs and replace them with pro-Trump candidates that will support President Trump’s agenda.

#36 Another survey discovered that 50 percent of all Americans favor a pre-emptive strike on North Korea even though many of them cannot even find North
Korea on a map of the world.
#37 Last year criminals were able to hack into Equifax and make off with the credit information of 143 million Americans.

#38 Venezuela, the 11th largest oil producing country in the entire world, decided to stop using the petrodollar in 2017.  This was one of the biggest news
stories of the entire year, and yet the mainstream media in the U.S. didn’t want to talk about it.
#39 It has been reported that only 25 percent of all Americans have more than $10,000 in savings right now.
#40 A study conducted by the Federal Reserve found that 44 percent of all U.S. adults do not even have enough money “to cover an unexpected $400 expense”.
#41 In the early 1970s, 70 percent of all men in the United States from the age of 20 to the age of 39 were married, but today that number has fallen to just 35
percent. Instead of getting married and starting families, a lot of our young men are still living at home with their parents. Today, 35 percent of all young men
from the age of 21 to the age of 30 “are living at home with their parents or a close relative”.
#42 In 2017, the federal government spent more than 4 trillion dollars for the first time ever.
#43 Our government continues to waste money in some of the most insane ways imaginable. For example, in 2017 we learned that the U.S. military actually
spends 42 million dollars a year on Viagra.
#44 One survey discovered that 40 percent of all Americans now “prefer socialism to capitalism”, and so we have much work to do if we intend to have any
chance of turning this country around.
*  *  *
Michael Snyder is a pro-Trump candidate for Congress in Idaho’s First Congressional District, and you can learn how you can get involved in the campaign on his
official website. His new book entitled “Living A Life That Really Matters” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com.

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Comments
wmbz • Jan 2, 2018 8:27 AM
14
1 #44 One survey discovered that 40 percent of all Americans now “prefer socialism to capitalism”, and so we have much work to do if we
intend to have any chance of turning this country around.
~ I see little to no chance of turning this mess around. It will have to go over the cliff, and then rebuild, if at all possible.

14 xavi1951  wmbz • Jan 2, 2018 8:41 AM

1
The mental disease is spreading through the education system.

2 TrajanOptimus  xavi1951 • Jan 2, 2018 9:00 AM

3
#43 42 million on Viagra
Someone needs to tell that stupidass that it is the VA that is spending that money on Viagra.
And they should too, any person that defends this country has the right to be able to have a boner a few times a month.

1 Automatic Choke  TrajanOptimus • Jan 2, 2018 10:52 AM

1
viagara is very useful in geriatric care facilities.....keeps the old men from rolling out of bed

5 Ajax-1  xavi1951 • Jan 2, 2018 9:56 AM

0
The malignant disease metastasised to the educational system over 50 years ago.

2 directaction  Ajax-1 • Jan 2, 2018 10:26 AM

5
Snyder is a zionist jew-lover. He's one of them. 
They are the core cause of all wars and social decay. 

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9 RedBaron616  wmbz • Jan 2, 2018 9:00 AM

0
Surveys are notoriously wrong. 1). It is how the question is asked and 2). (one of the hardest) try getting a broad range of the general
population to answer your questions. I routinely refuse to answer political questions. No one answers the phone anymore if you don't know
who's calling. This is just a number invented by the media.

2 Jessica6  RedBaron616 • Jan 2, 2018 9:20 AM

0
I'd be curious how they arrived at 10% of young adults being homeless over the past year. Depends on how the question is phrased or what
counts as 'homeless'. Also, do Millennials live with their family because they have no other options, or because permissive parents allow
them to come and go as they please, so there's no incentive to put up with room mates for the sake of independence?

2 directaction  wmbz • Jan 2, 2018 10:24 AM

2
Yes, a collapse is coming soon. But there will be no rebuilding.
Resource depletion, environmental degradation and overpopulation will make reconstruction impossible.  

0 nuerocaster  wmbz • Jan 2, 2018 12:04 PM

0
1. Define Capitalism
2. "Ownership" as defined by current law vs Control
3. Who benefits? Who receives the reward? People doing the work, taking the risks or people working the system and taking no risks?
4. Who has access to monopoly power? Who has access to leverage ranging from high to sky high to infinite? Who receives the best benefits from
dirty money?
5. Can anyone cite a practical example of this capitalism theory?

0 Rex Andrus  wmbz • Jan 2, 2018 12:13 PM

0
You do understand that surveys, polls and censuses are fake, right?

SybilDefense • Jan 2, 2018 8:31 AM

4
0 So Americans are fat dumb lazy and broke.  Where's the revelation?
 

attila404 • Jan 2, 2018 8:31 AM

2
2
How do I view comments by newest first, huh?

overmedicatedu… • Jan 2, 2018 8:38 AM

1
1
OT: dindonuffin's update to new year...
"Syracuse Police are investigating an incident that left seven men stabbed and one person with a head injury at a bar on the city's north side.
According to police, officers were dispatched to Cougars Bar at 722 Butternut St. around 2:25 a.m. Monday in regards to a fight that occurred
inside the bar. When they arrived, officers were advised several people had been stabbed during the fight and some had already left the
establishment, police said."

troubadourcapital • Jan 2, 2018 8:44 AM

1
0 Lol the Donald's first day in office was 70 years, 7 months, and 7 days old? That's unbelievable? Your right, it must be crazy. Too crazy to believe.

rrrr • Jan 2, 2018 8:48 AM

3
0 You cannot delegate responsibilities to government.

rrrr • Jan 2, 2018 8:49 AM

2
0
All governments tend toward incompetence.

RedBaron616 • Jan 2, 2018 8:57 AM

4
2 #38 Venezuela, the 11th largest oil producing country in the entire world, decided to stop using the petrodollar in 2017.  This was one of the
biggest news stories of the entire year, and yet the mainstream media in the U.S. didn’t want to talk about it.
What a bunch of nonsense. No one wants Venezuela's oil. Even the Chinese complained about dirt and water in their oil Venezuela's oil
infrastructure is falling apart. This is a desperate last gasp. This is not real news, except that it shows Maduro continues to project the U.S.
as the enemy and not himself and his corrupt cronies and their socialism. They might have been 11th, but I suspect they are dropping on
that list to something like 20th and sliding.

4 Nameshavebeenc…  RedBaron616 • Jan 2, 2018 9:51 AM

2
Actually, the US has always been a horrible enemy to Venezuela, just like the US has been to a hundred other countries. Also, the US definitely
wants that oil.
I can guarantee you to an absolute that the collapse of the Venezuelan economy has been due to illegal & immoral meddling and interference by
the US. This is what they do to countries that have resources and an unfriendly (to the US gov't). They are destroying the economy so that they can
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the US. This is what they do to countries that have resources and an unfriendly (to the US gov t). They are destroying the economy so that they can
then engineer a secret coup and then 'magically' they'll have access to the oil + all the other resources.
A bit of water & dirt in oil isn't a big deal, as it's part of the normal extraction process. 
 

2 New_Meat  Nameshavebeenc… • Jan 2, 2018 10:22 AM

0
So you're saying that Obama exported socialism to Venezuela to fuck them up?

0 Nameshavebeenc…  New_Meat • Jan 2, 2018 1:56 PM

0
Nope, not at all. If you understand how the CIA etc. works, you'll understand what I'm saying. They do all kinds of things like engineer currency
collapses on the financial markets, interfere with trade deals, plus add in some economic sanctions based on phony 'reasons' via the state dept.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. There are many more dirty tricks.
Do some research on how they've done this before in other countries. Lots of documented info out there. 
Venezuela is a classic hit job by the US. For sure, Maduro/Chavez haven't exactly helped things, but without the US engaging in economic
warfare, the country and its people would be in alot better shape now.

0 Bwana  Nameshavebeenc… • Jan 2, 2018 4:06 PM

0
The Venezuelan oil has a significant amount of vanadium in it which fouls the electric cracking mechanism. The oil has to be pre-treated to run it
through most refineries. Mobil developed a process to do this years ago. (Strike One) This is the reason it sells for a lot less than other oils.
Further it is a heavy or very viscous oil which when distilled produced very little distillates so a higher amount of it must be cracked. (Strike two)
The dirt and water also cause problems of disposal. (Strike Three)

0 numapepi  RedBaron616 • Jan 2, 2018 11:25 AM

0
While everything you said is technically correct... you missed the point.
 
The point is, the way the US can continue to deficit spend money as it does is because of the petro dollar. Any assault on that makes it very
much harder to fund our huge and growing deficit.
While Venezuela is a catastrophe, their turning away from the petro dollar, (along with Iran and Libya) is just another step in the eventual
collapse of the dollar as the world reserve currency. Once that happens your personal finances will be badly damaged along with all other
Americans.

Drater • Jan 2, 2018 8:59 AM

10
0 #10 According to the most recent numbers that we have, 41 million Americans are currently living in poverty.
Yet they have a minimum of two cars, multiple TVs/smart phones/game systems, wear Nike, and are obese which makes them some of the
wealthiest people in the world. If you want to see some real poverty, try visiting a place like Cambodia, etc

1 ronford  Drater • Jan 2, 2018 9:26 AM

0
Exactly! It is all relative. Every country has poor people. Always has and always will. Yet, our politicians still want to try and solve that issue;
much like War on Poverty, War on Drugs, War on Hunger, No child left behind, etc.....
Anything they can dream up in order to create a new way to tax and spend. How many times have taxes been raised in the name of
education? Too many times. Yet the public school systems can't produce a passing grade.
 

Savvy • Jan 2, 2018 9:14 AM

7
1
From Snyder's website (linked above)
"The Bible says that those that bless Israel will be blessed and those that curse Israel will be cursed.  I will always stand with Israel, and if I am
elected the Jewish people will have no greater ally in the United States Congress than me.  I am 100% against a "two state solution", and I
would use the full power of my office to fight against the establishment of a Palestinian state."
 
Liberally sprinkled with 'DONATE HERE' buttons.
Certainly he has the right to support whomever he chooses. As we have the right to be aware of who he supports.

3 Tallest Skil  Savvy • Jan 2, 2018 10:00 AM

1
Him expressly mentioning the Hebrew calendar was the tip-off for me. KIKES LOVE NUMBERS. They fucking WORSHIP numerology. It’s
everything to them. That’s why this article exists and it’s the foundation of the last 70 years of foreign policy for EVERY. SINGLE. FUCKING.
NATION. ON. EARTH.

TabakLover • Jan 2, 2018 9:18 AM

3
0
#19.  C'mon,  an appendectomy cost 10X it does in Mexico BEFORE Obamacare.

The Terrible Sweal • Jan 2, 2018 9:56 AM

2
0
I have come to the view that U.S. decline is now irreversible.  The only people who see the problems have exactly the wrong ideas about solving
them (looking at you, Snyder). 

roddy6667  The Terrible Sweal • Jan 2, 2018 10:14 AM

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0
1 Bible-thumping Snyder believes that if everybody adopts the same bizarre, Bronze Age, malignant mythology he worships, the world will be
fine. Good luck with that one. 

BitchesBetterR… • Jan 2, 2018 10:19 AM

2
0
#1 During Donald Trump’s first year, ISIS lost 98 percent of the territory that it gained while Barack Obama was in the White House.
CORRECTION:  During Donald Trump’s first year, (((RUSSIA))) has removed ISIS dominance by 98 percent of the territory that it gained while Barack
Obama was in the White House.

roddy6667 • Jan 2, 2018 10:23 AM

0
0 I don't see any chance of turning the decline around. Through some fortunate combination of events, a non-politician got elected. The
Democrats ran a candidate that nobody likes or trusts and failed to campaign. Hilary won the election for Trump. This won't happen again.
More politicians will start more wars and make sure any money in the economy floats right to the top 5%. Eventually, like Rome, the country
won't be able to keep the soldiers' paychecks from bouncing and it wall fall apart.
China and Russia have a good plan. They are planning an alternate currency, an alternate to SWIFT, and a huge economy that doesn't involve
America. It's a variation on the old saying "The best revenge is living well".
America is already at the early stages of tearing itself apart with internal strife caused by inequality in income. It's a slow motion train wreck.
Painful to watch, but easy to get out of the way.

0 Savvy  roddy6667 • Jan 2, 2018 11:15 AM

0
Trump won because he promised to lock her up. Unless that happens he's a nothing cheese-head burger and will never serve a second term.

MickV • Jan 2, 2018 11:27 AM

0
0 "4:44" by Jay-Z is an homage to the 44th "President" (putative), the Usurper Hussein Obama, who called himself "44" to friends such as Jay-Z
(and they to him).
i.e "For the 44th President"
 
You're welcome.

Gatto • Jan 2, 2018 1:45 PM

1
0 #44, when explained that police, military, and social security are also socialist scams, 98% of the population actually support the evils of
socialism!

0 roddy6667  Gatto • Jan 2, 2018 8:29 PM

0
Perhaps you could point out 3 countries that do not have police, an army, or a national pension plan. It would be nice to see these nations
that are shining examples of what the lack of "socialism" entails.

everything1 • Jan 2, 2018 1:51 PM

0
0
Health Care and government players are monopoly like and skimming off the top as fast as they can before it all comes to a halt.  I notice this
leading up to the last recession, robbing people blind as fast as you can. 
Things in the streets are ok, for now, most important thing is to keep the people .. at least fed/fat/happy.
Although the mass shootings averaging about one a day or so might make yah think otherwise.  I think the thing is to just keep getting people
used to entire families being murdered, schools shot up, and indiscriminate killing of children in the same.

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