No one can read tea leaves to foresee the future with certainty. Nevertheless, there is a kind of crystal ball, a way to make a fact-based prediction for the next President of the United States.

February will be a crucial month for the US. Four states will vote for the Republican nominee for president. They will also decide if the Land of the Free can break the shackles of corpocracy.

A corpocracy is a political system controlled by corporate interests. The Republic was overthrown by a corporate-led coup de tat decades ago, but it happened slowly, silently, in the shadow of political intrigue. Outgoing President Dwight Eisenhower saw it on the horizon in 1960.

He warned “of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry new in the American experience. We must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence by the military/industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist,” said Ike.

Since his admonishment more than 50 years ago, the corporate control over the US domestic and foreign policy has grown to include the giant multinational corporations. Their unlimited financial resources give them tremendous influence over elected officials for legislation favorable to their interests but adverse to those of the average American.

Jeb Bush has the dubious distinction of raising $125 million from these deep-pocket donors. Excepting Hillary's $70 million, that's twice as much as any other contender Republican or Democratic. So far Bush has burned through $112 million.

Trump is a study in contrasts.

He has disavowed all his super PAC funds and disallowed corporate “donations.” Among Republican aspirants, he placed 15th with $3.8 million raised. To date, Trump has spent $3.6 million. That's a spending ratio of $31 Bush :$1 Trump. Paradoxically, the expenditures are inversely proportional to the poll numbers.

This February the United States will square off against the corpocracy. Thus far, the polls in February's four key states look promising for Lady Liberty. The public at long last has a candidate not beholden to corporate “donations.” And that candidate is Donald Trump.

Let's look into October's poll percentages for GOP candidates as determined by RealClearPolitics' average of six nationwide polls:

Iowa Caucus (Feb. 1) Trump 23, 2nd place Carson 17

New Hampshire primary (Feb. 9) Trump 27, “ Carson 13

South Carolina primary (Feb. 20) Trump 34, “ Carson 18

Nevada Caucus (Feb. 23) Trump 38, “ Carson 22

What about Bush, the Republican/Democratic Uni-Party front-man? The average for Bush in those four polls is 7 percent. For Trump, it is 31 percent giving him a commanding lead of more than 4:1.

But why should Trump, a political newcomer, be so popular? Showmanship? Charisma? Or perhaps the novelty of his off-the-cuff town-hall talks? Or could it be for what he stands?

Here's what the businessman turned politician campaigns for:

• A secured walled off southern border, not a hop-over fence.

• Staunching the inflow of illegal immigrants.

• Taking back American jobs given away by horrific trade deals that favored multinational corporations over US interests. Trump will renegotiate NAFTA.

• Repealing Obama-Care and replacing it with something better for Americans not for the insurance cartel.

• Trump was against the Iraq war from its inception in 2003.

What about Hillary Clinton, the probable Democratic nominee? Compare her planks with Trump's:

• Hillary is sitting on the fence rather than unequivocally supporting one. Her position needs clarifying.

• She is for giving illegals driver's licenses and favors a “path for citizenship.” “I would introduce a bill for that in the first 100 days of my presidency.”

• She championed NAFTA as a “free and fair trade agreement” and praised it as “proving its worth.” She now admits it needs “fixing.”

• Hillary lobbied for Obama-Care in 2012. She now confesses that it needs “evidence-based changes.”

• Hillary voted for the Iraq war. Another, Oops! She now says that was a “mistake.”

At this point, the odds look pretty good for Trump getting the thumbs up for the Republican nomination. As for who will win the seat in the Oval Office; barring the unexpected, which has an unnerving way of popping up, well, unexpectedly, we'll go with Trump, No. 45.

Sincerely,

Bob Scroggins

New Milford, PA