To make astrological predictions you should start from the solid reference point of the planetary positions at the moment you are looking into. For example, if you want to know what would happen in the US in July 1995, you should start by figuring out the planetary positions at that time and them compare them with the positions at the time of birth.

If however, you are looking into the future with no specific date in mind, then you should take the cosmic cycles as your guide. The planets move in cycles. Each time one of those cycles reach a turning point or completes one revolution its effect would highlight. Since these cycles follow fixed physical laws you can chart them forward or backward in history. By doing this you would know when the US went through or will go through specific astrological "crises". Looking back in time you can see how the native [the US Federal Government in this case] have reacted to these same cycles in the past; based on these knowledge you can make a reasonable forecast of how the native would react to similar cycles in the future.

Most times, however, chart interpretation and astrological predictions don't follow such a detailed, rational procedure. In reality the astrologer depends much more on intuition than on conscious rational analyses. However, the better he understand the cosmic cycles, the easier it would be for him to perceive, develop, understand and express the flashes of intuitive understanding that come to him.

Thus, as you look into your future, don't fear the intuitive understanding. But prepare yourself for it through a conscious effort to understand the actual workings of the cosmos and the rational techniques to interpret its signs.