More Trouble to Come

One key theme of my last two books, Financial Armageddon (published in 2007) and When Giants Fall (published in 2009), was that we could expect to see a dramatic increase in social instability and political upheaval in the years ahead.

Given what has happened over the past 12 months or so, that looks to have been a prescient forecast.

But it really wasn't rocket science. It was simply a matter of looking back in time and noting the strong historical relationship between economic circumstances and social conditions, especially in regards to the downside.

As it happens, a chart included in Control Risks' just published Riskmap 2012: Tales of the Unexpected, tells a similar story -- one that is not at all encouraging for those who believe the worst is behind us.

Comments

[It's pretty bad for a lot of people already]

Santa finds kids giving shorter lists in recession

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A job for their mom or dad. Money for the heating bill. Food or a place to live. Maybe gloves or boots.

More and more, Santas say the children on their laps are asking for less for themselves — and Santa is promising less as well.

With unemployment stubbornly high, more homes in foreclosure and the economic outlook dim, many children who visit Santa are all too aware of the struggle to make ends meet.

"These children understand the conditions around the home when they ask for stuff," said Richard Holden, a 69-year-old Santa from Gastonia, N.C. "They understand when there are other children in the family, they need to be cautious or thoughtful of them as well and not ask for 10 to 12 items."

Cliff Snider, who's been playing Santa since he was a teenager, agrees.

Connaghan recalled the night he and other Santas took some needy children shopping. One boy wanted to buy toilet paper because his mother was taking napkins and paper towels from a fast food restaurant for toilet paper.

"He wanted to buy her real toilet paper — a common, everyday item that we all take for granted," Connaghan said. "And this child is thinking this is a Christmas gift."

http://news.yahoo.com/santa-finds-kids-giving-shorter-lists-recession-194256833.html

Don't you think he's a little late?

Obama sets campaign theme: Middle class at stake

OSAWATOMIE, Kan. (AP) -- Declaring the American middle class in jeopardy, President Barack Obama on Tuesday outlined a populist economic vision that will drive his re-election bid, insisting the United States must reclaim its standing as a country in which everyone can prosper if provided "a fair shot and a fair share."

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_OBAMA?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-12-06-14-04-33

[Tom]

Obama is no savior, as we've found out after the last election. He promises all kinds of crap, but his words are hollow and meaningless because he fails to act on them, provide leadership and stand strong in the face of the CRAZIES in the other party - he's actually become a Republican!

Since the big three, China, India and the U.S. are not going along with any curbs to industrial pollution, Durban will be another failure of humanity to heed the warning signs that we all witnessed this year (and for the last 10 at least) - increasingly stronger storms, extended drought, monumental flooding, and erratic, unpredictable weather (making food production harder each year). This will catch up with us very soon and then it will be too late - we'll be in full collapse mode complete with social chaos and political anarchy. We're polluting ourselves into oblivion.

[RPY]

There is only one party in this world,the party of financial capital..

[Retro Jordan Shoes]

Obama is no savior, as we've found out after the last election. He promises all kinds of crap, but his words are hollow and meaningless because he fails to act on them, provide leadership and stand strong in the face of the CRAZIES in the other party - he's actually become a Republican!

Since the big three, China, India and the U.S. are not going along with any curbs to industrial pollution, Durban will be another failure of humanity to heed the warning signs that we all witnessed this year (and for the last 10 at least) - increasingly stronger storms, extended drought, monumental flooding, and erratic, unpredictable weather (making food production harder each year). This will catch up with us very soon and then it will be too late - we'll be in full collapse mode complete with social chaos and political anarchy. We're pollutin

[cheap Timberland Boots]

is no savior, as we've found out after the last election. He promises all kinds of crap, but his words are hollow and meaningless because he fails to act on them, provide leadership and stand strong in the face of the CRAZIES in the other party - he's actually become a Republican!

Since the big three, China, India and the U.S. are not going along with any curbs to industrial pollution, Durban will be another failure of humanity to heed the warning signs that we all witnessed this year (and for the last 10 at least) - increasingly stronger storms, extended drought, monumental flooding, and erratic, unpredictable weather (making food production harder each year). This will catch up with us very soon and then it will be too late - we'll be in full collapse mode complete with social chaos and political anarchy. We're polluting ourselves into