Parents worry about their children's safety at school and are forced to fight predatory influences like commercial television, Internet pornography and tobacco companies. Then there was the car that suddenly pulled into my path in a 55 mph zone. And the friend who suddenly lost her job. And the telephone call informing me a houseguest was in the emergency room. We're like the ancient Hebrews in the Sinai wilderness.
Every day is uncertain, and our homes are tents.
So far, mean and petulant seem to be winning. Local politics reflect our surging meanness. Negative campaigning is the norm because it works by tapping our need to blame. School board elections aren't even subtle nowadays in their exploitation of racial antagonism. Corporate environments are filled with fear.