The great evil posed by fascism unified the country and the spoils of war brought forth an era of prosperity. The wheel of time has turned and we are nearing a similar point in history. Although the press reports unprecedented prosperity and lows in unemployment, the numbers of homeless and impoverished seem to speak a different truth. Time will tell. Once people are driven by hunger it seems to be to late.
Hunger is desperate and powerless, without reason or strength.
Humanity has conquered the world. Steinbeck was unsure that our species could overcome our seemed hatred of ourselves. Maybe eminent ecological disaster can bring the world together. In the meantime, people continue to struggle. Unfortunately, those qualities seem to come only through great struggle.