Wealthy nations seem poorly prepared for adversity. The European Union is a tenuous alliance. Anti-Semitism is back. Protectionism is on the rise. The Euro is weak.
Inflation seems poised to spiral, as consumers flash credit cards to sustain habits of spending.
Japan and South Korea are awash in scandal and blaming. Russia is mired in corruption. Some worry about global recession, and some don't. But it is clear that a mounting sourness in wealthy venues spells trouble for the have-nots. Wealth is usually an accident of history, not a consequence of moral or intellectual superiority.