With universities' bandwidth maxed out on downloading music, not academic work, many young adults eager to join the gravy train are finding their skills aren't sharp enough for real competition. They get wooed, but not retained. 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.