The latest Daily Chart from Economist.com, "Global Tinderbox," suggests the risk of social instability -- strikes, protests, riots, and rebellion -- during 2010 is high or very high in most parts of the world.
2010 Could Be a Year that Sparks Unrest
If the world appears to have escaped relatively unscathed by social unrest in 2009, despite suffering the worst recession since the 1930s, it might just prove the lull before the storm. Despite a tentative global recovery, for many people around the world economic and social conditions will continue to deteriorate in 2010. An estimated 60m people worldwide will lose their jobs. Poverty rates will continue to rise, with 200m people at risk of joining the ranks of those living on less than $2 a day. But poverty alone does not spark unrest—exaggerated income inequalities, poor governance, lack of social provision and ethnic tensions are all elements of the brew that foments unrest.
From where I sit, there should probably be a bit more brown on the left side of the map, in the space between Canada and Mexico -- that is, the United States.
Regarding the U.S.; You may be under estimating the power of "happy pills", a defacto prerequisite for acceptance into the "social safety net".
Additionally, the primary purpose behind the extension and expansion of numerous "social programs" has been preventing civil unrest. Dependant people are very unlikely to "rock the boat".
Serious civil unrest won't occur in the U.S. unless the newly dependant people are "cut loose" before realistic employment opportunities increase enough to allow the majority of the newly dependant to provide for themselves.
Bail outs proved that government ignores what the majority of people want, so it's likely the newly dependant will be premanently dependant on public support.
Posted by: Doug K | December 29, 2009 at 10:06 AM