Rick Dickinson

Revolutions rippling across the Arab World have left earth's elites trembling in their gilded Crocs. They've seen just how easily populism can pierce their thin veneer of permanence, and they know what's in store: in the age old battle of oligarchs vs. oppressed, the underdogs have been growing new teeth.

Undercurrents of discontent can brew for lifetimes, like in Egypt or Tunisia, until social media ultimately brings it to a boil. Instant interconnection - knowing that huge numbers of fellow humans feel the same way at the same time - provides the empowerment needed to break the barrier of fear binding the hegemonic house of cards.

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By Numerian posted by Michael Collins

"The US financial system is close to collapse - The deliberate public relations campaign by government, politicians, and business leaders to assure us that “all is well” when it comes to the banking system is unraveling. The dry rot that is destroying banks keeps eating away at the foundations of finance, the latest example being the revelations regarding the foreclosure process. The ugly, life-threatening reality that no one in banking wants to talk about is that the biggest asset class of the industry – home mortgages – may be severely compromised because the mortgages themselves may be uncollateralized. ... The simple fact that the banks have failed for twenty years to keep the borrower’s note connected to the mortgage document, and have both registered with local recorders of deeds, means that banks cannot really prove they are the legal lender with rights to foreclose."

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