One of the most discouraging aspects of modern life is that even the most privileged, the most educated and the most able people sometimes feel hostage to forces greater than themselves. Greedy private sector rip-offs, seemingly unfettered corporate abuse, a rapacious and unforgiving credit industry, unreliable and sloppy service providers, traffic gridlock, vaguely corrupt politicians and day-to-day work pressures conspire to disrupt satisfaction with what could and should be the best of times. Add to this a steady stream of negative news emanating from Afghanistan and Iraq, the drumbeat about global warming and mostly justified international anger about the policies and style of U.S. president George Bush, and the early 21st century hardly seems the nirvana it could be.
If discontent dogs the rich and privileged, one can only imagine the pressures on the underprivileged in North America, not to mention the citizens of developing countries. The pace of change, the...
Leslie Campbell is senior associate and director of Middle East programs at the Washington-based National Democratic Institute. Before joining NDI he was chief of staff to New Democratic Party leader Audrey McLaughlin and an assistant to Manitoba NDP leader Gary Doer.
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