>My political barometer is my apolitical friends, neighbours, and
>relatives. They help me assess the popular mood. I can't imagine them simply
>rolling over if they lose their jobs and homes and sense of physical
>security - the essential characteristics, it seems to me of a systemic
>crisis - or that they will move to the right rather than the left when they
>discover the need for political action.
You're speaking of Canadians, right? It's not hard to imagine Americans rolling over or moving right.
Doug