The reawakening

Strikes and other forms of protest are clear signs across the globe that the economic crisis is taking its toll on the populace. Extreme cases of frustration - a military-base massacre in Texas, a flying statue in Italy, a bank holdup in Prague 4 - are depicted as the insanities of lone individuals, but they can also be seen as statistical outliers that will gradually come to fall within the general trend. At the current rate, civil unrest will inevitably increase, and it's only a matter of what sets it off and to what extent it becomes violent. Czech politicians and employers have been relatively successful at appeasing the masses by throwing money at them and making short-term promises. Yet the country is closer than ever in 20 years to reaching the point where it all snaps. If the ruling elite realize this in time and manage the process, it can lead to a healthy national reawakening. Time is running out for a leader to step forward.