The fault lines are shifting from the boundaries of nations into the web of our societies and the streets of our cities. And, terrorism and extremism are a global force that are larger than their changing names, groups, territories and targets.
Every civilization that has ever existed has ultimately collapsed.
The Cold War, Bosnia and Ukraine remind us that peace is fragile. Iraq and Syria remind us that no society or culture is immune from conflict.
The middle class of this country, our historic backbone and our best hope for a strong society in the future, is losing its place at the table.
I can quickly go to a place where I worry about society spiralling out of control.
Given the right conditions, any society can turn against democracy. Indeed, if history is anything to go by, all societies eventually will.
Is there a point at which we hit a tipping point and all of this economic, cultural and moral trouble sends us into a death spiral we can't get out of?
Oligarchic societies may be able to achieve high rates of growth for a period of time, but continuing inequities in distribution lead to political instability and populism.
If your country isn't stable and free from the threat of violence then you can't get to work, you can't get to the local clinic and your children can't go to school.
There's no doubt that inequality destabilizes societies. I think the social science evidence on that front is crystal clear.
Since our complex societies are highly susceptible to interferences and accidents, they certainly offer ideal opportunities for a prompt disruption of normal activities.
Uprooting is by far the most dangerous of the ills of human society, for it perpetuates itself.
