Headlines

That last one was pretty useful: By knowing what is really relevant - or at least where to focus - we can determine better what sort of items to really pay attention to, and perhaps learn from.

Today’s L.A. Times....er, SUNDAY’s L.A. times, I mean (I often get a day behind on the paper) has the following stories on the front page. Which are most about the Crisis?

1. “Feinstein emerges as spy agencies’ staunch defender”
2. “A deadly distinction: Tiny Westmont has L.A. County’s top homicide rate”
3. “Cartel expelled from town, for now”
4. “Not a usual month for fighting fires”

Unfortunately for Westmont, I’m placing it last out of these four. At most, it is only a symptom of a problem that could, maybe, be a (3): “a threat to the nation’s very survival.”

The firefighting one has a little more going for it, with an undercurrent of climate change as a possible and more likely (3). However, it also mentions the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, which has been going on for 1500 years. While that means the bad fire season may not be anthropogenic, it could still be the sort of occurrence that makes everyone notice and care enough to inspire a revival of civic authority. (Remember, it only has to be perceived as a threat...)

Feinstein’s defense of the NSA is in part because she sees terrorism as a major threat. Obama may not have made major changes there, but they could expand. Whether the issue ultimately breaks pro-privacy or anti-terrorism, the divisions that could play out are all in there. There's certainly the potential for several of the indicators. (I was just realizing that the end of V for Vendetta, with everyone in Guy Fawkes masks, is very much a "part of a larger group" pattern.)

The Cartel story, though, hits at least 4 of the 7: major institutional changes (disbanding the police), civic authority (even if vigilanteism), larger groups (a crowd electing leaders by acclamation), and certainly in response to a threat. I find it interesting that people are not yet able to trust that the problems are resolved. (That's the sort of thing that could eventually lead to witch-hunts in the post-Crisis First Turning.) Mexico appears to be ahead of us in the Crisis by at least a few years, and we may witness more indications of what is coming our way by seeing what has happened recently, there.