THE WAVE OF PROTEST: A wave of anger is sweeping the cities of the world. Politicians beware. “Just as in 1848, 1968 and 1989, when people also found a collective voice, the demonstrators have much in common. Over the past few weeks, in one country after another, protesters have risen up with bewildering speed. They have been more active in democracies than dictatorships. They tend to be ordinary, middle-class people, not lobbies with lists of demands. Their mix of revelry and rage condemns the corruption, inefficiency and arrogance of the folk in charge.”

Well, to be fair, the folk in charge have generally given them a lot to work with.