Who Needs Leaders?

I firmly believe it's all going to get worse before it gets better. I believe that as the profiteers desperately move through our earth's body to make more and more money for fewer and fewer people, that those of us outside the cities will suffer. But I do believe radical change is possible; I don't believe that destruction is inevitable; I don't believe we have to lose our humanity in defense of our land base; I also don't believe the lack of humanity in the actions of a few mining or nuclear energy companies mean we are doomed to desperate living (no, not John Waters-style, you smart asses).


In a recent article in the Economist of all places (Who Needs Leaders?), I read this quote:


"THE earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accident that struck Japan three months ago have revealed something important about the country: a seam of strength and composure in the bedrock of society that has surprised even the Japanese themselves. Not only has this resilience helped the hundreds of thousands suffering from the loss of families, homes and livelihoods to cope with their suffering, despite the self-absorbed dithering of their national politicians in Tokyo. By reminding Japan of the hidden depths of its local communities, especially compared with the shallowness of central government, it has also provided a sense of how Japan could emerge stronger from the crisis, ending years of economic drift."


Depth of local communities. Shallowness of central government. 


Isn't it true?