-Alexander Tyler, author of ‘The Cycle of Democracy’ in 1778

Most know that things are far from okay, there's much-too-much war, carnage, genocide, and ecocide going on. Global warming is not on the horizon, but hits us in the face as we walk out the front door.

Obviously, certain regions of the world are encountering much more strife than others.
For now, let's talk from the perspective of a resident of the good ol' USA, especially since that's the only region where "official" Peoples Cafes are meeting, so far. And since we know that our modern world is so inter-connected, let's take the perspective from the United States, but taking into account the US's role within the greater planet.

First of all, it's important to establish that this nation, the USA, was founded as an experiment of a fair and democratic society, with a representative government to support and enhance such a society.

Democratic terminology from the U.S. constitution is still commonly quoted in modern U.S. society. The freedoms that are so often referenced as a product of our democratic government are typically associated with the victories of the Revolutionary War, the twentieth-century's World Wars, the abolition of slavery, womens' voting suffrage, and racial civil rights. Yet our modern democratic government has strayed far from its ethically-intentioned origins.

The Democratic and Republican parties, unlike most European and South American political parties that struggle among many in proportional or parliamentary systems of government, do not presently exist to drive any specific legislative or social agenda. Rather, they serve to advance the interests of their party members, and, in particular, those at the highest echelons of the parties. The Republicans, for the moment, support the Christian Right because it serves their needs. The Democrats, for the moment, support Labor (sort of) and Womens' Reproductive Rights (sort of) because it serves their needs. Both parties would ditch their present “constituencies”, however, in a flash, if doing so proved a direct path to power. 
 
With such a system as a backdrop, we are challenged to formulate our own world view. It is easy to rely on commentaries, analyses, and opinions on the state of today's world to shape that view. It can also be just a knee-jerk reaction to join with the angry voices that rebel against the policies and actions of today's powerful governments. Such reactive voices frequently express the demands and slogans originating from the "anti-war", "anti-globalization", and "anti-Bush" sectors. But in order to respond in intelligent ways, we require an informed analysis that digs deeper than the surface level--- we need to know "...the rest of the story".

An informed analysis, enriched by insights derived through community dialogue, can lead to a visionary response, with practical and positive outcomes.

Also critical to an effective analysis is the understanding that the fabric of our society, along with the state of our government, are rather inseparable. Our American world today can simply be described as a techno-consumerist society. In many ways, though such a cultural orientation may feel comfortable enough, especially if one can afford the modern consumerist comforts, it ultimately works against us. The relationships between social norms, lifestyle habits, and elected government, need to all be included in our analysis.

For a clearer understanding about our current condition in the US, here are some results of a recent (2006) domestic poll taken in many parts of the nation by Princeton Survey Research: