Epochal Season

Kevin Rudd the Prime Minister of Australia began an article about the Global Financial Crisis in The Monthly with these words.

From time to time in human history there occur events of a truly seismic significance, events that mark a turning point between one epoch and the next, when one orthodoxy is overthrown and another takes its place. The significance of these events is rarely apparent as they unfold: it becomes clear only in retrospect, when observed from the commanding heights of history. By such time it is often too late to act to shape the course of such events and their effects on the day-to-day working lives of men and women and the families they support. There is a sense that we are now living through just such a time.

Although the rest of the article loses the plot, these words are correct. We are living in through a season that marks a turning point between one epoch and another. We are moving into a new era and most people do not understand what is happening.

We are moving into an era of enhanced state power. After many years of suspicion of the state, we are moving into a season when faith in the state will rise to a peak not seen before. The main impact of the global financial crisis will be the emergence of the all powerful state. This is already happening. Those with their eyes open will see this trend unfold over the next few years.