Michael Mandelbaum: York Times Columnist

Income Inequality Dept: While it is not a yet mass movement, the monthlong demonstration is yet another sign that the United States is in trouble. There are many reasons for the public's discontent: employment growth has ground to a halt while the country's income inequality continues to rise. More than 14 million people are unemployed and millions more are stuck in part-time jobs, according to Montreal Gazette. In That Used to Be Us, New York Times columnist Thomas L. Friedman and Johns Hopkins academic Michael Mandelbaum attempt to measure just how far the U.S. has fallen, not only in its own eyes but also in the eyes of the rest of the world and demonstratoRS have taken to the streets in U.S. cities over the last few weeks to vent their anger against Wall St., the financial industry and the economic failures of the Obama administration; the protests have spread to Montreal, and around the world. Deficits and debt are crippling the ability of governments to act and many Americans feel that the political system no longer responds to their concerns. The financial industry, once the engine of the country's growth, is now seen as greedy, predatory and entirely self-interested after nearly crashing the economy in the crisis of 2008-09. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.