Do you have that deer-the-headlights feeling? On the bus recently, the driver asked a young mother with three children to silence her fussy child. It was an unwelcome preview of the effect of even more stress. Our culture is fundamentally altered. As the scope of the meltdown seeps through to our daily lives, the effect will be pervasive and many will become predictably more desperate.

Although we may feel that we are at the mercy of Washington politicians and Wall Street’s (formerly) fat cats, two things are certain: 1) they are looking for solutions, just as we are; and 2) they have to come up with a plan. The last thing that any government in history needs or wants is millions of displaced, cold, hungry, angry people. It is up to us, “the collective we,” to help them formulate a plan that stabilizes the lives of the middle class. See Housing and Simplify Your Life With Cooperatives for ideas helping each other and gaining that stability.

Angry protests or rallies won’t provide relief, although they are understandably appealing. Riots don’t work either. Watts was never adequately rebuilt. One way to get there is by community gatherings to brainstorm, discuss, talk between gatherings and meet to brainstorm again. When we meet as a community month-after-month, contacts will be made, resources identified and durable solutions will float to the surface, possibly quicker than you might think. Millions of us practice yoga, meditation, martial arts, gardening, knitting, i.e. soul work, which has resulted in a reservoir of wisdom and expertise within each of our communities that is waiting to be tapped. Solutions from the ground up hold the most promise.

Take a deep breath and consciously practice kindness and compassion, first to ourselves and then to others. Then, with your friends and neighbors: Gather. Brainstorm. Gather. Repeat.