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Bitter, angry citizens product of uncertainty?

April 15, 2008 By DALE MAHARIDGE Dale Maharidge is an associate professor at Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism.

In 1982 I rode a freight train into Fresno, Calif. I found Fred Johnson, a brand new hobo, sitting trackside. The unemployed middle-aged fork lift operator from Chicago was contemplating selling his blood so he could eat. When I asked about his future, he buried his head in his arms and sobbed.

I'm not sure Johnson would have described himself as "bitter" - I didn't specifically ask. Maybe...

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