Not just North America, but all of the world is in a tailspin these days.

Financial institutions that once seemed like permanent, rock-solid entities are dropping like flies. Investments that seemed to be "a sure thing" are proving to be pretty flimsy support in the long run. With the experience of the Crash of 1929 behind us, you would think that the leaders of our financial and political institutions would have had the wisdom to prevent such disasters. Far from being merely a national phenomenon, the U.S. real estate and stock market failure has sent shock waves around the world.

One would expect that intelligent, educated men (sorry, guys, but they are almost all men) in high places would see danger ahead and take evasive action. Perhaps some of them did sense danger, but were too greedy or arrogant to do anything. They would be in a position to make sure that their personal assets were safe, probably in their wives' names. It's a sad commentary on our times that power and money are often greater motivating factors than "the common good". The ordinary people of our times are victims, just as the peasants were in medieval times! We are expected to pay our taxes and fuel the economy while the benefits of both are skimmed off at the top. Although we do get to vote for our politicians, in the end we do not have any control over the way all this plays out.

If this sounds unduly sceptical for a middle class "housewife", let me say that I've lived through part of the Great Depression, World War Two, and the Best of Times so I've seen it all. It is saddening to see this giant step backwards.

Both Canada and the United States are facing challenging times, especially as we go into elections. The decisions we make now will be of great importance to our futures, and we need to think about them carefully before we head for the polling station. We have to consider how our politicians will deal with the financial situation, of course, but also what will they do about climate change, national security, international trade, the future of agriculture, the importing of dangerous goods from abroad?

No choice will be perfect, but the most important asset any future leader or party can have is integrity. We have to be able to trust our leaders.

Remember that when you go to the polls. Use the small bit of power that is yours. Your vote is more important than ever before.