Hurricanes, turned tropical depressions, swirled all over the North American continent. England was still recovering from a chilling terrorist attack. Gasoline prices stood at all-time highs. And yet the world did not fall apart over the past week. In fact, our stock markets have risen, housing markets remain strong and growing government revenues have even started to trim our nation's deficit. These developments, and the public's reactions to them, demonstrate a major shift in the way the public responds to events. It is perhaps the dawning of a new day. America has joined other nations, more accustomed to acts of...