What are we being prepared for?

There is much discussion this morning about Ed Balls' comments that the financial crisis will be "more extreme and more serious than that of the 1930s", that these were "seismic events that are going to change the political landscape" and that "we all remember how the politics of that era were shaped by the economy."

Something is missing though, people are not speculating as to where this is leading us. Is anyone thinking that Ed Balls has not spoken out of turn but is gently preparing the ground for what may be to follow? Has the decision been taken that rather than downplay the economic problems, maybe it would be best to exaggerate them? Are Labour so scared of losing the next general election that they are preparing us for the "need" to suspend democracy during this unprecedented time of national disaster? Is the Civil Contingency Act about to be used for its real, non-terrorism related, purpose? Is the EU project so nearly complete that just a small delay in the holding of a general election would mean that the UK will be forever bound into the EUSSR? Am I paranoid? Maybe but just look at the anti-democratic instincts of this Labour government and can you understand why?