The Leadership Vacuum

(CBS)  This column was written by CBS News Early Show Co-Anchor Harry Smith.

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So the markets have gone down 40% since America's financial markets started melting, and where, pray tell is the calming presence?

The FDR-like voice of assurance, who will tell us the only thing we have to fear, is fear itself?

If it has been said, it doesn't seem anyone is listening.

Where is the wisdom? Where is the vision?

Where is the voice of experience? Who can say this too shall pass?

The word panic has been invoked many times this week.

Panic happens when we get scared, and we get scared when we don't know what looms around the corner.

What's going to get us if we go into that dark room?

People in America and around the word are scared out of their financial wits.

And if just one person, someone people trust, came along and said, its not a real monster, its only the bogey man. Maybe this madness would stop.

Right now, we're in the abyss. Where is the bottom? Where is the light?

Where is the leadership?