Perhaps the most ominous sign for any society is the seething presence of a permanent underclass.

也许，任何社会最不吉祥的征兆是它有一批在经济上永远翻不了身的人在你眼前晃来晃去。

One ominous sign is the withdrawal of independent monitors who would be able to observe and protect voters at the polls.

一个不祥之兆是独立监察人员已经撤退。这些人本来是应该在投票站观察并保护选民的。