Home Page About This Site To Make Contact
The Book List About The Author On - Site Selections

"Pushing the Boundary of Public Debate"

On - Site Selections

A Country in Crisis:

So What's to be Done?

 

 

Scroll down for summary of each selection

A certain division should be noted:

"P" for "popular"

Some selections were written for a popular audience, thoughtful Americans who simply wish to become a little better informed about where America stands and just what it is she stands for

"S" for "scholarly"

Other selections were originally addressed to scholars and to the kinds of controversies that are taken up in  the nation's academic journals. As much as possible, these pieces have been adapted so as to appeal to anyone who desires to understand the source of our pressing social and political problems and is willing to consider a Revolutionary, yet reasonable way of looking at them. 

These materials may be copied and passed along with the author's compliments 

(but may not be printed for profit without permission). 

Replies and responses will be warmly appreciated.

The site will continually be updated to reflect reader reaction and audience interest.

Requests for material listed but not yet posted on this site

will be honored in some cases (kindly indicate reason for interest).

"P" "Keep Patriotism Alive"

    A patriotic spirit now swells the air, and American flags proudly fill in a battered American skyline But exactly why was this "unusual" patriotic display the overwhelming way Americans chose to respond to the Great Attack of this past September? And how long will the spirit of unity prevail?

    These questions are taken up in the site's opening essay, which goes on to explain why it is so important to keep that precious spirit alive.

"P" Patriotism: A Deeper Appreciation

A more thoughtful exploration of the roots of American patriotism and the contribution of the nation's

founding for human events, generally, and the enjoyment of "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of

Happiness," very specifically

"P" "And This Passes for Politics"

A closer examination of today's basic approach to dealing with political problems and why it so often happens that the most well-intentioned policy initiatives and reforms end up producing consequences that formed no part of anyone's original plan or purpose and, only wind up exacerbating the very problems  they  were designed to solve.

"S" And This Passes for Scholarship:

America Between Theory and Practice." 

If America's leaders and the average citizen have been too concrete-bound in reducing the "great issues" of the day to inconsequential details, many influential academics have been so abstract in their thinking as to lose sight of the firm ground of American experience, altogether. The fruitless debates that consume so much scholarly attention are diagnosed and a fitting antidote offered.

"P" "The Majority Can No Longer Afford to Remain Silent"

Related to the question of patriotism is the issue of public participation. Its nemesis is political apathy, which is not unpatriotic, per se, but can be described as "a-patriotic." What are the roots of apathy in this country, and how wise are we for practicing so hard and being so good at it? In fact, apathy is not so much a decision to pursue purely private or "selfish" interests, as many have said. In reality, it is a self-defeating avoidance of questions that have an unavoidable impact on everyone's interests - including one's own. In large and little ways, the votes our leaders cast help to determine the chances we all will have for success, satisfaction, comfort, contentment and good fortune in life. And in casting or not casting our own votes, we enable those leaders to work their will for us - and on us.

"P" "Government the Protector, Government the Provider"

This essay offers a good example of what it means to "get down to basics," i.e., to think in terms of essential principles. It explains how this approach can eliminate the kind of tired, repetitious debates that spark so much rivalry in Washington, and that pass for "news" in the nation's dailies. Making a basic distinction between "government the protector" and "government the provider," it speaks about the importance of setting appropriate

priorities and the actual cost of doing anything less.

 

Home Page About This Site To Make Contact
The Book List About The Author On - Site Selections