We’ve lived so long under the spell of hierarchy—from god-kings to feudal lords to party bosses—that only recently have we awakened to see not only that “regular” citizens have the capacity for self-governance, but that without their engagement our huge global crises cannot be addressed. The changes needed for human society simply to survive, let alone thrive, are so profound that the only way we will move toward them is if we ourselves, regular citizens, feel meaningful ownership of solutions through direct engagement. Our problems are too big, interrelated, and pervasive to yield to directives from on high.
—Frances Moore Lappé, excerpt from Time for Progressives to Grow Up

Sunday, November 14, 2010

A User’s Guide to the Crisis of Civilization: And How to Save it [a book review]

by Jeff Vail from The Oil Drum. 

Because I have not read this book, I cannot comment on the book itself. But what struck me about this review is the use of euphemisms such as "our economic and finance structure", "modern industrial civilization", and "global political economy" in place of a key concept.

VIEWER OFFER: I will send a DVD of an excellent documentary by Jamie Johnson (heir of the founders of Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Corp.) entitled, "The One Percent" to anyone who can supply me by 12 noon (Pacific Standard Time) tomorrow (Nov. 15) the key concept that, in my opinion, is missing from this review. 

A much better review is supplied on Amazon's website written by Norman Dyer.
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