Ideas for America I New Hope Rises

9780595358328

0595358322

America is a great nation. It is also a troubled nation. Far too many citizens live in ignorance of the fundamental truths that shape their personal, social, and national lives for either happiness and joy or unhappiness and despair. The results of this ignorance are evident to all: increasing personal and social unease, confusion, decay, and disruption. But things don't have to be this way. What we need are ideas. The right ideas. The ones that will revolutionize our individual and collective lives. Ideas for America I serves as an informative reader, political platform and workbook for the serious citizen who wants to live a meaningful life and reclaim the soul of America. The author combines his extensive teaching experience with the research of the most prestigious Massachusetts organizations, resulting in a plan that empowers the state to live out its role as the "City on a Hill" the Pilgrims dreamed of: an example for the nations to follow. Intended for individual and classroom use and designed for ease of reading, the book presents a chapter-by-chapter analysis of the most pressing issues facing Americans right now -- education reform, housing reform, health care reform, and more -- complete with specific recommendations for concrete action. Many of its ideas are political in nature, but most simply relate to the subject of living a joyful and satisfying life. It also contains a chapter devoted exclusively to exploring issues pertinent to Massachusetts. The final chapter tests the reader's comprehension and challenges him or her to make the leap from simply reading to actually applying this new knowledge. Taken individually, the ideas, goals and action plans contained in Ideas for America I are interesting, useful, and personally empowering. But its most profound and expansive use will come with the collective implementation of the entire platform, which represents nothing less than a giant leap forward for the country as a whole. Ideas for America I is the first in a series of seven books. Future volumes will offer reports on progress toward the stated goals, honor the work of good citizens and organizations, and do everything possible to help maximize the lives of all Americans. Recently updated, the volume now includes the best research and ideas of Massachusetts organizations. As Gil Scott Huron might have said, Ideas for America is designed to put readers back in the driver's seat of their own lives.