Reset: How This Crisis Can Restore Our Values and Renew America

Essentially an expanded op-ed piece, this quick (72-page, double-spaced wide margins) read is a treatise on the new attitude that America is about to embrace, and how we got here. The "Boomers" have begun retiring, the "Gen-X-ers" are taking over, and the "Nintendo Generation" is old enough to vote. This means a waning of...more

Essentially an expanded op-ed piece, this quick (72-page, double-spaced wide margins) read is a treatise on the new attitude that America is about to embrace, and how we got here. The "Boomers" have begun retiring, the "Gen-X-ers" are taking over, and the "Nintendo Generation" is old enough to vote. This means a waning of racism/sexism/homophobia, a new definition of equality, and a more European (for lack of a better term) philosophy towards what government is for --- and what it is good at. The election of President Obama, the bank bailout (and what happened to that money), the stimulus bill, and health care reform are all part of this new direction. Kurt Anderson gives a quick description of how and why we got here, and a very brief projection of what might be next. Easy, concise, and worthwhile.   hide

Kurt Andersen's essay emphasizing that we can and should turn our current political and economic lemons into lemonade is an interesting monologue. Andersen makes the argument that, historically, in times of trouble American society has re-evaluated its needs vs its wants and walked away stronger as a result. That's all fine and dandy, but I can't help feeling a little less...more

Kurt Andersen's essay emphasizing that we can and should turn our current political and economic lemons into lemonade is an interesting monologue. Andersen makes the argument that, historically, in times of trouble American society has re-evaluated its needs vs its wants and walked away stronger as a result. That's all fine and dandy, but I can't help feeling a little less optimistic than the author regarding our willingness and ability to do what's right for the country vs what we think is right for ourselves. Mr Andersen acknowledges the uniqueness of today's climate vs the last major shift (led by Ronald Reagan) - today's shift (Mr Andersen suggests it's currently underway) is more abrupt than the attitude evolution of 30 years ago; in Reagan's day partisan differences were put (to a larger degree) aside to pull out of economic slump and post-Vietnam malaise; today's political crazies (my word, not his) on Fox, MSNBC, etc., etc., tend to fuel polarization. I look at what pollutes the airwaves 24x7, and I seriously wonder if there's *anyone* left in the public eye who cares what's right for the country. I'm all for making a buck in the entertainment industry (Fox, MSNBC, etc., etc.), but I think today's discourse is truly making us all poorer, and I don't foresee Mr Andersen's musings changing the tone of "dialog" (perhaps pairings of hurled insults is a better description) one iota.   hide