Cary Neeper's Blog: Reviewing World-changing Nonfiction - Posts Tagged "democracy"

The Lessons of History by Will & Ariel Durant, New York, Simon & Schuster, 1968, 1996.

Another prescient, must-read from the past, the Durants' short book reminds us of cycles in history-- from democracy to inequality in wealth to revolution and chaos and hopefully back to democracy. Given the current uproar in politics, their analysis is chilling, especially since Congress is so dysfunctional. History meets critical situations by ..."legislation redistributing wealth or by revolution distributing poverty," they say.

This book was written by the Durants after they reread their ten volumes the Story of Civilization (to 1789). The example given by Plutarch in 594 B.C. is very revealing. He saved Athens from revolution by leveling the playing field—forgiving debt, devaluing money, applying a progressive tax and doing a G.I. Bill i.e. providing free education to former soldiers. Sounds like the laundry list in Robert Reich's Saving Capitalism, NY, Knopf, 2015.

Rome didn't do so well—just engaged in war and continued favoring the wealthy, a mistake easily made by the manipulation of democracy. "Men who can manage money manage all." As an example, farmers now must be employees of "...capitalists or the state." Thus history becomes a cycle of "concentrated wealth and compulsive circulation."

Education is required if we are to avoid the violent surge from "...changing political argument into blind hate." Hopefully that stage in the Trump campaign is now over. "If equality of education can be established, democracy will be real and justified." I understand that free college education is provided in Germany these days, and that some states are moving in that direction. Now, how about leveling the playing field, Hilary?

The Durant's lessons are divided into brief, beautifully crafted and readable chapters, summarizing history as seen by the Earth, in biology, by race and character, morals and religion, economics and socialism, government and war, during growth and decay.

We need to believe there is hope. Humans are inventive, stubborn but not stupid. As we face this difficult presidential election, I believe we can find Durants' "...approximate equity of legal justice and educational opportunity."

Luke LorenzThis book is an excellent guide to the issues you might want to tackle. The Table of Contents is your guide.

The section on “Creating a Skilled Workforce” emphasizes expanding vocational training and apprenticeships. “Infrastructure Development” suggests various banking, loan, bonds and decentralization fixes. Other sections outline manufacturing ideas, small business support, better trade policies, government spending reforms. “Defending Democracy includes upgrading voting machines and defending against foreign intervention. “Foreign Policy” and “National Unity” are addressed and the book ends with “Actions You Can Take--” getting involved personally, with contacts, town hall meetings, representation events, and writing letters to representatives.

The Conclusion? “…think critically and independently.” Democracy is built on scrutiny and criticism, not allegiance to a political party. “The vary notion of political allegiance is antithetical to this nation’s emphasis on freedom and questioning authority.”