It is interesting that the authors of this foreword call Deneen's critique "radical". I don't think they intend to say necessarily that it inspires passionate reactions--though it does--but that it goes to the root of unexamined assumptions about our political and socioeconomic system. The authors note that people of various ideological positions will find things to cheer, and to lament, in Deneen's work.
We should resist the temptation to categorize the book in the terms of which we are all familiar, if we have participated in the political process at some point. I do dare to say that Deneen aims to conserve something, or even more radically, to rebuild something that has been lost. Well, if nothing else Professor, you've earned a positive blurb on the back from President Obama.
One interesting question I have that won't leave me is this: is it possible to re-establish the very foundations of a society without destroying all that we know?
We should resist the temptation to categorize the book in the terms of which we are all familiar, if we have participated in the political process at some point. I do dare to say that Deneen aims to conserve something, or even more radically, to rebuild something that has been lost. Well, if nothing else Professor, you've earned a positive blurb on the back from President Obama.
One interesting question I have that won't leave me is this: is it possible to re-establish the very foundations of a society without destroying all that we know?
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