Purpose Beyond 2012 : The Wisconsin Idea, Occupy Wall Street And Democracy's Future

This historical fiction unveils a memoir of conversations and relationships in a hopelessly angry America of misfit politicians and dysfunctional alliances. Unequal opportunity was turning the pursuit of happiness into an American nightmare. Ricky Vogt was a career changer dropped into 2008’s Great Recession. He joined fellow Americans in national turmoil and wondered how community could resolve the tension between intolerance and personal liberty. This is an organizer’s view of the political earthquake. America had neglected ideals of its Declaration of Independence and Constitution’s Preamble. A super-rich minority lobbied to protect only their interests. Corporate machines distorted legislation. Congress was an ineffective mix of “blue balls” and blue-dog Democrats, “Republi-Dems,” and “Republicants.” Presidential leadership was evolving under the influence from an addictive cocktail of big money and extremist opinion. Historic culture is interwoven with current political thought. Settings include the colorful Philosopher’s Café, a family vacation, gorgeous countryside, and Wisconsin capitol protests. You’re immersed in the local impact of the national and international struggle for democracy. Witness the quirks of nomads, artists, prophets, and heroes as they blaze a trail from apathy to the Wisconsin Moment, to beyond Occupy Wall Street. It’s a story of culture, spirituality, economics, and historical turnings. The mood is lightened with conversations and pop-culture references like the Austin Lounge Lizards singing “Too Big to Fail”: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=rnE5zvosplc. “I wanna be too big to fail. I wanna steal and not go to jail.” In the midst of this multi-faceted crisis, would greed and fear-based aspects of conservatism divide and dictate? Or could broader movements collaborate to redefine democracy and America’s future?

none