Re: "The Fourth Turning" - A Must Read
Hal Finney (hal@rain.org)
Wed, 5 Mar 1997 21:14:25 -0800
I peeked at this book at the bookstore last weekend. I skipped ahead to
the end, where they get down to the nitty gritty about what kinds of
changes we might see in the next 10 or 15 years. They predict some
kind of significant social crisis shaking the country, leading to many
difficult years, eventually forging a stronger social consensus (to
greatly oversimplify). The analogous point in the previous cycle was
WWII, a time of trouble and testing, followed by the Pax America years
of the late 40's through early 60's, with the introduction of TV, the
move to the suburbs, Father Knows Best, and all the other manifestations
of that confident period.
Some of their advise for weathering this storm did not fit well into
my own individualistic tendencies. They advised becoming part of the
community, getting a reputation as someone who is good to know, someone
who helps out with local groups, etc. Think of the people who got to
be in charge of the ration coupons during WWII.
This would not be an easy role for me to play! I barely know my neighbors.
I hope that a more detailed look at the book will suggest some alternative
strategies.
Hal