Inconvenient Truth

Big Al Gore's new book, The Future, gets a review by Ben Geman in the Beltway insider rag, The Hill. A known "polymath" and heavy hitting intellectual, it is not surprising the ex-vice Pres wrote a "dense" book filled with profound insights such as "the reform of rules and incentives in markets, political systems, institutions and societies will succeed or fail depending on how quickly individuals or groups committed to a sustainable future gain sufficient strength, skill and resolve..." Just where is that fierce resolve for reform? Should we start another NGO around sustainability? Actually, Big Al is looking for "leadership" because "the planet is rudderless in the face of sweeping change." "Democracy and capitalism have both been hacked" he writes, showing why he demands those huge speaking fees. Get rid of the hackers, Big Corporate Money and television, and the liberal dream is restored to its former glory. That IS some "dense" analysis! One of his policy prescriptions is to create "ways to measure the success of economy beyond GDP." Another is to halt antibiotics as a livestock stimulant. No wonder he faces such vitriol from the Right, these radical measures are straight out of The Communist Manifesto. The reviewer has to agree with Gore that "sweeping changes are coming" and though "Gores dissection of them isn't always an easy read, it's well worth the effort." You can always relax by re-reading Dreams of My Father.