What Comes Next?

U.S. electioneering has become a blood sport. Social disorders are increasing. Government agencies are failing to repair the key maladies that afflict us. By three to one, Americans believe the country is on the wrong track. It's quite likely that politics and public policy will be sources of frustration for many Americans for years to come. Yet even if Washington, D.C., remains frozen tundra for people who want to improve the nation, there is no reason to doubt our ability to improve America. As you are about to read, we've been in this position before. And the clear lesson of history is that there are many paths to progress other than those that run along the Potomac, many precedents and prior triumphs we can copy, many places we can productively invest in making our country better. This short book explains how citizens have repeatedly orchestrated constructive culture change despite dysfunctional politics--using voluntary action, private giving, and the processes of civil society to dramatically elevate the health and strength of our society. In eras when our national prospects were considerably bleaker than they are now, Americans found effective ways to solve problems. It can happen again. This book offers inspiration and a practical roadmap for the next generation of patriotic philanthropists willing to organize, spend, and act to refine our nation, even in an era of political frustration.