Reading Craig White’s book brings to my mind Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech.  White has a vision of an America without poverty, with full employment, equality of education, racial acceptance, universal access to quality health care, and freedom to become the best person we can be.  One might conclude that White is a utopian dreamer.  And what is wrong with that?

When our forefathers set out to create a United States of America many of their contemporaries, at home and abroad, thought they were utopian dreamers.  Critics believed the colonial rebellion would be extinguished in short order.  Had the colonial leaders not dreamed of what many believed an impossible dream there would not be a United States of America today.  They had a dream and a plan.

White describes a future American society, including the ten essential steps needed to create that society.  Moreover, he shares his insights into the processes necessary for the evolution of that future society.  There is a plan with specifics spelled out. White believes his plan can be implemented in any “geo-political” entity – town, county, city, state or nation.

This is a book that challenges traditional views and provokes one to create a vision of the future society we desire.  Construction of the model with all its desired features is essential.  It has the power to turn our habitual, everyday acts into purposive, goal-oriented behavior. What do we wish the future American society to be?  White’s book presents his answer and invites us to respond.

Gene F. Summers, Former Chair

Rural Sociological Society Task force on Persistent Rural Poverty

University of Wisconsin—Madison

Dr. Summers was the founder of the National Pathways from Poverty Movement.

He is recently retired from the University of Wisconsin and is enjoying his work in photography.

Photographer
Countryside Images by Gene
4660 Old Indian Trail
Black Earth, WI 53515
608-767-3223

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