{"product_id":"9781469198774","title":"Purpose Beyond 2012 : The Wisconsin Idea, Occupy Wall Street And Democracy's Future","description":"This historical fiction unveils a memoir of conversations and relationships\u003cbr\u003ein a hopelessly angry America of misfi t politicians and dysfunctional\u003cbr\u003ealliances. Unequal opportunity was turning the pursuit of happiness into\u003cbr\u003ean American nightmare. Ricky Vogt was a career changer dropped into 2008â??s\u003cbr\u003eGreat Recession. He joined fellow Americans in national turmoil and wondered\u003cbr\u003ehow community could resolve the tension between intolerance and personal\u003cbr\u003eliberty. This is an organizerâ??s view of the political earthquake.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAmerica had neglected ideals of its Declaration of Independence and Constitutionâ??s\u003cbr\u003ePreamble. A super-rich minority lobbied to protect only their interests. Corporate\u003cbr\u003emachines distorted legislation. Congress was an ineffective mix of â??blue ballsâ?\u003cbr\u003eand blue-dog Democrats, â??Republi-Dems,â? and â??Republicants.â? Presidential\u003cbr\u003eleadership was evolving under the infl uence from an addictive cocktail of big\u003cbr\u003emoney and extremist opinion.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHistoric culture is interwoven with current political thought. Settings include\u003cbr\u003ethe colorful Philosopherâ??s Café, a family vacation, gorgeous countryside, and\u003cbr\u003eWisconsin capitol protests. Youâ??re immersed in the local impact of the national\u003cbr\u003eand international struggle for democracy.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWitness the quirks of nomads, artists, prophets, and heroes as they blaze a trail\u003cbr\u003efrom apathy to the Wisconsin Moment, to beyond Occupy Wall Street. Itâ??s a story\u003cbr\u003eof culture, spirituality, economics, and historical turnings.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe mood is lightened with conversations and pop-culture references like the\u003cbr\u003eAustin Lounge Lizards singing â??Too Big to Failâ?: youtube.com\/\u003cbr\u003ewatch?v=rnE5zvosplc. â??I wanna be too big to fail. I wanna steal and not go to jail.â?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn the midst of this multi-faceted crisis, would greed and fear-based aspects of\u003cbr\u003econservatism divide and dictate? Or could broader movements collaborate to redefi ne\u003cbr\u003edemocracy and Americaâ??s future?","brand":"Xlibris Corporation","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47158241231088,"sku":"9781469198774","price":3.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781469198774_p0.jpg?v=1763762484","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781469198774","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}