If the body of a book does not appeal, no last words will save the day, so I will be brief. There is fertile ground for a revival of American idealism. The tension between the market and the good life and what ought to be done persists; indeed, it is more powerful than ever, given current corporate power and behavior. The issues are there: the transfer of resources from war to peace, the creation of a welfare state that will foster civic virtue, the creation of a commonwealth that will give everyone including black Americans access to what makes America a wonderful place to live, and the redemption of America's good name abroad. Despite all of the angst, the philosophical foundations of the Jeffersonian ideal are solid.

Leaders may be lacking but as Debs said, “I would not lead you into the promised land if I could, because if I could lead you in, someone else could lead you out” (Ginger, 1962, p. 260). It is best that the people lead and that leaders follow, and it is the people I hope to convince. Before a final plea on behalf of my version of humane-egalitarian ideals, I want to issue another plea: read the best of those who disagree with me.