Students and friends sometimes ask me what can be done in the face of the flood of despairing news of the day. Some ask if it is already too late for a humane recovery, others ask what the critical things are that must be changed and some others ask whether there is anything meaningful that ordinary people can do. As one who has long studied the failures of contemporary institutions, I have often relied upon others for inspiration on how to keep going against overwhelming odds and frightening conditions. Digging from what I have learned, I want to offer a few ideas that ...