Thomas H. Naylor – författare

This is a print on demand book and is therefore non- returnable. This critical yet constructive assessment of the current state of higher education in America exposes the disconcerting causes and effects of failed campus life while posing real solutions for reforming today's colleges and universities. Convinced that America's institutions of higher learning now face a crisis — that they are not meeting the educational needs of their students, that faculty members can do better — William H. Willimon and Thomas H. Naylor here propose bold changes in the nation's undergraduate educational system. By looking at academic life from the students' point of view — the text is filled with real-life situations, reflections from students, and poignant illustrations — The Abandoned Generation evaluates American colleges and universities on the basis of the quality of the lives that they are now producing. Willimon and Naylor take an honest look at three realities of student life — substance abuse, indolence, and excessive careerism. They then evaluate the underlying causes — the sense of meaninglessness in student life and the absence of community. Finally, they build a provocative four-tier strategy for change — restructuring the academy, teachers who actually teach, curriculum reform, and the creation of learning communities.

In this trenchant analysis of American society, Thomas H. Naylor and William H. Willimon take an unabashed stance against the belief that "bigger is better" and warn that size and technological complexity are not risk free. There is a grave price to be paid for our uncritical affirmation of bigness, universal solutions to problems, dehumanizing uniformity, and standardized mass production. Naylor and Willimon argue that our government, our cities, our corporations, our schools, our churches, our military, and our social welfare system are all too big, too powerful, too intrusive, too insular, and too unresponsive to the needs of individual citizens and small local communities. They propose specific strategies for decentralizing and downsizing virtually every major institution in America, including America itself. The authors audaciously call for the peaceful dissolution of the United States through secession and provide a thoughtful game plan for achieving this controversial objective.

Not unlike other states, Vermonts quality of life, political independence, and sustainability are threatened by Corporate America, the U.S. government, the war on terrorism, homeland security, American imperialism, and globalization. This is a call for Vermont to reclaim its soul to return to its rightful status as an independent republic as it once was between 1777 and 1791. In so doing, Vermont can provide a kinder, gentler, more communitarian metaphor for a nation obsessed with money, power, size, speed, greed, and fear of terrorism. Long live the Second Republic of Vermont.

Reviews

Vermont Manifesto is a serious examination of our God given right of self governance and that rights implication for secession. Dr. Naylor has made a persuasive case of the identical response to todays train of abuses that lead the Founders to secede from King Georges tyranny.--Walter E. WilliamsJohn M. Olin Distinguished Professor of Economics,George Mason University

In 1991 the Soviet Union was peacefully dissolved by the secession of 15 states. It had become simply too large and centralized. So has the American Union. Thoughtful people from every side of the political spectrum are beginning to realize that the only check to the tyranny, insecurity, and spirit numbing mass culture that continued centralization would bring is to seriously consider breaking the American empire up into alternative unions and/or smaller polities. Professor Naylor is part of this debate, and has made a compelling case that little Vermont would be better off out of the Union than in it.--Donald W. LivingstonProfessor of Philosophy,Emory University

I must assure you of my pleasure in, and approval of, your views on the Second Vermont Republic. The assertion by Vermonters of a sensible foreign policy is wonderfully to the good. You have my agreement and my admiration.

--John Kenneth GalbraithRetired Harvard Economist

In the idea of the three American states ultimate independence, whether separately or in union, I see nothing fanciful, and nothing towards the realization of which the efforts of enlightened people might not be usefully directed. It is, to my mind, neither fanciful nor unjustified for us to hold in mind at this time the whole problem of the future development of the relationship with the northern parts of this country and their immediate Canadian neighbors.

--George F. KennanFormer Ambassador to Russiaand Professor Emeritus, Institutefor Advanced Studies, Princeton

Thomas Naylor makes a powerful case for an independent Vermont. I think folks may soon be ready to consider the kind of wise and humane radicalism he recommends.

--Bill KauffmanAuthor of Dispatches fromThe Muckdog Gazette

There are very few radical thinkers. Thomas Naylor is one of the most courageous of these. Distinguished, deeply moral, genius wild man.

--Carolyn ChuteAuthor of The Beans of Egypt, Maine, Merry Men and Snow Man

Tom Naylor makes a serious case for an independent Vermont, a Second Vermont Republic that could immediately enter the world of nations and thereby begin the peaceful, democratic, and indeed moral process of disuniting the United States.

--Frank BryanUniversity of Vermont Professorand Author of Real Democracy

From the standpoint of puppeteers and their subversive papiermch, the Vermont Second Republic sounds like a very good idea to fight the megalomania of the globalizers.

--Peter SchumannFounder, Bread & Puppet Theater

In order to systematize regional studies, the authors view the southern United States as an integrated system of economic, political, social, and educational institutions. The underlying theme is that if one wants to understand the South, it is necessary to examine the bonds among these various institutions. The new methodology presented is a type of systems analysis in which relevant forces affecting the South are identified.Originally published 1975.A UNC Press Enduring Edition -- UNC Press Enduring Editions use the latest in digital technology to make available again books from our distinguished backlist that were previously out of print. These editions are published unaltered from the original, and are presented in affordable paperback formats, bringing readers both historical and cultural value.