Thoughts in the Presence of Fear

Wendell Berry on the state of the world and what to do about it.


Berry treats free trade, free markets, and technological innovation as if they were bad things. And I think he repeats dubious claims that no one but a tiny percent are prospering. I think that overall the entire population has been steadily prospering in some ways.

But the points against corporate power, war, and centralization are good. If he is speaking out not against real economic freedom but rather the fake "free markets" and "free trade" that is only as free as will empower governments and enrich corporations, then I like very much of what Berry says.

I believe many of these concerns are shared from the Green Left, the paleoconservative Right, and the libertarian bridge between the two.

The proper course is demilitarization, land value taxes, and the abolition of the federal reserve bank. Precisely the things the elite do not want.