The Nation's cover for May 25 has an alluring design by Gene Case and Stephen Kling of Avenging Angels. A narrow ladder climbs through a hole in the gray wall overhead and reaches for blue sky beyond. That brilliantly captures the spirit of my piece. "The Future of the American Dream" is an excerpt from Come Home, America. 

My stubborn optimism stirs people in different ways.  Some readers tell me I am delusional.  Others are pleased to see that their views are no more crackpot than mine.  The responses tell me I am hitting a good chord with lots of people and at least agitating others.  This is a worthy process to encourage.