Ebook: Daring to dream: a handbook for hope in the time of Trump

"Throughout human history, great and free nations have been built on noble dreams. Recently, in some once promising nations, dreams of betterment and possibility, have been effectively compromised. The current political landscape, featuring cold partisan interest, calculated distraction, divisive fear mongering, negativity, and voter disillusionment, has enabled a perfect storm of toxic dysfunction. To make matters worse, personal integrity and accountability have become almost non-existent in political leaders. In such an environment, dreams of social, economic and ecological justice can easily be thwarted. Progress can become much more selective, favouring power and privilege. This handbook integrates critical thinking and media literacy to refocus democratic dreams on more constructive collective pursuits, to re-energize dreamers, and to help hold elected leaders more accountable for their actions and omissions. It is important to speak truth to power, and justice to privilege, in order to empower dreamers and ennoble dreams. The author has over forty years of experience as an educator, curriculum leader, school administrator, and community leader."--;One circus dies, a new circus beings- Long live 'The greatest show on earth' -- Connecting dreams, reality, truth, and 'alternative facts' -- When bullshit baffles brains, nonsense trumps truth -- Leadership by conviction convenience: When self interest trumps public service -- The myth of populism -- When mean spirit trumps fair play -- When extremism and polarization trump moderation and dialogue -- Globalization in the golden age of the transnational corporation -- The spectre of sustainability -- The smoke screen of orchestrated distraction and misdirection -- Future prospects: The saving grace of cautious optimism -- Appendices -- About the author.