Corning attempts to provide a theory that will support a move beyond the tired battles between left and right in our national debates over public economic policies. He believes that both socialism and unregulated capitalism have failed to produce fair societies.
Then he suggests what a fair society would involve. First everyone would be guaranteed what is required to meet basic human needs--not only nutrition, water, physical health, thermoregulation, but also reproduction and the nuturance of offspring--some 14 basic needs in all. This would satisfy the demand for equality which unregulated capitalism ignores. Everything the society can produce beyond these basic needs should be distributed according to merit, that is according to accomplishment as determined by ability, effort, etc. This would satisfy the requirement for equity which socialism ignores. Finally, everyone would be required to contribute as much to society as he or she is able. This would meet a requirement for reciprocity.
Corning believes such a society can be brought about piecemeal in America and the western world if the seventy percent of the populace for whom basic fairness is a major value join with each other in a political and social struggle against the thirty percent for whom fairness to everyone matters little or not at all.
The book is not a blueprint for action. It attempts to explain what social science has learned about human nature in recent decades and what kind of society would be in accord with what we have learned.
I found the argument to be reasonable, mostly convincing, and very worthwhile to those of us who are increasingly discouraged about the unjustifiable economic immorality of America and those nations that attempt to emulate us. ( )