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SCI LIBRARY

Review of the Book:
Society at the Crossroads -- Choosing the Right Road
by Steven Cord

Nadine Stoner


[Reprinted from GroundSwell, 2002]


Society at the Crossroads - Choosing the Right Road, written by Steven B. Cord, EdD, is being published in 2002. It is 369 pages plus a brief Introduction, "Looking Forward". The book costs $22.95 plus $4 shipping charges. Publisher is Aurora Press, 10528 Cross Fox Lane, Columbia, MD 21044.

Steve Cord is an internationally known Georgist, retired from the presidency of the Henry George Foundation of America and the Center for the Study of Economics. The focus of this book is how we can alleviate, even solve, such social problems engulfing us as a high crime rate, extensive hard drug use, violence as entertainment, worldwide poverty, family and school decline, and so forth. Its thesis is relevant to such current problems as suicideal terrorism and Enronism. About 13 percent of the book, particularly chapters 8 and 9, deals with Henry George and the single Tax, and in particular supplies a new ethical rationale for land value taxation. It intends to present new views on our old subject. Quoting from page 269, "The economy will prosper in the long run only if the government lives off what it creates instead of what individuals create."

Society at the Crossroads is written in three sections.

Section One on "The Impact of Ethical Relativism" contains five chapters:

  • The Rise of Ethical Relativism
  • The Retreat from Reason, Part I
  • The Retreat from Reason, Part II
  • Why Cultural Collapse?
  • Inadequacy of Other Philosophies

Section Two on "The Proof of Ethical Rights" also contains five chapters:

  • Why Ethical Relativism Can't Be Proven
  • What Is Ethical Truth
  • Equal Rights, The Proof
  • Full Equal Rights Is the Only Way to Economic Prosperity
  • Ethical Certainty In a Postmodern World

Section Three contains the Index and Endnotes.

Chapter 10, a summary chapter, gives 15 reasons why our land value tax is good for farmers, the poor, and the environment.

Here are some selected quotes from pages 300, 301, 303, and 306. ... "Although modern society stands at the pinnacle of scientific and technological progress, it is nevertheless beset by intractable ethical problems." ... "The only ethical standard that can be proven true is this: Each of us has a right to life, liberty, and prosperity limited only by the equal rights of others." ... "Rather than pursuing conservatism or liberalism, let us pursue the unvarnished Truth, whether it is on the right, left or center. ...The real question is, What is the valid ethical proof?" ... Ethical relativism is undermining our culture. ... We should always be rational. ... Mere belief should not trump evidence or logic. ...Ethics can be defined as what people think they should do or as what people should actually do. ..."

In closing, Dr. Cord states on page 316, "Do you join the forces of apathy and ethical relativism on the one hand, or of equal rights on the other? The readers of this book still have much to say whether this is going to be the Age of Ethical Rationalism or the Age of Irrationality." GroundSwell reader John Stoner reviewed "Society at the Crossroads" and comments, "This is a resource book detailing the effects of Ethical Relativism to the whole of society. Retreat from Reason is the author's name for this. The volume details the consequences of paying little heed to what is right as opposed to what works. Extensive research has resulted in a volume rich with quotes ranging from Henry George to Pogo. This is valuable reading for anyone studying any aspect of society. The extensive endnotes and bibliography attest to diligent research. It should be in the library of every Georgist."