I, too, am saddened, and, I admire you for doing what is right for your health. Your family and friends need you well. One of the things separating us from the Rosenbergs is that we have higher powers in our life besides “the revolution.” You know what I mean.
I will begin systematic prayers for you— regular, consistent prayers— because I know that God is listening. He calls us His “beloved.” Of course he is listening.
While i will send you an email offline, please know that i will treasure everything you write in this (😖) last edition. I never stopped feeling amazed that you hired me. I learned from you every single day we worked together. It is and will remain the noble high point of my work journey.
I know you will beat whatever is going on right now, in the spirit of Philippians 3:14. You can do this!
This ecosphere called Substack just got less interesting, less exciting and less erudite, and, remains better and elevated thanks to your imprint. 💖
What a remarkable tribute and kind words. I miss you.
I do hope for a return of strength and should it return I hope to spend some of it furthering ideas like this Journal. Please take a glance at my reply to Sam above. Do you think an ongoing chat or whatever it is called might help advance this idea?
I am saddened to hear that your health problems have been so serious. I hope that you will have a miracle recovery and gather unexpected strength.
You are correct in your belief that the Right needs thoughtful leadership right now, and that the present claimants to that throne fall short of what is required in terms of intellectual sophistication and understanding of the human soul.
The pre-WWII right stood for liberty, subsidiarity, self-government, patriotism, faith (Christian in nature, with tolerance for others who do not attack that faith), community authority, self-reliance, respect for learning, scientific integrity, and other sound values. The way to another American century starts by going back to that point and restoring those ideas for the present time (as C. S. Lewis advised us to do when we go down a wrong path). That, in fact, is what Trump is trying to do, and your description of him as "a more complicated case," for whom you do not regret voting, is to me a sign that you are pursuing a sound vision and not just indulging in nostalgia for 1981.
The endeavor you suggest here would indeed require a reliable instiutional home. I suppose that you have had some ideas in that regard--this sounds rather like what you achieved with City Journal, yet even bigger. The effort will require money, to be sure, and a significant amount of it. However, it will be best if the money goes to writers and editors, without a costly carapace of administrative hangers-on and ambitions to be all things to all people, attaching a clunky movie studio or a nationwide network of John Doe clubs (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meet_John_Doe). Just writing and editing great thoughts. That approach has done great things before, and it can do so again.
I hope that you will have the strength to push forward with this idea and lead the leadership to a great start. And again, I hope that you will regain strength and be there plugging away alongside as the work goes on.
As always Sam you raise important points. wisely. Some thoughts:
1. Trump has done and is doing some amazingly great things I don't think Reagan-era GOPer could have. (Partly of course the problems themselves have gotten so bad it is more political palatable to address them).
2. Especially relevant is how much better he is than many of his followers--even more relevant is how much worse they are than he.
3. Your idea about focusing the money on the talent is 100% right.
4. Back when I thought I had the energy to do this, even while still working for a living, the $ challenge made me think a lot about bootstrapping: gradually building up what had been a single author Substack with circa 1,000 readers into a themed multi-author Substack that could grow into critical mass, and also convert a higher % of readers into paid.
5. Was it unbearably obvious that when I said the leadership we need to do this is probably reading this post, that you were on my mental short list.
6. It's a little bit dicey to discuss details in an open forum (though I'm glad you responded in comments and I do want to keep this an opening ongoing discussion) But it seems to me you are an excellent person to lead the multi-author Substack that could become the Journal. Isn't Life Liberty and Prosperity headed a bit way anyway?
7. On money it seems to me we would need but one salary to start and eventually not more than three plus interns. We need an editor. We need a tech savvy managing editor. (By tech savvy I just mean young enough that handling the various apps needed comes naturally.) And eventually we need some person (or agency) that could monetize the attractions of the journal to tech entrepreneurs who might become advertisers of sponsors.
8. I have never crowd-funded anything like this, do you think that might me possible.
Finally there is some capability on Substack to set up an ongoing public forum about a topic. It might be called Chat? Would that be a good thing to do?
We are entirely on the same page, it seems. Your concept is clearly viable, in my view, and I greatly like how you've conceptualized the construction process. (You have a much better aptitude for that side of things than I do.)
Let's take this private and continue. I'll send you an email in a day or two when I finish a deadline project in my day job.
2: Definition of Progressivism: don't really need it. Like Art "I don't know Art, but I know what I like"; I don't know Progressivism, but I know what I don't like, and to a large extent, why. And to paraphrase what you wrote, a serious, sane, pragmatic, very very slightly right of center movement is urgently needed.
That's a heck of a good paraphrase. I read "serious, sane, pragmatic" as built upon the facts and the facts favor liberty. The facts are like Secretariat in the Belmont, they have the strength to leave the pessimists in the dust on the stretch. Do please see the replies to above comments and give these matters some thought
Sorry to hear of your poor health Richard. Your partnership with George and leadership of the GilderTechnology Investment enterprise has been greatly valued and reflects the concept that you have so well articulated below. A conservative/free enterprise approach grounded in core theological tenants as you've defined would be a whole new concept and approach with tremendous relevence and impact with the capacity to change people's thinking as much of George's great works have done - it was wealth and poverty for me at university early 1990s. In fact when GTG published The American Spectator in 2001 comes closest to what you are proposing and would have potentail for great growth and impact into the next generation.
Take care of yourself and hope this pans out in some shape or form.
Ditto Wealth and Poverty and college, though I was class of '78.
Amazing!!!! Someone who remembers when we published AmSpec. We did what, four issues? I hadn't thought back to that effort, but you are right that there are common themes. In the meantime, the ideas driving this have gotten stronger. We are at the edge of a mind-blowing increase in human prosperity, though the pessimists as always could derail or delay. Please also glance at my replies to the other comments including the question of whether this should be an ongoing discussion.
I had articles published in a couple of those AmSpec issues, as it happens. I was so happy when George took it over, and so disappointed that it ended so fast. It's a good model for what is needed today. So is American Outlook, the magazine Herb London and I founded at the Hudson Institute in the late 1990s and which we published for about six years.
I, too, am saddened, and, I admire you for doing what is right for your health. Your family and friends need you well. One of the things separating us from the Rosenbergs is that we have higher powers in our life besides “the revolution.” You know what I mean.
I will begin systematic prayers for you— regular, consistent prayers— because I know that God is listening. He calls us His “beloved.” Of course he is listening.
While i will send you an email offline, please know that i will treasure everything you write in this (😖) last edition. I never stopped feeling amazed that you hired me. I learned from you every single day we worked together. It is and will remain the noble high point of my work journey.
I know you will beat whatever is going on right now, in the spirit of Philippians 3:14. You can do this!
This ecosphere called Substack just got less interesting, less exciting and less erudite, and, remains better and elevated thanks to your imprint. 💖
Karen,
What a remarkable tribute and kind words. I miss you.
I do hope for a return of strength and should it return I hope to spend some of it furthering ideas like this Journal. Please take a glance at my reply to Sam above. Do you think an ongoing chat or whatever it is called might help advance this idea?
I do! I will give this meaningful thought. Thank you, Richard. 💖💐
Well said Karan. Richard has many hidden admirers out there......praying too his health stabilizes and improves.
I am saddened to hear that your health problems have been so serious. I hope that you will have a miracle recovery and gather unexpected strength.
You are correct in your belief that the Right needs thoughtful leadership right now, and that the present claimants to that throne fall short of what is required in terms of intellectual sophistication and understanding of the human soul.
The pre-WWII right stood for liberty, subsidiarity, self-government, patriotism, faith (Christian in nature, with tolerance for others who do not attack that faith), community authority, self-reliance, respect for learning, scientific integrity, and other sound values. The way to another American century starts by going back to that point and restoring those ideas for the present time (as C. S. Lewis advised us to do when we go down a wrong path). That, in fact, is what Trump is trying to do, and your description of him as "a more complicated case," for whom you do not regret voting, is to me a sign that you are pursuing a sound vision and not just indulging in nostalgia for 1981.
The endeavor you suggest here would indeed require a reliable instiutional home. I suppose that you have had some ideas in that regard--this sounds rather like what you achieved with City Journal, yet even bigger. The effort will require money, to be sure, and a significant amount of it. However, it will be best if the money goes to writers and editors, without a costly carapace of administrative hangers-on and ambitions to be all things to all people, attaching a clunky movie studio or a nationwide network of John Doe clubs (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meet_John_Doe). Just writing and editing great thoughts. That approach has done great things before, and it can do so again.
I hope that you will have the strength to push forward with this idea and lead the leadership to a great start. And again, I hope that you will regain strength and be there plugging away alongside as the work goes on.
As always Sam you raise important points. wisely. Some thoughts:
1. Trump has done and is doing some amazingly great things I don't think Reagan-era GOPer could have. (Partly of course the problems themselves have gotten so bad it is more political palatable to address them).
2. Especially relevant is how much better he is than many of his followers--even more relevant is how much worse they are than he.
3. Your idea about focusing the money on the talent is 100% right.
4. Back when I thought I had the energy to do this, even while still working for a living, the $ challenge made me think a lot about bootstrapping: gradually building up what had been a single author Substack with circa 1,000 readers into a themed multi-author Substack that could grow into critical mass, and also convert a higher % of readers into paid.
5. Was it unbearably obvious that when I said the leadership we need to do this is probably reading this post, that you were on my mental short list.
6. It's a little bit dicey to discuss details in an open forum (though I'm glad you responded in comments and I do want to keep this an opening ongoing discussion) But it seems to me you are an excellent person to lead the multi-author Substack that could become the Journal. Isn't Life Liberty and Prosperity headed a bit way anyway?
7. On money it seems to me we would need but one salary to start and eventually not more than three plus interns. We need an editor. We need a tech savvy managing editor. (By tech savvy I just mean young enough that handling the various apps needed comes naturally.) And eventually we need some person (or agency) that could monetize the attractions of the journal to tech entrepreneurs who might become advertisers of sponsors.
8. I have never crowd-funded anything like this, do you think that might me possible.
Finally there is some capability on Substack to set up an ongoing public forum about a topic. It might be called Chat? Would that be a good thing to do?
We are entirely on the same page, it seems. Your concept is clearly viable, in my view, and I greatly like how you've conceptualized the construction process. (You have a much better aptitude for that side of things than I do.)
Let's take this private and continue. I'll send you an email in a day or two when I finish a deadline project in my day job.
In the meantime, take care of yourself.
Promising developments guys, Richard you can act as the 'yoda' source of wisdom by direction of the enterprise!!).
1: Sorry to see you go.
2: Definition of Progressivism: don't really need it. Like Art "I don't know Art, but I know what I like"; I don't know Progressivism, but I know what I don't like, and to a large extent, why. And to paraphrase what you wrote, a serious, sane, pragmatic, very very slightly right of center movement is urgently needed.
That's a heck of a good paraphrase. I read "serious, sane, pragmatic" as built upon the facts and the facts favor liberty. The facts are like Secretariat in the Belmont, they have the strength to leave the pessimists in the dust on the stretch. Do please see the replies to above comments and give these matters some thought
Sorry to hear of your poor health Richard. Your partnership with George and leadership of the GilderTechnology Investment enterprise has been greatly valued and reflects the concept that you have so well articulated below. A conservative/free enterprise approach grounded in core theological tenants as you've defined would be a whole new concept and approach with tremendous relevence and impact with the capacity to change people's thinking as much of George's great works have done - it was wealth and poverty for me at university early 1990s. In fact when GTG published The American Spectator in 2001 comes closest to what you are proposing and would have potentail for great growth and impact into the next generation.
Take care of yourself and hope this pans out in some shape or form.
Manoj Ranchord
Wellington, NZ.
Ditto Wealth and Poverty and college, though I was class of '78.
Amazing!!!! Someone who remembers when we published AmSpec. We did what, four issues? I hadn't thought back to that effort, but you are right that there are common themes. In the meantime, the ideas driving this have gotten stronger. We are at the edge of a mind-blowing increase in human prosperity, though the pessimists as always could derail or delay. Please also glance at my replies to the other comments including the question of whether this should be an ongoing discussion.
I had articles published in a couple of those AmSpec issues, as it happens. I was so happy when George took it over, and so disappointed that it ended so fast. It's a good model for what is needed today. So is American Outlook, the magazine Herb London and I founded at the Hudson Institute in the late 1990s and which we published for about six years.
I felt the same way. You look like the man for the job, Sam.