Restoring the Common WEALTH is a novel. However, it is more fact than fiction. It ties together persons and events that are normally regarded as isolated events.The element which unites them is money and profit. It was originally published 20 years ago as "The Disjointed Society". The novel proposes that we cannot really understand WHY events happen until we understand who makes money from the events which happen. It also looks at ongoing history, not simply isolated events. The novel also looks at history through the eyes of a Native American. In the epilogue the Native American looks at some of the contemporary events which give us hope. A more detailed analysis of the novel is available at www.workforpeace.infoIt was originally published as a novel entitled "The Disjointed Society". Later I wrote a factual book called Surrogate Wars. The book contained all the factual parts of the novel that I could document. One of its major emphases was that wars were often fought for economic reasons rather than the political reasons we were told caused the war. Many persons did not understand the subtlety of the title. By early 2008 both the novel and Surrrogate Wars were out of print. I still had a copy of Surrogate Wars. I was at the Notre Dame University and met George Lopez of the Krok Institute. George told me "You really need to publish this book." He even contacted some publishers and suggested a few additions to the book. I republished the book. I gave it a new title Why We Are Always Broke: things we need to know about the economy. The book appeared at a time when many people were first experiencing the effects of the disintegrating economy. The book was far more successful than Surrogate Wars. In September, 2012 I retired from active ministry as a pastor. I became involved with some local poetry groups. One message I heard frequently was: "It is not enough to point out problems. We also need to offer solutions." That inspired me to write another book: Must We Always Remain Broke? As I was finishing this book I realized that I needed to rewrite my original novel. Since doing the novel about thirty years ago I have had much contact with Native Americans. I became aware of their history and how they lost the land due to greed and other economic factors. This novel is basically a repeat of The Disjointed Society with the addition of a new character Thomas Whitney, a Native American who looks at the events of current society in the light of Native American history. The character is modeled after Whitney Vilcan (cf. dedication) and his Father Thomas Vilcan from whom Whitney took much of his vision of reality. The novel is in many ways autobiographical. It is not really fiction. It details with events and persons I have actually met or at least read about. Bob Stokely and Eloise James are both parts of me. Just after World War Two my father told me that we might be moving to Venezuela. He worked for Youngstown Sheet and Tube. They were opening a new plant in Venezuela. We did not move. I ended up studying for the priesthood, being ordained and spending over forty years in various ministries. I did not want to complicate the book by making Eloise James (the me that is) a Catholic priest so she is an Episcopal priest. Bob Stokely became a quite different person with a totally different focus than Eloise James. Still his daughter, Liz, is very much influenced by Eloise James and assumes many of her ideas. Pope Victor 1 is Pope John Paul 1. There is a common sense that he was murdered because he intended to reform the Vatican Bank. Jean Pierre is John Kennedy. Pierre and Victor 1 served at different times. They never met. Still they shared many of the same hopes and dreams. Many in the novel are from different times. They reality they helped create goes beyond their own actual life times.
About the Author: Father Bill Crumley is a retired Holy Cross priest ordained for the Catholic Church in 1964. He spent 44 years in South Louisiana . He was pastor of two parishes, founded another church, and worked part time in 25 or 30 other churches. For ten years he was involved in a social justice ministry. In that ministry he attempted to help change some of the political and economic structures that foster poverty. He also built two solar houses as a model for persons who wanted to become more economically independent. Presently he lives at St. Edwards University in Austin, Texas. Father Bill hopes to do two things in this ministry. 1.Increase awareness of the dangers of nuclear energy and suggest steps people can take to help in this effort. 2.Help ordinary people realize they DO have solutions THEY Can implement. He is available to make presentations and/or do book readings of "Restoring the Common WEALTH." He can be reached by email at bcrumley1936@yahoo.com He can also be reached by telephone. His number is 512-637-1970 His mailing address is Rev. William Crumley CSC 3001 South Congress St. Joseh Hall Austin, Texas 78704 His website www.workforpeace.info has a very detailed account of the novel. This includes several video presentations on the book. The website also describes some of his activities. He has a second website www.icsee.com This website describes other books he has published.