The Overloaded Liberal: Shopping, Investing, Parenting and Other Daily Dilemmas in an Age of Political Activism

When Americans try to live according to their principles--be they concern for the environment, human rights, or animal welfare; religious beliefs; or partisan politics--they find themselves juggling a mass of dos and don'ts too numerous and extreme to actually follow: Do I buy imported organic or local unorganic? Is it terrible if my child wants watermelon out of season? People today don't just consume; we investigate and categorize the impact of our decisions on the earth, our health, geopolitical relationships, and other areas. Yet when we actually try to live according to our principles, it can be so overwhelming, contradictory, and demanding that we want to scream. Fran Hawthorne talks to activists and ordinary consumers alike, as they describe setting their own priorities. She also delves into the complexities of matters such as carbon footprints and socially responsible investing. And she raises some eyebrows at pie-in-thesky progressive organizations that ignore anyone who can't afford organic food.