The Issue.

The false gods of America have failed. Self-interest; Markets; Technology; Finance; and Equality: one need not be religious to see that every idol which promised felicity and liberty has proven lifeless and hollow. Now we, the inheritors of destitution, are left to face the looming question: What now?

The Need.

Anyone can point out what is wrong. It takes courage to affirm what is right, and perseverance to carry it out. The latter is ultimately the goal of the Arcata summit, as expressed in our theme: Prospects for American Renewal. If such prospects are possible, they will be realized only by our banding together and pushing ourselves out of the muddy rut of apathy and disaffection. Yet any unified action first requires a unified vision of what renewal looks like across the domains of culture, technology, economics, and governance.

The Ask.

Therefore, we are inviting 120 scholars and professionals, creatives and craftsmen, leaders and learners to address these questions in Bozeman, Montana. Situated on the frontier of the Mountain West, this historic city has witnessed some of the American experiment’s most distinctive chapters. But we are not gathering to simply reminisce nor to idly speculate. Rather, the Arcata summit will enlighten the mind, edify the will, and entertain the good humor of its participants, equipping each with the tools to become “investors” in a more equitable arrangement, brought to life and bearing fruit in our own lives and communities.