James A. Morone

In the viewpoint that follows, James A. Morone asserts that fears about America’s moral crisis are unfounded. In Morone’s view, it is simply untrue that society is devoid of religious sentiment, plagued by random violence, and awash in sexual promiscuity. Those who promote hysteria over American morality would rather condemn lifestyles they view as “corrupt” than develop progressive solutions to the real societal problems of crime and poverty. Morone is a professor of political science at Brown University and the author of The Democratic Wish: Popular Participation and the Limits of American Government.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. What evidence does Morone provide that Americans are religious?
2. According to the author, what would a sensible policy on crime attempt to accomplish?
3. Do Americans live in a...