Money, Murder, and the American Dream: Wilding from Wall Stree to Main Street

Wilding, or random violence by prowling inner-city youth gangs, is symptomatic of ``individualism run amuck,'' writes Boston College sociology professor Derber. In a rousing but scattershot jeremiad on the decline of American values, he broadly extends the definition of ``wilding'' to include a vast spectrum of self-aggrandizing behaviors that harm others. His rogues' gallery includes Donald Trump, junk-bond king Michael Milken, child abusers, casual divorcers and angry taxpayers whose tax revolt defunds social services. Derber sees a wilding mindset at work in the S & L crisis (for which he partially blames Bush); the Gulf war; Reagonomics; the younger generations's me-first, know-nothing outlook; and the breakdown of the American family. His sketchy anti-wilding prescriptions include greater civic participation; an emphasis on rebuilding schools, churches and families; and a ``self-regulating social market'' that discourages selfish economic behavior. (Apr.)