IT TAKES A VILLAGE AND OTHER LESSONS CHILDREN TEACH US : And Other Lessons Children Teach Us

Rating:
Summary: Help The Children
Review: The bestselling book by HIlary Rodham Clinton presents the idea that children deserve the best that soeciety can give and only as a society can we give it to them.

First Mrs. Clinton argues that children are affected by all of society directly and indirectly and that affects their well being. "All of us...are responsible for deciding whether our children are raised in a nation that doesn't just espouse family values but values families and children" (7). Children are the product of society and everything the adult world does affects children. Any person, no matter how old, affects the rest of the world.

Secondly, Mrs. Clinton addresses the inadequacy of the American childcare and education system. America simply does not invest enough into its children. She compares out situation with France, where every child has good public childcare and education available to them. When the French are asked about their system they reply "How can you not invest in children and expect to have a healthy country?" (223). Also, our education standards are too low. during the Cold War the president asked all students to study more math and science and they did and test scores improved, because the goals were higher.

Mrs. Clinton also confronts the lack of health care that children are getting. MAny American children do not have any health care. How can our society continue to thrive when the children are sick and dieing from curable diseases? Due to these problems, the emergency rooms are flooded with the cases of people who have preventable problems. Preventable by vacination and other medical care.

Inconclusion, Mrs. Clinton makes valid points and artfully argues her assumptions. This book is very readable and I strongly suggest that you do.

Rating:
Summary: SOCIALISM?
Review: The title of this book comes from an African proverb. It is based on the theory that a child is best raised by a caring community. Within its pages are many well-intentioned statements that advocate the beauty of a world in which children are provided all that they need - education, health care, love and caring. To discredit it requires generalizing, which is never a good idea (but sometimes impossible to avoid), and to "put down" the idea that providing for kids is a good thing. Of course it is a good thing.

The problem starts with Hillary Clinton, who speaks often about "the children." An overall assessment of Hillary - her background, her marriage and partnership with Bill Clinton, Hillarycare, the accusations against her and the inside stories of those who knew her best in Little Rock and D.C., are that her real desire is not to further the betterment of kids, but of her hold on power in America. She uses kids as a smokescreen in this effort. There is no arguing some of the things she advocates are good ideas, and so judging her and this book requires a Kabuki dance between truth and politics. This is what obfuscators are good at creating.

There is a conservative opposition to Hillary's book, some of whom call it "It Takes A Village Idiot", which is based on the idea that raising kids is the job of parents, not the state. This is of course correct, but again requires generalizing. To advocate it blindly discredits the role of teachers, Foster parents, neighbors and social workers. Sometimes there are no biological parents around. The health care issue is a big one, and is easy to jump on. It sounds good, of course, to say that all kids should have health care. We live in a country in which they all do not. However, the Canadian-style Hillarycare that was so roundly defeated a decade ago is not the answer. It was explored inside and out at the time and found to be totally lacking as practical application.

What we are left after Hillarycare is just Hillary. She is smart and knows how to pull our heartstrings. Watch out for her.(...)

Rating:
Summary: Socialism is alive and well in Clintonville
Review: What a total advocate for socialism! Hillary will always push for total Government control of all Americans from the cradle to the grave. She makes it very clear in this book that she expects the Government to do what is best for all citizens, and the ultimate product will be all citizens fitting into the same mold of admiration for her as President. I believe she sees her self as a benevolent dictator.