Rating: 
Summary: Facts are for sissies
Review: It's always impressive to come across a book that dares to write down "facts" that can be checked... and dares to be wrong as often as Mr. Elder. While I enjoy fiction, I'd prefer a book that took its facts a little more seriously. If you pick up this book, make sure you have access to a library or to the Internet, so you can actually check on some of the "facts" expounded upon by Mr. Elder. For example, his explanation of the "court packing" by President Roosevelt has been disproven by books that actually did research instead of spewing vitrol. Overall, save your money, unless you either want to be a Dittohead, or want to spend your time fact checking.
Rating: 
Summary: Libertarian...not conservative
Review: It's disappointing that Larry Elder has been tagged as one of the voices of black conservatives given that he is, as he will happily tell you, a libertarian. With that important distinction out of the way, there are no libertarian voices as compelling as Elder's which either says something about the sad state of libertarian thought today or how dynamic he is. I vote for the later and Showdown certainly proves it. It's a wakeup call not only to black America, as some have taken it, but Americans in general. Either be a victim or get up, dust yourself off and go in for round two.
Rating:
Summary: It's Larry Elder versus conventional "wisdom"; good read
Review: It's obvious that Larry Elder doesn't really like government involvement in anything, although he tends to pick on views that are more associated with liberal thinking than with conservative points of view. "Showdown" is Mr. Elder's follow-up to "The Ten Things You Can't Say in America," and you'll find no big surprises if you've already read the latter. His writing style alternates between instructional, expository and a bit "gee whiz." Whatever the case, it's all very direct. If you're open to a strongly libertarian point of view, you'll likely find this book interesting.
In a chapter that wasn't touched upon in "The Ten Things . . ." Mr. Elder doesn't pull any punches in criticizing the presidential administration(s) for misguided interests and federal spending before and after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He terms America's self-defense "job number one," and has much to say about what he believes was proof of government's failure on that day. There are also many interesting quotes (both pro- and anti-US) from Muslim writers about politics and life in middle eastern countries.
From a financial/economic policy viewpoint, Mr. Elder gives Republicans just as hard a time as Democrats. He's obviously opposed to big government spending, but he gives many examples of how a wide ranging group of industries can obtain federal funding as a result of war, recession or disaster recovery.
As in previous writings, Mr. Elder visits the topics of race relations, media bias, gun control and "Republicans vs. Democrats" (he doesn't support either party). He takes delight in recounting the news media point of view, and then adding contradictory bits of information that was not common knowledge, almost as if to ask "So, now what do you think?" Even though he's a little rant-stricken at times, Mr. Elder is at once informative and entertaining. He argues his points well, and I enjoy reading about his take on politics, social issues and the media even if I don't agree with everything he stands for.
Rating: 
Summary: Right on the money...
Review: Larry Elder follows up his first book, "The Ten Things You Can't Say in America" with "Showdown," a call for a return to limited, localized governance and liberty linked to personal responsibility. Elder's not the first to defend the Founder's design, not even the first black - Walter E Williams and Thomas Sowell have been championing less government for decades, but Larry Elder adds a strong voice to that choir and proof that what the Left likes to say about Libertarian blacks, that they are "out of step with mainstream black America," is wrong. In fact, Elder would retort that people like himself, Professors Williams and Sowell, Condy Rice and Colin Powell ARE more indicative of the mainstream than their more visible Left leaning cohorts like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson."Showdown" is a very well researched book. Elder backs up his points meticulously. He chronicles Santa Monica's disastrous "Living Wage" bill that recently passed...a bill that's already cost the area lots of entry level jobs. And the new California movement of "Visitablity" - an ordinance that would force private home owners to install ramps and other means of access, apparently for disabled door-to-door salesmen. Throughout "Showdown" Elder shows a government run amock. It's a quick and entertaining read and one that'll make you think twice about so much of what the media passes off as gospel.
Rating:
Summary: Good message
Review: Larry Elder has many good points and many good things to say in this book, however, my chief compliant about the book is that he's all over the place and not focused enough on one issue. A large part of his text could have been snippets transcribed straight from his radio show. He often writes the way he talks. And sometimes it gets confusing. That said, Mr. Elder has some good research behind his message and this book has many footnotes. He does make use of solid logic, but sometimes goes off on tangents that are a little bit edgy when it comes to trying to go full circle back to his original point. Mr. Elder, Larry, Sage, send me your next manuscript and let me proof it for you, please... In any case, while this book doesn't read with the same polish that you'll find in Ann Coulter, Elder has stepped up to the plate with some strong stuff to say about liberals and conservatives both. Any interested in the state of the union from someone that is fighting against the "victim" state of America will find interesting analysis here and probably some points of fact that hadn't been previously thought about. The welfare state in America has to go and Larry shows why he believes this same "victim" thinking, using a coined word "victacrat", is fueling the fire in world terrorism and how the Democratic party and liberals in general have failed to realize how the policies they espouse actually make the problems they are trying to solve worse. I do recommend this book, however, it's written in a more conversational style, than academic style, which in and of itself would be a good thing, but as a writer, Elder falls a little short when I go to rank the writing itself (independent of the message).
Rating:
Summary: Good message
Review: Larry Elder has many good points and many good things to say in this book, however, my chief compliant about the book is that he's all over the place and not focused enough on one issue. A large part of his text could have been snippets transcribed straight from his radio show. He often writes the way he talks. And sometimes it gets confusing. That said, Mr. Elder has some good research behind his message and this book has many footnotes. He does make use of solid logic, but sometimes goes off on tangents that are a little bit edgy when it comes to trying to go full circle back to his original point. Mr. Elder, Larry, Sage, send me your next manuscript and let me proof it for you, please... In any case, while this book doesn't read with the same polish that you'll find in Ann Coulter, Elder has stepped up to the plate with some strong stuff to say about liberals and conservatives both. Any interested in the state of the union from someone that is fighting against the "victim" state of America will find interesting analysis here and probably some points of fact that hadn't been previously thought about. The welfare state in America has to go and Larry shows why he believes this same "victim" thinking, using a coined word "victacrat", is fueling the fire in world terrorism and how the Democratic party and liberals in general have failed to realize how the policies they espouse actually make the problems they are trying to solve worse. I do recommend this book, however, it's written in a more conversational style, than academic style, which in and of itself would be a good thing, but as a writer, Elder falls a little short when I go to rank the writing itself (independent of the message).
Rating:
Summary: GREAT IDEAS AND EYE OPENING FACTS
Review: Larry Elder is a libertarian, and powerfully documents his thesis that the country and its citizens would be better off if we returned to the type of limited government and personal responsibilty envisioned by the founders of our country as outlined in the Constitution. As he states, "Americans are good enough, smart enough, competent enough, and forward-thinking enough to control their own lives with little government interference". He provides extensive examples of how most government programs limit our freedoms, reduce our wealth, and usually are counterproductive due to their unintended consequences. No topic is off limits to the author, the host of a top rated LA radio talk show who overcame an attempt by pressure groups opposed to his views to organize an advertiser boycott and drive him off the air. After all, a Hollywood celebrity who is a libertarian is threatening enough to the ""toe tag liberals" and victicrats; when he is black it is imperative that he be discredited or silenced since he is viewed as a "traitor to his race" in Larry's words. The book strongly makes the case that the terrorist attacks of 9/11 should cause us to focus our efforts on the country's self defense and should have made us aware of how the involvement of the federal government in areas that are Constitutionally defined as the responsibilty of individual citizens or local officials has led to the diversion of both personnel and financial resources away from its primary duty of the protection of its citizens. Among the issues that the book discusses are the problems of our educational system, race relations and environmental policy. It illustrates how media bias interacts with the desire of both major political parties to retain their power and thus creates the pressure for an ever expanding role for the federal government.It shows how the threat of terrorist action is likely to accelerate these tendencies. His historical analysis is quite interesting and he takes no prisoners, Republican or Democrat. I tremendously enjoyed the book, and even though I am politically active and very interested in public policy the book includes many fascinating facts and quotations of which I was not aware. (All of which are meticulously footnoted.) I did not rate it five stars because I thought that at times it jumped around rather than concentrate on facts and arguments furthering his main point.While these were interesting and often outrageous, they actually diverted the reader's attention. Several of the chapters should have been more focused; in this regard his previous book THE TEN THINGS THAT YOU CAN'T SAY IN AMERICA was much better at making his points. At times SHOWDOWN almost seemed more like the transcript of an excellent radio talk show than a book. Also, while I share the author's beliefs in the need for limited government, a return to Constitutional principles, the counterproductive nature of such programs as the war on drugs, and the innate goodness and ability of the American people to solve their own problems and manage their lives, I think his call to President Bush and the other politicians currently in power to voluntarily reverse the course started upon by FDR is naive. We probably need structural reforms enacted to accomplish his goals and he does not touch on these and the real showdown that would accompany their implementation.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Reading! He is the Sage!
Review: Larry Elder talks about issues that many other media and political leaders would never voice. Due to his courage to buck the mind set of the politically correct peer presure he is often called an "Uncle Tom," or a "Clown," by his contemporaries. Mr. Elder is a Nationally syndicated radio talk show host and is very frank in his discussions of behind door politics and ethics. Buy this for your least favorite politician! Watch Out Maxine W. yours in on the way!!!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent work
Review: Larry Elder, a syndicated talk radio host in Los Angeles, has created a strong indictment of 50 years of liberalism that has not had to answer to its critics. This is one such book. In this book, he provides moral and intellectual justification for individual liberty and initiative. Welfare takes away the initiative of both income-earners (by reducing their incentive to earn more due to high-taxes) and reduces the benefeciary of welfare from working (why work if you get money for free). Elder's arguments are based on common sense and human psychology. The problem with most of our current political debates, says Elder, is due to the way they are framed. Politicians make all sorts of promises (today, for instance, we hear of free drugs for seniors) for more spending here and there -- everywhere -- that it is resulting in Americans being far more dependent on other taxpayers for their needs. At the same time, as the first page notes, we are moving further away from what the purpose of the federal government is: to protect life, liberty, and property. On September 11, President George W. Bush was involved in education policy, when, in fact, the president should at all times be focused on our national defense. It is not, Elder says (to which I agree) the job of the federal government to be involved in education policy. Republicans ought to take note.
Rating:
Summary: A Blunt Indictment of 50 Years of Liberalism
Review: Larry Elder, a syndicated talk radio host in Los Angeles, has created a strong indictment of 50 years of liberalism that has not had to answer to its critics. This is one such book. In this book, he provides moral and intellectual justification for individual liberty and initiative. Welfare takes away the initiative of both income-earners (by reducing their incentive to earn more due to high-taxes) and reduces the benefeciary of welfare from working (why work if you get money for free). Elder's arguments are based on common sense and human psychology. The problem with most of our current political debates, says Elder, is due to the way they are framed. Politicians make all sorts of promises (today, for instance, we hear of free drugs for seniors) for more spending here and there -- everywhere -- that it is resulting in Americans being far more dependent on other taxpayers for their needs. At the same time, as the first page notes, we are moving further away from what the purpose of the federal government is: to protect life, liberty, and property. On September 11, President George W. Bush was involved in education policy, when, in fact, the president should at all times be focused on our national defense. It is not, Elder says (to which I agree) the job of the federal government to be involved in education policy. Republicans ought to take note.
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