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Summary: The Truth
Review: The reality is that the US is no longer a Democratic Republic- it is a Plutocratic Oligarchy (government by the wealthy few). Most people don't realize this, and this is the reason why this book is so important. This book comes at a very auspicious moment in history when we must use activism to reclaim our government.Disregard negative reviews of this book by small-minded, self-serving individuals who really don't care the least bit about society as a whole. They're simply bitter because this book reminds them that they haven't done anything meaningful with their lives. They are yet another reason why this book is so necessary. This book is truly American in its contribution to society.
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Summary: They forgot #1
Review: The #1 way to love your country is not by getting this book. Do yourself a favor and read the Constitution and use that as a basis of your love for this country. And I am sorry but this country is not a Democracy, it is a Republic. Read the constitution and tell me where it says democracy. It doesnt. Our founding fathers knew a government based on a democracy or mob rules would not work. They formed a Republic of the United States. And I wish these people would stop the "we won the popular vote in 2000" mantra, again read the constitution. It does not say the president must "win the popular vote." Our founding fathers knew this would not work. Plus it's 2004, get over it.
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Summary: Real Freedom & Democracy scare people
Review: I don't agree with all in this book but it is truly a remarklable piece of work that is good for democracy and freedom. The negative reviews of this work are coming from a place of fearful cowardice. People afraid of losing contol of hateful, unproductive, repressive, secretive, in-effective incompetent right wing idealology rather than real governing. They (the negative, neocon, idealogue, selfish (in terms of truly understanding real problems, real solutions),destructively impatient reviewers) use the same tactics they accuse others of using showing their ignorance. I hate what this county represents under this awful idealogical group not interested in expanding freedom and justice but supressing it. They don't represent my America - the America I love and cherish where opportunity is non biased and plentiful, unhateful of those different than us, unwilling to repress rights and freedoms and is most interested in justice in all its forms. There are amazing solutions that we never see the light of day because of this fearful cowardly lot. We tout the secular government we are establishing in Iraq but don't think it is a good idea for America- better we all have faith based intitiatives as the solution to everything - this is circular, nonsensical, destructive logic they use and blister about. They are not intereseted in solving problems but creating them to keep themselves powerful. It's is the worst kind of sin and they claim to be the moral party- excuse me I don't think so. (Although I do feel sorry for the truly righteous folks that have been fooled into thinking these guys are good guys.) They've invaded more deeply in to the privacy and lives of Americans than ever before. They are the group that has taken Lincoln's vision of the governemnt of, by and for the people and turned it into an invasive, intrusive authoritarian tool for the huge corporations leaving small business and individuals as indentured servants of the corporate-state. They do not represent the correct idealology which is Life, Truth, Justice, Liberty, Equality, Happiness, Prosperity - the real Amrerican idealology. Those are the fundamental American principles and ideals and this group has stomped unceremoniously and with contempt all over them. If they get elected again I'm afraid you'll get just what you deserve: less choices, totalitarian rule, the state will have to OK everything.(we really don'thave any sense of history as a country) I would also have to start to question the quality of the American character as having become more hard, less compassionate and uncaring - this is not the ideal we were striving for. If you think you are getting more freedom under this character you need to be re-educated. Maybe Abraham Lincoln made a mistake after all. Maybe he should have let the South sucede then the so-called 'liberals' could have a country of their choosing and the too tightly twisted, right wing idealogues could have their country. Still might not be a ba idea.
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Summary: "50 Ways to Love Our Children"
Review: This book is SO GREAT! If you care about our kids and grandkids, then you should read this book and pitch in to make a difference. The book describes how regular people, ordinary folks like you & me, can make our country a better place. Like my grandkids say, "rock on" Move On!
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Summary: Great for Republicans and Democrats alike!!
Review: If you are a Republican like me, don't pass on this book just because it is from MoveOn!! An unbiased look at democracy and the difference we all can make, it's a MUST READ for anyone who wants to get more involved in the political process. I rather doubt the "one star" ratings even took the time to look at the book. Get past your bias and pick up this book!!!
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Summary: Of course it's leftist
Review: ...It's moveon.org, what did you expect? Anyway, too many people are rating this book on their personal political convictions rather than the book itself, which leads me to suspect whether some of the reviewers read it at all. Personally, I don't understand how people with right-wing philosophies refuse to accept all the deceipt going on in Washington simply because our great leader holds the same republican principles. But so fuels the bipartisan system that has served our country well, I suppose. But for the concerned citizen... since it's pretty hard to take direct action on the federal government (as some reviewers also are suggesting?), this is an excellent handbook on how to make your disappointment in the current U.S. government heard (or any democracy for that matter, although we seem to be pretty much the only ones with problems right now). So if you're blood-thirsty and/or closed-minded, for god sakes don't buy the book. But if you're frustrated with the state of our nation and wish to be a part of the change that can restore the much of the world's respect and admiration of the U.S.A., then this book is for you. True, at times it does lean a little too far in left field (giving serious forward thinkers a silly hippie label), but for it's compact and concise advice to being a concerned yet active citizen, I give it 4 stars.
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Summary: Partisan but Patriotic
Review: As a conservative, I was skeptical -- to say the least -- about a book on "Democracy" from MoveOn.org. While I may not agree with the politics of most of the authors, I have to say that reading the individual stories was eye opening to me in the sense of seeing what a difference one person can make in our gridlocked political arena. I'm so sick of our American government and politics being deadened and directed by extreme, cynical career elites and marketers of both parties. This book offers a rare contemporary glimpse of genuine hope in America for re-establishing our democracy "for the people" -- regardless of what party you belong to. The stories are also very concrete, factual, and short -- so you can learn a lot.
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Summary: I loved it and am not a leftist at all
Review: I think everyoen from all parts of the political spectrum will enjoy this book. As a lifelong Republican I have to say that people here denegrating this book haven't read it at all. It is a very good illumination of how curruption and failure to participate have undermined American democracy. Indeed our local school board place this book on the required reading list at our high school...and we are a Republican town!
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Summary: America is about freedom, this book is about just that.
Review: This book would more accurately be entitled "50 Ways to Reinvigorate America's Democracy". Considering the current state of our "democracy" which more or less resembles a corporate plutocracy, I would say that this book is important. America's constitution was written to ensure and protect our individual liberties. This is essential to a well functioning democracy. Democracy is the ultimate expression of a political model which respects the collective voices of the majority of the people. The crucial point here being that it takes a collective of organized voices for democracy to be effective at all. This book offers a toolbox of effective ways to take a more powerful role in America's democracy. If you don't understand that government is currently the all-important factor in determining labor-laws, environmental laws, international trade laws, how liberal or regulated our market economy is, or if you don't get it that our country is run by rule of law and those laws are created by government, then you should not read this book and you may feel more at ease looking for books by Dr.Seuss. To love your country you must be involved politically. If you are not, then you are no longer part of what makes our country great: its Democracy. If you don't like democracy then you are more than likely a Republican. Republicans put presidents in office who don't get elected by the majority of the people(GW BUSH). So if you are a Republican you will hate this book. Successful people are very politically active. Look at all of the major corporations. They are so pollitically active that they hire professionals called lobbyists to do their political jockeying for them. This way they are ensured that policy making is in line with corporate interest. If you are an intelligent American, you can probably see the benefit yourself from becoming more adept at political action. If GE can do it, you can to, and this book will help you. This book would be very helpful say if you were a SCUBA diver who didn't like it that Bumblebee Tuna bribed South American fishermen to go fish protected fisheries near the Gallapagos. Now obviously you can't go get the Girl Scouts to say no more fishing to these corporate powerhouses, but what you can do is use MoveOn's book to help you get a message out, and effectively lobby for what is all-important in this country: laws. And laws are made by government, so you will have to be politcal, and this book will help you there too... Unless you still want to fight the corporate menace with the Boy Scouts. This book wants you to feel empowered, and it wants you too feel comfortable taking part in what is yours: your Democracy. If you want to Love your country then get involved. Read a lot of Noam Chomsky and Michael Parenti. Listen to Democracy Now, and learn about your government. Then pick up this book and take action. You can even do it while you eat an ice-cream cone with your kids. Always remember what Thomas Jefferson said,"
Educate and inform the whole mass of the people... They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty."
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Summary: Republicans can love it also
Review: I bought this extraordinary book even though I am Republican. Reading it was a joy. I loved the book. I loved the ideas in the book. It is extremely thought-provoking and I encourage all proud Americans to read this soon-to-be classic.
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