Rating: 
Summary: Excellent exposition
Review: Right on target, bravo! The real threat to the values and traditions of the Republic comes not from liberals, as neo- and radical conservatives would have us believe, but from an alliance of secretive government, timid legislature, judiciary with little respect for constitution and big money controlling what most Americans hear and see every day through the media. "Our rulers will become corrupt, our people careless. A single zealot may commence persecutor, and better men be his victims... From the conclusion of this war we shall be going down hill. It will not then be necessary to resort every moment to the people for support. They will be forgotten, therefore, and their rights disregarded. They will forget themselves, but in the sole faculty of making money, and will never think of uniting to effect a due respect for their rights. The shackles, therefore, which shall not be knocked off at the conclusion of this war, will remain on us long, will be made heavier and heavier, till our rights shall revive or expire in a convulsion." Thomas Jefferson, "Notes on the State of Virginia", response to query 17, (1781).
Rating: 
Summary: I think he is correct.
Review: The human race has always given into the what they perceive as the easy way. I saw a movie once where the actor said, "Everyone wanna go to heaven, but no one wants to die." In other words, no one wants to pay the price. Admittedly, for most people, the conservative values are hard to live up to. On the other hand, the liberal way--anything goes--is attractive to most people. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a free lunch. Someone has to pay, and as the USA moves closer to socialism, and closer to destruction of the American way, as we know it, those who pay will be a small minority at the top of the socio-economic ladder, while the rest hold their hands out for whatever they can get for nothing. I wonder if they will enjoy living like the socialist in Europe. I guess being pretty much anti-American, they can turn to America for help when they need us, and curse us when they don't. Why not, that's part of living in a socialist country, isn't it?
The natural man is selfish, greedy, lazy, slothful, and morally corrupt. These characteristics must be overcome by diligent attention to improving on the natural man. There is a passage in the scriptures of one religion that says, "The natural man is an enemy to God." Consider this; way too many liberals, or more appropriately, leftists, fall into one or more of the following categories: atheist, agnostic, socialist, communist, moral deviants, and haters of religion, especially Christianity. Notice that they represent the opposite of what they hate; moral depravity vs. morally clean, and so forth.
Great group, huh?
It is easy to see why the author says they will win. At least temporarily, after promising their citizens the same things the liberals in this country offer our citizens, the Nazi's won, Stalin won, Jim Jones won, and so forth.
For example, look at the Hollywierdos who worship the gods of "Liberalism". Where can you find more alcholism, drug addiction, divorces, sexual deviancy, and deviant children than with the actors who infest Hollywierd.
Mr. Reich, you are so correct, but our great grandchildren will never thank you for it.
Rating:
Summary: What a Silly Little Man
Review: The negative reviews seem to come from people who either a) have not read the book or b) are rattled because Reich hits too close to home.
Conservatives shouldn't feel threatened or insulted by this book. For one thing, Reich isn't talking about real conservatives but about reactionary idealogues passing themselves off as conservatives. On page 17 of his book, he makes a distinction between the so-called "radcons" and genuine conservatives like, say, John McCain.
There are some points to be made about excessive government bureaucracy, yet radcons have no problem with the big government of the Bush administration or with Bush's fiscal irresponsibility. The radcons claim to despise the welfare state but corporate welfare seems to be acceptable to them. They claim to champion "moral values" and the family, yet do not recognize that families need good wages, affordable healthcare, and quality education. The radcons do not see the contradictions in what they claim to believe.
Reich adds that liberals in fact have NO problem with small government. They do have a problem with government that serves the wealthy and the corporate monopolies at the expense of everyone else. This is the kind of government we have now, and it has failed the American people.
What a breath of fresh air this book is.
Rating:
Summary: Just my opinion ...
Review: There were several things i enjoyed about this book. First is Mr. Reich argument that the liberal cause will again become popular. The bases of his argument are that:
1. Radical conservative aims, as he defines them, have occurred many time and in many places in history, and have always been replaced by more progressive ideas, sometimes gradually and sometimes as the result of revolution.
2. Most Americans favor progressive ideas over radical conservative ideas (based on a variety of polls and polling organizations).
He argues that all that is needed is a spark, a leader, or some other stimulus to unite and lead the liberal cause. Second, I liked his discussion of "bubble-up economics" in contrast to the counterproductive "trickle-down thories of Reaganomics. I hope to see more Nationwide debate on this topic. Third, I enjoyed his stories of his younger days, which provide insight about how his ideas developed over time. His references to Robert Bork, one of his conservative mentors, were particularly interesting. They showed the value of listening to opposing viewpoints. His anecdotes about how "Radcoms" are illustrative but not nearly as entertaining as those of Jim Hightower. Overall, the tone of the book is "educated" but not "scholarly." His abundant references include both academic treatises and journalistic pieces meant for the general public. It's not too dense to read on the train but is far from the puff pieces of some political books. It's definately worth the time to read cover-to-cover.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent - well argued and an enjoyable read
Review: This is a well-written book, and I read it in two sittings. So many recent books now are "screeds," so the calm, reasoned tone was nice. He also avoids personal attacks and restricts his debate to the ideas, rather than ad hominem attacks. The quotations are accurately reproduced, rather than selectively edited. Many of the screeds that decry "The Left"
(or "The Right") do not clearly define who they are talking about and seem to lump everyone together who disagrees with the author. In contrast, he gives a pretty accurate definition of his
opposition, the "radcons." He has a list of what they believe
(without loaded language) and who the more prominet members are. However, I think there is an aspect that he neglects when discussing religious conservatives: they really feel God will punish the country if private morality is on the decline, and sincerely believe that these people are destined for eternal damnation. This gives a passion and urgency to their cause.
He stresses the importance of public morality and "positive patriotism." Importantly, he stresses the need to take a stand. He understands the importance for the Democrats to organize and unite, rather than being a coalition of one-issue groups.
I don't agree with all his positions, but he argues his positions well. The final section in the book gives a good amount of reliable poll data and a reading list. The reading list is especially valuable for gaining insight into the beliefs of and influences on the "radcons."
Rating:
Summary: Total Drivel
Review: Total Drivel. Robert Reich completely distorts, obfuscates, and deceives both himself and his reader in his discussion of America's contemporary problems. For example: 1. Reich imposes a totally false dichotomy on the political spectrum between radcons (radical conservatives) and liberals or supposedly true patriots. Reich admits that not all radcons agree on all issues. But we are supposed to go for the dichotomy because radcons are the same in fervor. In particular radcons are supposed to be militant and repressive hawks on the war on terror. Reich does not discuss the views of Patrick
Buchanan except for one personal insult. Other disagreements within both the liberal and conservative camps are ignored. I have the feeling that many if not most Americans would not fit into Reich's dichotomy. 2. Reich stacks the deck in proving his favored New England liberals are the good guys. For the 1950s he discusses Joseph McCarthy and quotes his supposedly heroic newscaster Edward Murrow. Of course Reich chooses to call the era of Franklin Roosevelt a time of selfless freedom loving patriotism ignoring the relocation camps and sedition trials of the period. 3. Reich exaggerates the threat of terrorism. Supposedly agreeing with the more extreme neoconservatives Reich quotes as examples of the hated radcoms, the threat of terrorism is equal that of communism in the cold war. Oh come on, a bunch of terrorist gangs is the equal of the Russian Empire that controlled numerous captive nations and possessed thousands of nuclear weapons. 4. Reich demands the reimposition of the draft and mandatory national service. Get real Reich. The draft is unfreedom. America at its best is freedom. And the draft means many more military casualties as draftees replace trained military professionals. The draft wastes human talent by forcing people to work at jobs when they can be more productively employed elsewhere. 5. Reich attributes opposition to statism to greed. Supposedly this is the case with opposition to higher tax rates. Yet lower taxes encourage business investment and provide economic growth and employment. In short the conception of patriotism to Reich is an impoverished heavily militarized country dominated by an elite group of faddish secularized New England lawyers. I would hope most Americans would strongly resist this demented scheme. In the end Reich is neither rational or patriotic.
Rating:
Summary: very excellent read
Review: Very insightful book. My only complaint is that it doesn't spend enough on religion and cultural issues. Still, what it does have to say is true and needs to be heard. One more problem: the title and cover might put off some perspective readers. I like how it's a bit i nthe style of a "call to arms", but still, that's not a good way to keep closeminded conservatives to open up to the truth.
Rating:
Summary: Reason vs. Ideology, It's a no brainer
Review: Who wouldn't want our national and state political leaders to make decisions based on a carefull analysis of the real facts and not have it based on ideology? I would, and I think everyone else would also. Robert Reich has taken the political arguement to where it should be. About reasonable solutions based on facts and made incrementaly. With the radcons, his word, making large policy leaps of faith based on ideology instead of incremental changes based on the facts its no wonder that we have record deficits, a war against terrorism that does not appear to be going well and was seemingly based on deception versus reality, the middle class losing ground, and bedroom politics. Instead of catchwords and debate by yelling, Reich makes a well reasoned arguement about why the Liberals will ultimately win just as they have over and over again in the past, because we care about our fellow citizens and society as a whole, and not just ourselves. That Liberals want to see society flourish for everyone and not just a few. He argues that instead of focusing on bedroom politics in the so-called "Value Wars" that we should be focusing on the abuse of boardroom values and what corporations are doing to our environment, communities, workers, and customers ... all in the name of profit.
Rating: 
Summary: Political decision maker's required reading . . .
Review: Why Liberals will win the battle for America is the subtitle for Mr. Reich's latest book. A month or so ago, I was privileged to hear him discuss this book and his findings at a very large gathering. The response to his presentation was one of support and encouragement. Yet, while certainly liberals come to hear Mr. Reich, I happen to know that there were many "conservatives" in the audience and they too were applauding. Why is that? What is the appeal to conservatives? I would like to think that the appeal is simply one of, well, REASON! It may also be that the old labels no longer apply to the average American. It may well be that Republicans, Democrats, Green Party, Libertarians, and those who decline to disclose any party affiliation all have come to understand that things are too complex for sound bites and that reason must prevail. They may be finally getting the message that we are all in the same boat together and so we must work together with respect and compassion. For those who embrace reason, compassion, and a sense of connectedness, this book will provide much with which to agree, and will provide provocative ideas with which we might reasonably disagree and debate. Reich certainly doesn't shy away from taking a position, regardless of who's toes he might crunch. For those who believe that globalization is killing jobs he has this message: "Every task that's repetitive-anything that can be done more cheaply by automated machinery or computer software or by a person laboring in a poor country-is no longer going to be done by Americans at American wages. Period." For those who would continue to ignore the growing separation of the haves and the have-nots, he has this message: "In America in the twenty-first century, real prosperity is shared prosperity. That's what we are losing rapidly, and that's why Radcons are wrong and their thinking is dangerously obsolete." Radcons? Yes, Mr. Reich is not above taking his shot at the Radical Conservatives he believes are creating a situation of further economic stratification and therefore internal strife in America. This book is definitely good reading for all of us, regardless of the label put on us and regardless of whether or not we agree with everything Mr. Reich has to say. The book is truly based on reason. I hope all political decision makers find the time to read "Reason, why Liberals will Win the Battle for America." It should be required reading for us all.
|
