Rating: 
Summary: Socialism is an incurable disease.
Review:
This book is nothing more than 200 pages of smoke and mirrors.All Satin believes that is need to make the failed ideology of Socialism work is to pile on more government and programs and sock the cost to taxpayers.Of course,he doesn't use the word taxpayer,he uses the word government when he talks about who is going to foot the bill.You see,taxpayers are the problem,they've learned to look after themselves.Socialist's clients are those who buy into the concept that they can't or won't look after themselves and hand it over to the government to do it.
Satin has spent decades as a dyed- in- the- wool Leftist and now thinks he's seen the light.His ideas are far to the left of JFK
who believed that it was not the role of government to provide a person with a job but to provide the person with an opportunity to look after himself.Even he was a Liberal;then along came Johnson with his War on Poverty,and after spending 3 trillion dollars on it ;the end result was that even a larger percent of the people were living below the poverty line.What else would you expect from Socialism.
Satin's ideas about proportional representation have already been rejected by another reviewer and all I would like to add is that, it is being pushed for here in Canada;and these proposers are not even Liberals,but Socialists.
Search as you may,for some enlightenment in this book;you will not find ideas like,self-reliance,taking on responsibility,pride in accomplishment,etc.What you will find is a load of ideas like programs,entitlements,assistance,government creating jobs etc.
Figure a way to take care of yourself,and don't fall for the idea that you need these Socialists to do it.They haven't done it anywhere else and you'll be sadly mistaken if you believe they'll start in the USA.
Even the author has come to the point where he went back and learned a skill to better his lot.You don't see John Kerry ,the great caring Liberal giving away anything.And how about Teresa when talking to people gathering up clothes to send to recent hurricane victims---"Let them go naked"was her help.
Rating:
Summary: Highly impressed, greatly needed
Review: "Radical Middle" is several things: The title of Mark Satin's new book being reviewed here, the title of his newsletter, the title of his web site and the name of an exciting new political concept.
I have followed Mark Satin for a long time, having been a charter subscriber to his previous newsletter, "New Options" and to his current "Radical Middle" newsletter. And I have read two of his previous books in addition to "Radical Middle."
Because of occasional disagreements with some specific content from the current newsletter, I was ready to be skeptical of Mark's new book. But instead, I must admit that I am highly impressed. I believe the book does a thorough job of explaining the Radical Middle concept to readers, regardless of their background, political leanings, or even newsletter subscriber status. In each book chapter, Mark expanded upon past "Radical Middle" newsletter articles and included more nuances and detail, which help to flesh out and explain his positions better.
While there were still a few points where I winced, there were many more knowing smiles and nods. In fact, in some cases I found that my position was not that far away from Mark's after all, once I finally understood his position more fully. And even where there remain points of disagreement, I commend Mark for creating, thoroughly explaining and maintaining his voice and his ground.
I should also state that I had my wife read the education chapter. She is a former full-time teacher, and currently does some substitute teaching. She had not read any of Mark's past books, newsletters, web site, etc., so had a fresh perspective. And she loved the chapter, agreeing with Mark's central thesis that quality teachers are what great education is all about.
The resource lists at each chapter end are also very useful, and I recommend readers to pursue some them to follow up with your own investigations of issues. I am doing so.
Overall, I deeply respect how Mark has utilized all his varied life experiences in coming to a mature, organized synthesis of ideas.
And in our polarized times, the Radical Middle political concept is exactly what we need to grow from concept to full-fledged reality.
Rating: 
Summary: Nice Try, But...
Review: A few thought-provoking ideas (mostly copped from other authors) and a whole lot that are half-baked or just plain bad. This guy wants to reinstate the draft, even though he ran to Canada to avoid service in Vietnam (and stands behind that decision) and opposes the war in Iraq. Where does he think all the draftees will end up? Sure, he wants to use them to keep Hutus and Tutsis and Serbs and Albanians from killing each other, but that's not what we end up with in practice. What we get is, well...Iraq and Vietnam. He's a former New Leftist who has merely transfered his naivete from the left to the mushy middle. If you're interested in centrist politics, buy The Radical Center by Halstead and Lind. They've got a lot more on the ball than this lightweight.
Rating:
Summary: Political Guide for Centrist/Swing/Independent Voters
Review: At the suggestion of Paul (a friend in the IL legislature), I've just finished reading the new book "Radical Middle:The Politics We Need Now", by Mark Satin. It's an excellent book that discusses new ideas which creatively and pragmatically use the best from both sides of the usual political divide. (In other words, this is not just a try at getting extremists to meet halfway.)I really like the values, and a lot of the proposals. There's a potential here for "the next Ross Perot," who may not have won his election, but did define the terms of debate on his key issue -- the Federal Deficit -- for a decade. If I were running either of the two major political parties, I'd be all over this book, considering how to make the big tent of my party extend enough to include these issues and the people who care about them. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Political Guide for Centrist/Swing/Independent Voters
Review: At the suggestion of Paul (a friend in the IL legislature), I've just finished reading the new book "Radical Middle:The Politics We Need Now", by Mark Satin. It's an excellent book that discusses new ideas which creatively and pragmatically use the best from both sides of the usual political divide. (In other words, this is not just a try at getting extremists to meet halfway.) I really like the values, and a lot of the proposals. There's a potential here for "the next Ross Perot," who may not have won his election, but did define the terms of debate on his key issue -- the Federal Deficit -- for a decade. If I were running either of the two major political parties, I'd be all over this book, considering how to make the big tent of my party extend enough to include these issues and the people who care about them. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Radical Middle
Review: I think this is a great book and I recommend it to anyone interested in integral politics. Below is a copy of an email I sent to Mark Satin. "I have just read your book Radical Middle and I am most impressed--CUDOS. I have been checking out the material on your website for four months now--great job. I ordered two more copies of your book to loan friends. I will soon be ordering your newsletter. I read Ken Wilber's work and I have read Spiral Dynamics and a lot of other integral oriented folks. I consider your work to be very integral. I have one disagreement and that is with your view on proportional representation (PR). I agree that PR with too many positions in a district can lead to too many parties and that can lead to chaos. If you had a 5 member PR/STV (choice voting) dist. with a d'Hont allocation formula you would have true 2 party districts and eliminate gerrymandering. Third parties would be unlikely get positions if they have to have 14% or more of the electorate to get a position. I think a study of Ireland, Malta, and Austrailia where such systems are used would be of value here. Thank you."
Rating:
Summary: Politics for caring human beings
Review: If you're interested in politics, but turned off by polemics; If you worry about public policy, but frustrated by the solutions you hear; If you want to make a difference in the world, but don't know how -- then you have to buy this book. Mark Satin, a recovered sixties counter-culture radical, is giving voice to the previously 'excluded middle' of American politics. He incorporates cutting-edge research from some of the most innovative thinkers in America, while speaking from the heart to "caring persons" from every background. I honestly believe his "radical centrist" approach is the only hope for politics, and it can't come too soon for me. Buy the book, talk about it with your friends, apply it to your life -- help make the future happen sooner.
Rating:
Summary: Nice Try, But...
Review: In a book entitled Radical Middle, one would expect to find approximately equal time devoted to criticisms of the left and the right. But such is not the case. Satin's book is almost entirely devoted to attacking the left (actually, a caricature of the left). Satin's policy proposals range from the somewhat dubious to the downright nonsensical. His arguments rest often rest on false premises -- racism *does* in fact still exist, and citizens in countries with single-payer health insurance *can* still opt for private insurance. He derides his opponents for resorting to "simplistic slogans", then adopts approaches of an even more simplistic character. Those seeking something truly thoughtful and innovative are advised to look elsewhere.
Rating:
Summary: Painful to Read
Review: In a book entitled Radical Middle, one would expect to find approximately equal time devoted to criticisms of the left and the right. But such is not the case. Satin's book is almost entirely devoted to attacking the left (actually, a caricature of the left). Satin's policy proposals range from the somewhat dubious to the downright nonsensical. His arguments rest often rest on false premises -- racism *does* in fact still exist, and citizens in countries with single-payer health insurance *can* still opt for private insurance. He derides his opponents for resorting to "simplistic slogans", then adopts approaches of an even more simplistic character. Those seeking something truly thoughtful and innovative are advised to look elsewhere.
Rating:
Summary: Readable, Hopeful, Inclusive Future is Possible
Review: One of Mark Satin's most engaging charactistics is his honesty about himself. I have followed him from his first newsletter to his first book "New Age Politics" to his current newsletter and the book by the same title ("The Radical Middle"). He clearly has morphed into something new, which comes through well to me in this book. His writing style is engaging and energetic; he has good documentation; he earnestly believes we need to create something new in our society to replace the extreme polarization we are currently experiencing. He is inclusive and optimistic, believing in each citizen to think independently. His writing is not "academic," but well-researched and well-cited. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for even one glimmer of hope for us as a society with a positive and constructive future!
Edryce Reynolds
Tacoma, Washington
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