The Great Libertarian Offer

Rating:
Summary: A Return to what America once was
Review: Harry Browne's Great Libertarian Offer is a call for a return to the principles that made the United States the great nation it once was. Browne lays out a precise and coherent blueprint for returning to the American ideal of individual liberty and freedom. Browne cogently points to how the rapid growth of the Federal government has led to more crime, danger from abroad, and the destruction of liberty in America.

Browne calls for reducing the Federal government to only it's constitutional functions enumerated in Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution. He calls for abolition of the welfare state, a reaffirmation of the 9th and 10th amendments of the Constitution, and a return to Jefferson's maxim "peace commerce and honset friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none".

Browne calls for freedom in health care by abolishing medicare, medicaid and other socialist programs. He also calls for the gradual abolition of Social Security by selling off Federal assests and replacing SS with private annuities.

This book is a snapshot of what a Libertarian administration would be like. A fun and fantastic read!

Rating:
Summary: A Great Offer!
Review: In this day and age of politicians who offer little and deliver even less, Harry Browne is what we need. His book reads quite easily and is full of facts and figures which prove his arguments.

Mr. Browne starts off with an outline of what the Great Libertarian Offer is: "Would you give up your favorite federal programs if it meant you'd never have to pay income tax again?" Browne then goes on to explain how this is entirely possible. How, if we bring the size of government back to it's constitutionally mandated size, we can have extremely low taxes and we will be better off.

The first part of the book describes the Principles of Libertarianism and how government currently operates. Mr. Browne does a great job of explaining, in layman's terms, just what the problem is and contrasting that with libertarian ideals. The rest of the book, chapters 7-22 describe the Libertarian solution. He discusses freedom from the income tax, freedom from war, and the Freedom to make your own choices.

Finally, in the final chapter, Mr. Browne discusses whether or not this can be done and what must be done to achieve it. As he says to sum up his beliefs (in his america) "you'll be a free, responsible, self-governing individual. No one will ask for your papers, no one will attach a number to you, no one will extort a share of your income. You'll be free to pursue the life you've dreamed of."

This book is well written and well thought out. I recommend it to anyone who truly loves liberty and wants to see America return to the free Republic it once was.

Rating:
Summary: An Outline For Freedom
Review: Once again, Harry Browne has outdone himself and produced yet another fine blueprint for restoring freedom and responsibility to our country. Page after page Browne shows the "good intentions" big government bureaucrats have and the dismal results they produce.

Advocating a limited government, bound by the chains of the constitution, Browne shows us how and why we'd be better off with less government intervention. Although many of the same arguments can be found in his 1996 book, "Why Government Doesn't Work", the book is updated with new issues and data that support the arguments he puts forth. This book even includes a budget plan, should he get elected, which I found to be an excellent addition.

All in all, this book should be read by those interested in libertarian ideas and also for those already accustomed to libertarianism to recharge their passion for freedom.