13 Jan 2024 8:59 am
This is a middle of the road review.
From the United States
J. Lindner
VINE VOICE
3.0 out of 5 stars Why We're Liberals
Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2011I should preface this review by stating I do not think of myself as a liberal. I don't think of myself as conservative, either, but the book I'm reviewing is about liberals so my first statement is the more important one. "Why We're Liberals" is an expose on modern American liberalism after it has been bashed by Ronald Reagan, Karl Rove, Jerry Falwell, and a host of others who want people to think of a liberal as the devil incarnate. Conservatives equate all of society's evils with liberals since the conservative philosophy is dependent on having someone to blame.
The book was written after Barak Obama won the 2008 election in the face of high unemployment, a collapse of our investments, and the end of the housing boom. While some people have short memories, it must be remembered that the fall of Merrill Lynch, AIG, and Bear Stearns happened when Republicans controlled the White House. Obama inherited a mess but subsequently failed to return the nation to prosperity. Of course Obama's policies occurred after this book was published, so the author had no way of knowing the liberal ideas intended to correct our challenges would not do so.
Author Eric Alterman analyzes liberal ideals and equates them with the Enlightenment of the 18th century. Alterman believes liberalism is an extension of enlightened thinking. He also uses modern Europe as an example of how high taxes benefits society instead of hurting it. While his research is solid, his pooint is not well taken. Americans have an inherant distrust of their government, no matter how liberal or conservative it may be. Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal had many detractors both at the time it was crafted and ever since.
Alterman tries to cover the entire liberal agenda from gay marriage to abortion rights to school prayer and beyond. He likely won't win over any conservatives to the liberal mindset, but he does give liberals a chance to feel good about themselves. The book is sort of like preaching to the choir, liberals will appreciate it but their numbers won't swell because of it. The book is a counterweight to the volumes of conservative rhetoric available that decry high taxes and government spending. The book lacks the same element these conservative books lack, a sound balance of the need for taxes alongside the need to control government spending. The problem liberals and conservatives fail to see is they both want to give government money away to the undeserving: liberals to the welfare recipients who do not want to work and conservative to the wealthy in the form of tax cuts. Meanwhile, our infrastructure is failing and our environment is threatened.
"Why We're Liberals" is not a bad book, it just doesn't serve much purpose in defining America's true challenges.
From the United States
J. Lindner
VINE VOICE
3.0 out of 5 stars Why We're Liberals
Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2011I should preface this review by stating I do not think of myself as a liberal. I don't think of myself as conservative, either, but the book I'm reviewing is about liberals so my first statement is the more important one. "Why We're Liberals" is an expose on modern American liberalism after it has been bashed by Ronald Reagan, Karl Rove, Jerry Falwell, and a host of others who want people to think of a liberal as the devil incarnate. Conservatives equate all of society's evils with liberals since the conservative philosophy is dependent on having someone to blame.
The book was written after Barak Obama won the 2008 election in the face of high unemployment, a collapse of our investments, and the end of the housing boom. While some people have short memories, it must be remembered that the fall of Merrill Lynch, AIG, and Bear Stearns happened when Republicans controlled the White House. Obama inherited a mess but subsequently failed to return the nation to prosperity. Of course Obama's policies occurred after this book was published, so the author had no way of knowing the liberal ideas intended to correct our challenges would not do so.
Author Eric Alterman analyzes liberal ideals and equates them with the Enlightenment of the 18th century. Alterman believes liberalism is an extension of enlightened thinking. He also uses modern Europe as an example of how high taxes benefits society instead of hurting it. While his research is solid, his pooint is not well taken. Americans have an inherant distrust of their government, no matter how liberal or conservative it may be. Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal had many detractors both at the time it was crafted and ever since.
Alterman tries to cover the entire liberal agenda from gay marriage to abortion rights to school prayer and beyond. He likely won't win over any conservatives to the liberal mindset, but he does give liberals a chance to feel good about themselves. The book is sort of like preaching to the choir, liberals will appreciate it but their numbers won't swell because of it. The book is a counterweight to the volumes of conservative rhetoric available that decry high taxes and government spending. The book lacks the same element these conservative books lack, a sound balance of the need for taxes alongside the need to control government spending. The problem liberals and conservatives fail to see is they both want to give government money away to the undeserving: liberals to the welfare recipients who do not want to work and conservative to the wealthy in the form of tax cuts. Meanwhile, our infrastructure is failing and our environment is threatened.
"Why We're Liberals" is not a bad book, it just doesn't serve much purpose in defining America's true challenges.