Rating: 
Summary: Passionate And Brilliant
Review: After the insanely surreal results of the 2004 presidential election, its certainly easy to understand why so many people feel the need to bury themselves in apathy. But Robert Reich's superb, highly readable REASON is enough to give even the most despairing American some semblance of hope. This book offers a beacon of light in these dark times.
Reich fully understands why the radical conservatives (or "Radcons") won--the Republican Party used mindless, unrelenting fear mongering and lies (via a $300 million dollar campaign) to appeal to the base emotions of 51% of the populace. The conservatives were able to convince millions of Americans that liberals are morally degenerate maniacs. Its time for the Democrats to fight back against these truly odious methods. Reich argues fairly persuasively that this can be done, but its going to take a lot of time and effort to educate people into seeing the stark differences between the worker-friendly, environmentally concerned Democrats and the big-business loving, worker hating Republicans.
Sadly, one of the most important things that the Democrats must do is to learn from their enemies' brilliant use of propaganda to get their point across. This will involve a major overhaul of the conservative-controlled media landscape, which will of course take years of hard work (and a huge expenditure of money). The Republicans clearly desire a one-party, iron-fisted rule of the country but logic, reason and truth can ultimately triumph before their monstrous agenda comes to fruition. It may not happen in our lifetime, but the subtitle of this book will certainly one day prove true.
Rating:
Summary: Essential reading in a dangerous time
Review: Every American should read this book. While Reich will fail to convince most radcons of their folly, he goes on record with insight that will one day be looked back upon as near prophetic. If America is to circumvent the fate of most empires, our reasoning needs more voices like his.
Rating:
Summary: Reason, eloquently told
Review: I've always found Robert Reich to be one of the calmer, more sensible contributors to the American political dialogue and in his new book, "Reason", he continues that discourse...and then some. This book is to be read...it has balance, wisdom...and teeth.
To be sure, Mr. Reich is a partisan Democrat, and no one reading his book would come to any other conclusion. But he spares not the rod for his fellow Democrats and he accuses them of malfeasance with regard to how the Radcons have moved their agenda forward and have shaped public opinion. He's right. It's one thing to say that all politics are cyclical but the author encourages those of us who are of a like mind to do more to change things. His writing about the war on terrorism (page 49), for instance, tells exactly what the Bush administration has so awkwardly tried to explain in recent days. Good for him...and good for us.
Robert Reich has made a strong case for the direction in which the United States must go. I applaud him for his courage, his ability to deliver convincing thoughts and the timeliness of his book. As one who has "endured" Washington D.C. and its highly charged political environment, Mr. Reich knows more than a thing or two about how the country works. I recommend "Reason" to all with an open mind.
Rating:
Summary: The title says it all
Review: In a season of political books that are little more than screeds suffused with unsupported opinions and absent of any rigorous intellectualism, Reich's book is a welcome relief. The difference is in the title. Instead of arguing his positions from unexamined presuppositions, Reich uses reason to lay out his beliefs on how this country could be better run. Whether you agree or disagree with his view that both parties have shifted the nation to far to the right and lost sight of the beliefs of the voters, this makes for thought-provoking reading.
Rating:
Summary: Reich inspires by telling the truth
Review: In this book Robert Reich continues to be the voice of reason in America. By exposing the dramatic attack tactics Republicans have used to bully, con, and seize America and by reminding us of the values on which we have built a magnificent and hopeful democracy, Reich provides both reason and hope for the future. Is it right that we should be condemning people for what they do in their bedrooms but ignore the atrocities and treasons committed in American boardrooms? Appendix A of 'Reason' illustrates how the American public has been surveyed as a very tolerant, rational, compassionate, open, and enlightened body but has been made to believe that it is unpatriotic to question and disagree with those who would give tax cuts to the rich and wage war without the support of a world coalition. More importantly than exposing Republican tactics, Reich instructs Democrats on how to shed the lethargy that has plagued them and gives hope that with organization and true, American passion we will restore our reputation and future as the great leader of the world-moral leader and not simply military leader. This book is what Americans need to hear and remember.
Rating: 
Summary: Getting Down to Brass Tacks
Review: In this excellent book, Reich gets down to the basics. In straightforward, no-nonsense language, he documents exactly how the radical conservatives ("Radcons") have hijacked and perverted the language of public morality, prosperity, and patriotism.
First, Reich discusses how the Radcons have intruded into the private realms of people's bedrooms, trying to decree what is and is not acceptable sexual morality for others. The Radcons argue that the poor need "guardrails" in order to keep them in line. Reich turns this reasoning on its head: sexuality is not the realm of government, but corporate malfeasance certainly is. Reich wonders why moralists so concerned with private sex acts completely ignore the rampant looting taking place in the upper socioeconomic echelons. Reich argues that conflicts of interest a la Enron and Arthur Andersen are not rare exceptions, but are the way the game is played. Where are the "guardrails" for those at the top?!
Next, Reich disputes the Radcon interpretation of "prosperity." Radcons worship the free market and subscribe to simplistic tenets like "a rising tide lifts all boats." Reich uses statistics to prove that this is conclusively untrue: the richest percentiles have grown astronomically more wealthy in recent decades, the middle has risen little if at all, and the ranks of the poor have increased. The "free market" is not something deserving of slavish worship for its own sake; too often, it is used to argue for vast tax cuts for the wealthy that help no one else. Reich argues that this money could be spent in better ways, such as education and health care programs that actually benefit the non-wealthy.
Finally, Reich tackles the "negative patriotism" of the right. The O'Reillys of the right label everyone who questions this Administration and its decision to go to war as traitors and terrorists. In calm and reasoned language, Reich points out that dissent is one of our most cherished rights under the First Amendment, and indeed is what separates us from more fascistic regimes. In the words of Teddy Roosevelt, "To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public." America is made of sterner stuff than the right-wingers think, and petty resorts to McCarthyesque suppression only destroys that which we are trying to protect.
In sum, Reich deconstructs the high-flown rhetoric of the Radcons in only 200 pages of clear, well-reasoned argument. It would be great if conservatives read this book to see if it affects their ideologies, but I doubt that they would. In conclusion, Reich urges progressives to gather together and organize to resist the tide of Radcon unreason. I can only hope that others heed his clarion call.
Rating:
Summary: Reason:No It's not the "French Revolution"
Review: Reich makes a hopeful (if not totaly convincing) case that 1)Americans are basically "good" people; 2)That the "truth" always comes out in the end--basically "karma" 3) That the American people will not be fooled for long by an Administration that runs the gov't. like a "hated Hollywood" movie--that most Americans are intelligent and choose correctly if properly educated (the prob. is, that's becoming harder and harder to do in the US--both at "public" schools {which may no longer exist, if W has his way} and the "college level" 4) That the "appreciation of stupidity" and being "down home" (even if you were born in Connecticut and never attended a public school in your life) will fade with the nemesis of W--that Americans really "appreciate education for it's own sake"--not just for it's "wealth potential" (I wish this was true, but I'
m almost certain that, for at least 50% of the US, it is NOT!) 5)That this bogus REAL CHRISTIAN movement, unlike the Christian Crusades, will wear itself out before permanent harm is done--hope so---but I'm not closing my options. If you have family in Canada, Mexico or Europe, let them know that the US is fast becoming a Police State and find out if you're welcome! Neo-cons very often have offered to PAY OUR WAY if we'd go---well, cough it up!
Rating:
Summary: Reasoned and Passionate
Review: Robert Reich, former Labor Secretary during the Clinton administration, does a marvelous job of dissecting the true nature and motivations of the radical conservative movement currently polluting our country. What is perfectly obvious is that individuals like David E Leon, preeminent Amazon reviewer, is neither a PHD nor one of the rational people sitting on the political fence that Mr. Reich wrote his book for. On the contrary, Mr. Leon is precisely the type of selfish money motivated religious ideologue (see his other posts) who is helping drag our country into the gutter. If your entire argument (all 9 points) revolves around the words, "does not benefit me economically", reason is not one of your best traits... ... But, I'm relatively certain, based on your intelligent arguments, all of the books you were able to buy with your $217 federal tax refund have benefitted your mind... because, I can't imagine that $217 benefitted you economically. Your argument is base poppycock. Fortunately for those of us who take the time to consider how our decisions and opinions affect others, history has shown that this type of radical conservatism is, not only cyclical, but short lived. The last time it infected our political system and our country was around the turn of the century during the industrial revolution. What followed the carpet baggers, Boss Tweeds, and Railroad Barrons was decades of reasoned government and social progress. Reason will prevail again.
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.
|
