Rating: 
Summary: A good book, but more detail would be appreciated
Review: I had heard of Larry Elder before, but since I live in an area where his radio talk show is not carried, I hadn't heard or read any of his positions until I got this book. For the most part, they are very good. Elder advocates a very common-sense policy, stressing the need to examine the actual results of political policies, rather than supporting those that merely sound like they were formulated with good intentions. Many government programs created with good intentions nonetheless have deleterious effects, and too often, to speak out against them is to be vilified by people who won't look beneath the surface. Elder exposes many such cases.The one point of Elder's that I agree with most strongly is that irresponsible parenting is the single greatest problem our country faces. The importance of this issue cannot be overstated. If children are performing poorly in school, the problem is often that their parents are apathetic about their children's education. If children are getting into too much trouble, the problem is often that parents aren't taking their roles as disciplinarians and role models seriously enough. Irresponsible parents breed maladjusted children, who in turn grow into problematic adults. Obviously this problem is not one that can be solved by a few simple policy changes -- the final responsibility rests with the individual, not with the government -- but Elder offers a few steps we can take in the right direction. Now, on to what I think is the book's major shortcoming. Mr. Elder is a libertarian (He is now a member of the Republican party, but still holds the same libertarian point of view.), and libertarians tend to favor some pretty drastic changes in our approach to government. Consider the following three statements, taken directly from the so-called Ten-Point Elder Plan: 1. Abolish the IRS.
2. Reduce government by 80%.
3. Take government out of education. Those are three tremendous statements. If you say you're in favor of, say, legalizing marijuana, few people will have difficulty understanding what you want to happen. But if you declare that we should eliminate the income tax (and all corporate taxes as well, according to Elder), you've got a lot of explaining to do. One cannot simply declare the IRS dissolved; it must be done very gradually, with a very specific approach in mind from the outset. The same goes for all three points listed above, not only because they are colossal in scope, but because they are interconnected. For example, you can't responsibly reduce income until you reduce expenditures, and you can't move away from public schooling until taxation has lessened enough that people will be able to afford to pay for education individually instead of collectively. What's more, you can't simply shut down all government-run schools at once. The transition must be smooth enough that no one is left without opportunity. The problem of public education is one of the most daunting in the United States. The difficulties in the system are so numerous and so tangled with one another that it's very difficult to know where to begin. Perhaps privatization is the answer, but unfortunately, Elder doesn't have a lot to say on how it would be done, only that we should do it. Extreme positions like the ones listed above tend to turn people off quickly just because they're so far outside mainstream political opinion, and if one expects them to be taken seriously, one had better be prepared to offer a detailed treatment of just how those propositions could be shaped into reality. That is the main problem with the book. Even if a reader gets through the whole thing and agrees with nearly everything Elder has to say, he may very well close the book after the last page, hesitate, and ask himself, "Just what am I supposed to do about it?" Although I recommend this book to everyone, I think that a truly useful treatment of libertarian ideals will require a good deal more analysis than you'll find here.
Rating:
Summary: pretty good
Review: I really enjoyed Larry Elder's first book, Ten Things You Can't Say in America. Showdown was equally as good. In Showdown, Elder focuses on how big government may not be helping people. He deals with issues such as one of the biggest problems in this country in the breakdown of the traditional family and an increasing number of single mothers. This is problamatic because children need both parents present. This creates problems such as increased crime rates and poor school performance. The government has only increased these problems through welfare programs that make the government involved in raising children like a parent would. Elder also focuses on how the media can skew information by either ignorning information or favoring parties/candidates. Elder also fouses on contemporary race relations such as Jesse Jackson, reperations and the extent to racism in America. Also Elder focuses on how government programs relating to race such as affirmative action may not be helping black students. Elder also provides information about third party candidates and how they can challenge the two party status quo. Third party candidates have the potential to shake things up like Ross Perot and Jesse Ventura. Several Libertarians have been a signifanct factor in the loss of some Republican Congressional elections. Overall a great read.
Rating:
Summary: It's Larry Elder versus conventional "wisdom"; good read
Review: It's obvious that Larry Elder doesn't really like government involvement in anything, although he tends to pick on views that are more associated with liberal thinking than with conservative points of view. "Showdown" is Mr. Elder's follow-up to "The Ten Things You Can't Say in America," and you'll find no big surprises if you've already read the latter. His writing style alternates between instructional, expository and a bit "gee whiz." Whatever the case, it's all very direct. If you're open to a strongly libertarian point of view, you'll likely find this book interesting.
In a chapter that wasn't touched upon in "The Ten Things . . ." Mr. Elder doesn't pull any punches in criticizing the presidential administration(s) for misguided interests and federal spending before and after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He terms America's self-defense "job number one," and has much to say about what he believes was proof of government's failure on that day. There are also many interesting quotes (both pro- and anti-US) from Muslim writers about politics and life in middle eastern countries.
From a financial/economic policy viewpoint, Mr. Elder gives Republicans just as hard a time as Democrats. He's obviously opposed to big government spending, but he gives many examples of how a wide ranging group of industries can obtain federal funding as a result of war, recession or disaster recovery.
As in previous writings, Mr. Elder visits the topics of race relations, media bias, gun control and "Republicans vs. Democrats" (he doesn't support either party). He takes delight in recounting the news media point of view, and then adding contradictory bits of information that was not common knowledge, almost as if to ask "So, now what do you think?" Even though he's a little rant-stricken at times, Mr. Elder is at once informative and entertaining. He argues his points well, and I enjoy reading about his take on politics, social issues and the media even if I don't agree with everything he stands for.
Rating:
Summary: Good message
Review: Larry Elder has many good points and many good things to say in this book, however, my chief compliant about the book is that he's all over the place and not focused enough on one issue. A large part of his text could have been snippets transcribed straight from his radio show. He often writes the way he talks. And sometimes it gets confusing. That said, Mr. Elder has some good research behind his message and this book has many footnotes. He does make use of solid logic, but sometimes goes off on tangents that are a little bit edgy when it comes to trying to go full circle back to his original point. Mr. Elder, Larry, Sage, send me your next manuscript and let me proof it for you, please... In any case, while this book doesn't read with the same polish that you'll find in Ann Coulter, Elder has stepped up to the plate with some strong stuff to say about liberals and conservatives both. Any interested in the state of the union from someone that is fighting against the "victim" state of America will find interesting analysis here and probably some points of fact that hadn't been previously thought about. The welfare state in America has to go and Larry shows why he believes this same "victim" thinking, using a coined word "victacrat", is fueling the fire in world terrorism and how the Democratic party and liberals in general have failed to realize how the policies they espouse actually make the problems they are trying to solve worse. I do recommend this book, however, it's written in a more conversational style, than academic style, which in and of itself would be a good thing, but as a writer, Elder falls a little short when I go to rank the writing itself (independent of the message).
Rating:
Summary: Good message
Review: Larry Elder has many good points and many good things to say in this book, however, my chief compliant about the book is that he's all over the place and not focused enough on one issue. A large part of his text could have been snippets transcribed straight from his radio show. He often writes the way he talks. And sometimes it gets confusing. That said, Mr. Elder has some good research behind his message and this book has many footnotes. He does make use of solid logic, but sometimes goes off on tangents that are a little bit edgy when it comes to trying to go full circle back to his original point. Mr. Elder, Larry, Sage, send me your next manuscript and let me proof it for you, please... In any case, while this book doesn't read with the same polish that you'll find in Ann Coulter, Elder has stepped up to the plate with some strong stuff to say about liberals and conservatives both. Any interested in the state of the union from someone that is fighting against the "victim" state of America will find interesting analysis here and probably some points of fact that hadn't been previously thought about. The welfare state in America has to go and Larry shows why he believes this same "victim" thinking, using a coined word "victacrat", is fueling the fire in world terrorism and how the Democratic party and liberals in general have failed to realize how the policies they espouse actually make the problems they are trying to solve worse. I do recommend this book, however, it's written in a more conversational style, than academic style, which in and of itself would be a good thing, but as a writer, Elder falls a little short when I go to rank the writing itself (independent of the message).
Rating:
Summary: Excellent work
Review: Larry Elder, a syndicated talk radio host in Los Angeles, has created a strong indictment of 50 years of liberalism that has not had to answer to its critics. This is one such book. In this book, he provides moral and intellectual justification for individual liberty and initiative. Welfare takes away the initiative of both income-earners (by reducing their incentive to earn more due to high-taxes) and reduces the benefeciary of welfare from working (why work if you get money for free). Elder's arguments are based on common sense and human psychology. The problem with most of our current political debates, says Elder, is due to the way they are framed. Politicians make all sorts of promises (today, for instance, we hear of free drugs for seniors) for more spending here and there -- everywhere -- that it is resulting in Americans being far more dependent on other taxpayers for their needs. At the same time, as the first page notes, we are moving further away from what the purpose of the federal government is: to protect life, liberty, and property. On September 11, President George W. Bush was involved in education policy, when, in fact, the president should at all times be focused on our national defense. It is not, Elder says (to which I agree) the job of the federal government to be involved in education policy. Republicans ought to take note.
Rating: 
Summary: Larry takes the Republicans to task also
Review: Larry has really exposed many of todays key problems and he presents them very clearly. He takes on the liberals and Democrats, but doesn't hold back when apportioning responsibility to the Republicans as well. Larry's views can best be described as libertarian with a view to America's role in the world. This one goes on the must-read list for my teenage son.
Rating:
Summary: The Sage Sounds Off
Review: New Dealers, New Democrats, Nixonites, and neoconservatives alike had better be ready to duck when they open Larry Elder's new book, Showdown. Elder, a radio talk show host known as the Sage of South Central Los Angeles, spares no sacred cows as he sounds off on a wide variety of subjects. Elder takes on Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Bill Clinton, and other liberal icons, rebuts the argument that blacks are owed reparations for slavery, denounces the "War on Drugs," plugs the Libertarian Party, and issues a call for individuals to act more responsibly toward their families. Much of the book is devoted to the shortcomings of the modern Welfare State, which Elder sees as the root of many of our country's social problems. Tracing the history of the Welfare State back to Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal, Elder cites one example after another to show what a massive failure it has been. Using solid evidence to back up his charges, the Sage demonstrates how the Welfare State inhibits freedom and prosperity. He shows how the government, in its efforts to solve social problems through subsidies, set-asides, affirmative action programs, regulations, and so forth, has actually created culture of dependency, especially among ethnic minorities and other disadvantaged groups. As a result, crime, poverty, and other social problems persist. An outspoken Libertarian, Elder takes both Democratic and Republican administrations to task for maintaining and expanding the Welfare State, and he argues that the Libertarian Party constitutes a viable alternative to the two major parties. However, in what is perhaps the book's weakest argument, Elder's case for the Libertarian Party--which in its three decades of existence has only elected a handful of minor officials--is not very convincing. Contending that Americans can solve their own social problems without government intervention, the Sage calls for nothing less than junking the Welfare State and returning to a federal government with limited powers as envisioned by the Founding Fathers. He presents a plan for a "war" against the Welfare State that includes moving away from programs that foster dependency and cutting taxes and regulations. He would even take a hard look at programs such as social security. While some of Elder's views may sound rather radical, his book makes a solid argument that something is wrong with the modern Welfare State, and in the ongoing debates over social policy, Larry Elder's arguments deserve to be heard.
Rating:
Summary: A true eye opener!
Review: Showdown is my second reading of Larry Elder. His first book, 10 Things You Cant Say in America, was very impressive. However, his second book Showdown is even better as you can see a maturity in his writing. Elder, with his strong wit and skill at understanding the current poltical fevor in the US, artifully outlines many of issues affecting this country and the lack of our leaders to attack these issues head on. On of my favorite chapters is when Elder talks about the Jessie Jackson shakedown of corporate America. Very eye opening. Why dosent the media talk about this man in the light spoken by Mr. Elder? Jessie Jackson is clearly not the saint the media makes him out to be. Wonder how so? Read the book. Elder has a fluid style that moves your rapidly through the book. His research this time is better and his examples are vivid. I was very impressed with this work. While he does take serious issues with the liberalism that affects this country, he also takes on the Republicans as well for not walking the walk even though they talk the talk. I would recommend this book to anyone who is willing to take an eye opening look into the issues affecting this great country of ours. Elders has clearly matured as a writer and I cannot wait until his third revealing display is published.
Rating:
Summary: A true eye opener!
Review: Showdown is my second reading of Larry Elder. His first book, 10 Things You Cant Say in America, was very impressive. However, his second book Showdown is even better as you can see a maturity in his writing. Elder, with his strong wit and skill at understanding the current poltical fevor in the US, artifully outlines many of issues affecting this country and the lack of our leaders to attack these issues head on. On of my favorite chapters is when Elder talks about the Jessie Jackson shakedown of corporate America. Very eye opening. Why dosent the media talk about this man in the light spoken by Mr. Elder? Jessie Jackson is clearly not the saint the media makes him out to be. Wonder how so? Read the book. Elder has a fluid style that moves your rapidly through the book. His research this time is better and his examples are vivid. I was very impressed with this work. While he does take serious issues with the liberalism that affects this country, he also takes on the Republicans as well for not walking the walk even though they talk the talk. I would recommend this book to anyone who is willing to take an eye opening look into the issues affecting this great country of ours. Elders has clearly matured as a writer and I cannot wait until his third revealing display is published.
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