Rating: 
Summary: (4 1/2) Wonderful Insights Gained From Personal Experience
Review: I first met Star Parker several years ago when she spoke at a conference which I attended. I was impressed both by the story of her personal journey and her articulateness in discussing many of the problems which face our society today; thus I made the effort to speak with her after her presentation and have subsequently become a contributor to her organization CURE, the Coalition on Urban Renewal and Education. She was kind enough to mail copies of her book to her supporters last year when it was first published; now that I have finally found the time to read it I highly recommend it to any reader interested in the inspiring personal story of someone who has not only overcome the destructive effects of the problems frequently keeping the underclass in poverty and addicted to welfare (as well as personal tragedy which would have overwhelmed many individuals), but who has also utilized the lessons drawn from her experience to preach the gospel of self reliance, faith (in both ourselves and the existence of a higher power who can provide us strength and direction) and individual responsibility as the crucial elements which will empower individuals to escape the poverty trap of the welfare system.Star Parker doesn't hesitate to speak truth to power, since she has the credentials to do so. She has lived the self destructive and joyless life so prevalent in the welfare community and she has overcome incredible obstacles (often self imposed). Thus, while anyone can fairly disagree with her often controversial conclusions and recommendations, she clearly has the moral legitimacy to present them. These are insights invariably gained from personal experience and sharpened by an enquiring mind. The key thesis of this book is captured by the subtitle - HOW BIG GOVERNMNT ENSLAVES AMERICA'S POOR AND WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT. She begins by attempting to define and characterize the poor, she discusses three broad categories of those individuals united by their lack of money. The first is those who are "economically challenged", who she meaningfully separates into the "weary poor" vs. the "hopeful poor". The second category is the "lazy poor", who can be subdivided into "the careless, the sluggards and the scoffers". Finally, there are the poor in spirit, or "the broken". While these are obviously not precisely defined groups based on rigorous academic study, they are very useful constructs which spring from her practical experience. These groupings serve two purposes. First, to remind us that poverty is not a homogeneous problem with a single set of solutions, but rather a complex issue best addressed by "creating new possibilities for those who still can be helped, one person at a time." Second, these practically descriptive terms are much more effective than the usual academic and political jargon in reminding us directly that much of the poverty in which many of these individuals are apparently hopelessly mired seems to be as much a result of their attitudes and expectations (victimology and/or entitlement) rather than being an inevitable outcome of their circumstances. The author is willing to attack the sacred cows of both the left and right, and is critical of both the liberal belief that racism (as the legacy of slavery) is still an impossible barrier for blacks to overcome without government help and also of President Bush's suggestion of government support for successful faith based initiatives in the private sector. (She correctly recognizes that government support means that they will loose the flexibility and moral legitimacy that is conferred upon them by being truly private and thus totally voluntary.) After outlining in detail her criticisms of the "poverty plantation operated by a federal government, overseen by bureaucrats, protected by the media elite, and financed by taxpayers", she proceeds to her "mission-critical challenges" and a six pronged agenda as a response to the interrelated problems of race and poverty. First, "dismantle so-called multiculturalism". Second, "abolish affirmative action". Third, "Abandon the faith-based initiative". Fourth, "personalize welfare services". Fifth, allow school choice". Sixth, "personalize social security". Certainly, implementation of this radical agenda would strengthen the role of personal responsibility in society and at the same time arguably promote freedom and broaden the opportunities for individuals to escape poverty as opposed to simply subsisting on the life support provided by the current welfare system. As I have previously said, this book describes the devastating effects of government dependency not from an academic perspective but rather through the eyes of someone who has escaped from the addiction which entraps so many individuals. The book is almost conversational in tone, yet provides many powerful philosophical insights and much well reasoned discussion. At times, some of the imagery created by the author's prose almost becomes poetic. While I was familiar with both the author's background and much of her philosophy, I still found the book both enjoyable and thought provoking. My only major criticism and the primary reason that I did not rate it a full five stars is her overemphasis (in my opinion) on the importance, indeed necessity, of the religious component as an essential element in her proposed reforms and involvement of the private sector. For many individuals (myself definitely included), this is undoubtedly a major factor in their ability to overcome the obstacles which they face, as it has been for her. (And as it also is for those who experience physical addiction and join such organizations as NA and AA.) Nevertheless, I would have been pleased to see a somewhat more pluralistic approach, and a recognition that personal empowerment can be achieved by individuals through a variety of means more diverse than she recognizes here. Tucker Andersen
Rating:
Summary: Great insight and ideas
Review: I really enjoyed reading this book. I agree with virtually everything it says. Government is very bad at most of its programs (especially welfare), and government harms people's lives in the name of "compassion". This book says society (through individual gifts from the heart and not through government) needs to help others through helping them find personal accountability/responsibility and moral absolutes (not relative). Religion is important in that the virtues, personal accountabilty, and morality that it teaches is what many people don't have even though they need it very much. Since government stays out of religion, how can government give people what they really need? Anyway, I highly recommend this book, especially if you think government programs like welfare are "compassionate".
Rating:
Summary: Informative, Challenging and Clear!
Review: I've never heard of Star parker before I saw her on C-Span two weeks ago speaking at a Heritage Foundation event. I was just channel surfing and when I passed it, she struck me as a very articulate woman. So I stayed on C-Span and listened to the rest of her speech and Q&A time. I went out the next day and bought the book and it has really challenged me. I love how she helps you understand the big picture by breaking "poor" down into sub-categories. This helps the reader know how to help the different categories of poor. I especially enjoyed reading her personal story and I have been challenged by this book to get involved now that I've been better equipped.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Read from A Great American, Star Parker
Review: It is no surprise that government attempts at social engineering have proven costly, counter-productive, and oftentimes disastrous. Look no further than the 1960's War on Poverty programs of the LBJ administration, which instead of "winning" the war on poverty, only served to exacerbate the plight of the poor, creating three generations of dependence, laziness, irresponsibility and psychological nihilism - a cycle that has only started to be undone with the Welfare Reform Act of 1996. But don't take my word for it. Just ask Star Parker, president and founder of the Coalition of Urban Renewal and Education (CURE) and self-proclaimed "former welfare queen." Picking up where she left off in her blisteringly honest memoir Pimps, Whores and Welfare Brats (Pocket Star, 1997), Parker takes big government to task in Uncle Sam's Plantation: How Big Government Enslaves America's Poor and What We Can Do About It (WND Books). If there is anyone who knows first hand the degradation and moral bankruptcy that comes with perennial dependence on "Uncle Sam," it's Ms. Parker - she lived it. The author lays out her own categorical definitions of poverty and recounts the hard lessons she learned as a welfare mother. In discussing how liberals have hijacked history and used the poor as pawns for political purposes, Parker describes the typical government safety net as simply a way of covering up the social pathologies associated with the bad choices of the underprivileged. Arguably the most harmful effects of massive government intervention have been the breakdown of the family unit. This is especially true in the black community, where according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services roughly 70% of black children are born out of wedlock. According to Parker, radical feminism has helped to produce this horrible state of affairs. The author shows in surgical detail how buying into the radical feminist party line (i.e. that men are "the enemy," marriage is "prostitution and slavery in a different form," and "money is power") has not only contributed to high rates of illegitimacy and abortion in the black community, but has also rendered many black women "unpaid whores and old maids." The last third of Uncle Sam's Plantation outlines the author's proposed solutions on weaning the poor off of government dependence and liberal mind control. From analyzing the wastefulness of our current tax system and the counter-productive economic effects of minimum wage and rent control laws, to outlining how Social Security can (and should) be privatized to benefit all those who pay into it, the author displays erudition far beyond the average layperson and an iron-clad compassion born out of the experience of a woman who has indeed "been there, done that." Star Parker's life is a shining example that individual freedom and self-reliance are indeed possible for those who desire and are willing to work for it. A person's income does not determine his/her outcome, and those desiring a better outcome for their lives should heed this extraordinary woman's words of redemption and deliverance. She is a true inspiration, and this book is a great read.
Rating:
Summary: Expose regarding the current state of affairs
Review: Many liberals will decry this book and say that the system works. Then how is that the number of poor in united states has increased rather then decreased since its inception.
Rating: 
Summary: Not bad, but....
Review: Overall, Miss Parker hits some accurate points about poor Americans accepting perosnl responsibility for their actions and the drawbacks of the welfare system. Having taught the children of (and being related to) many of the "lazy poor" that she talks about, I know firsthand that this is not merely conservative propaganda. I also agree on what she says about most of the so-called Black leaders, having been involved with community activism myself. However, this book has some flaws. The statistics she uses to prove her points are interesting, but the listing of sources would help buttress her argument. Secondly, while I personally beleive in God myself, I have to disagree with her idea of fundamentalist Christianity being a major cure-all for victims of the culture of poverty. That works for SOME people, but it doesn't work for eveybody's mindset-besides, it may send the struggling poor directly into the trap of the false storefront prophets who are already a plague on the ghettoes. While there is much to disagree with in this book, it DOES contain enough truth about the problems about the underclass to make it a valuable document.
Rating:
Summary: The Star Continues to Shine the Light on Welfare
Review: Star Parker's recent book "Uncle Sam's Plantation..." is
informative, inspiring, and written with the experience
of someone who has been there. As a former bleeding heart
liberal who was involved in a number of social services
organizations, it became obvious to me that many well intentioned
programs become a self perpetuating industry allowing 'do
gooders' to play Lady Bountiful to people they obviously
consider too incompetent to run their own lives. The rewards go to those who exhibit self destructive behavior.
The more self destructive the behavior the more programs
exist as if throwing enough money and time will cure three
generations of government dependence. Ms Parker spells it
out clearly and effectively. I recommend this book to anyone
who feels that our welfare programs are going to create
independent, self supporting citizens. Your eyes will be
opened. Lisa N
Rating:
Summary: The Star Continues to Shine the Light on Welfare
Review: Star Parker's recent book "Uncle Sam's Plantation..." is
informative, inspiring, and written with the experience
of someone who has been there. As a former bleeding heart
liberal who was involved in a number of social services
organizations, it became obvious to me that many well intentioned
programs become a self perpetuating industry allowing 'do
gooders' to play Lady Bountiful to people they obviously
consider too incompetent to run their own lives. The rewards go to those who exhibit self destructive behavior.
The more self destructive the behavior the more programs
exist as if throwing enough money and time will cure three
generations of government dependence. Ms Parker spells it
out clearly and effectively. I recommend this book to anyone
who feels that our welfare programs are going to create
independent, self supporting citizens. Your eyes will be
opened. Lisa N
Rating: 
Summary: Push an agenda, ignore the facts...
Review: This book was recommended to me by a friend who said it was great. As a dark-skinned child of immigrant parents, I do not exactly share the same family history as African-Americans whose ancestors came to the US by way of slave plantations - but I grew up in a African American neighborhood, and have shared the expereince of what it is to be dark-skinned and poor in the US with my freinds and neighbors.
That said, I was eager to read this book - and was sadly disappointed to find it a thinly-veiled cheerleading piece for all of the major Republican political agenda items, rather than the inspiring and thought-provoking book I had been lead to expect.
Star presents a point-by-point plan for 'fixing' poverty:
- dismantle multiculturalism... [ie - ingore America's legacy as a nation of immigrants]
- abolish affirmative action... [ie - get rid of all protections against racism that have made education accesible to non-rich persons of color]
- Abandon the faith-based initiative... oddly, because it isn't a total give-away of dollars to church-run programs, but because it asks for accountability for where the dollars go [???]
- Privatize welfare
- Privatize schools ... thought this has failed abbysmally in Baltimore and other areas where it has been tried.
- Privatize social security... give the money formally invested in US bonds via social security to Wall Street - who have a track record of caring about poor folks and people of color.
This is a list of Republican talking points from a Sunday morning news show, NOT a manifesto for helping the poor and people of color in Amewrica today. The benefit of these steps would be to give more money and power to those who already have it, and make those without money and power the scapegoats for the system.
In light of the recent revelations that Armstrong Williams took $240,000 to plug Republican talking points on his show and in his writing, it makes me wonder how big a check Star Parker got from the GOP to write this book...
Rating:
Summary: Bias rules more than common sense...
Review: This is a great book for those who want to blame the government and the shadowy 'liberal elite' for every single problem faced by the black community - but I found nothing in it that offered any actual hope for realistic resolution to these problems.
Some common sense advice is offered - but absolutely nothing that is in any way new or inspirational. And it is presented beneath such a thick layer of judgementalism and finger-pointing that any value is overwhelmed.
Star wants us to "re-establish our mooring rooted in personal responsibility and the traditional sense of right and wrong behavior..." as a solution for almost every problem. In other words, ANY problem is directly YOUR fault - it must be because you fell short. This is so simplistic, and so ignores 200+ years of history, one wonders what planet Star woke up on the day this book was written.
Great for the self-hating, or for whites who want to feel their more affluent lives prove their own "moral superiority." But if looking for actual realistic solutions, one should search elsewhere.
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