Can America Survive?: The Rage of the Left, the Truth, and What to Do About It

Rating:
Summary: Positive, uplifting and evenhaded.
Review: 'Can America Survive?' is a rational moderating answer to the documented vitriol of the Pharisaical left, while segregating the reasonable aspects of liberalism from its rabid second cousin.

Although, written from a conservative perspective Stein and Demuth fairly moderate their views to exemplify a balanced tome. This is in stark contrast to the facade of political fairness presented by Michael Moore's so called "docudrama", `Fahrenheit 9/11'.

This book also helps people who are genuinely interested in understanding conservatives, capitalism, etc. from the perspective of those who hold such views.

If you are interested in being more informed on issues such as; the economy, U.S. imperialism, racism, sexism and environmentalism, this book is a good start. They also give a list of other books to read with an emphasis on our nations historical significance. We truly have much to be proud of and to be thankful for.

I plan to buy several more copies for my independent thinking friends and family. This is worth giving out. I think it should be required reading for anyone interested in political fairness and rational discourse.


Rating:
Summary: Brilliant Analysis on What's Wrong with the Radical Left
Review: Ben Stein and Phil DeMuth's "Can America Survive" is a thoughtful, extensive look at what is wrong with the radical anti-American Left. Theirs is not an angry polemic against them, but instead, one replete with extensive quotes from those on the Left, pointing out their errors of omission and fact on issues ranging from the state of the U. S. economy, American imperialism, the nature of the conservative movement in the United States, to the moral blindness of the left. In thirteen succinct chapters they point out what exactly is wrong with the Left, issue by issue, and close with their prescription for America's survival. Throughout this book I was impressed by the authors' decency and keen sense of fair play, even when I disagreed strongly with them, most notably the chapter on Environmentalism with its emphasis on Global Warming (I believe their interpretation of the data - which is akin to Michael Crichton's in his latest novel - is scientifically incorrect, but nonetheless, I respect their position on this issue.). Indeed, they respect the opinions of distinguished liberal Americans such as comedian Al Franken and Hollywood producer Norman Lear, noting that they should be regarded as patriotic Americans even though their political views differ substantially from the authors. However, they are greatly concerned by the immense, deep-seated anger shown by the Left, "The Rage of the Left", wondering whether it may prove as divisive to the country as the Civil War. Both Ben Stein and Charles DeMuth are active in the Hollywood media industry: Stein, the son of the late Herb Stein, the distinguished economist who had worked in President Richard Nixon's administration, is a commentator and actor; DeMuth is a screenwriter. Anyone interested in the return of civil, well-reasoned political discourse between the Left and the Right should regard this book as essential reading.

Rating:
Summary: a complete masterwork of total brilliance
Review: ben stein comes to the heart of the matter: you are either with us or against us. as for all those amazonians who gave this incredibly amazing analysis only one star...well...let's just say your names are being reported to the department of homeland security. liberal elite traitors!

Rating:
Summary: Funny but flat
Review: Ben Stein is a funny man, just not that funny. He is a well-deserved conservative with a string of strong, credible public stands on important conservative positions of the day. And I really wanted to like this book.

But there are too many personalized examples for my taste, maybe too many quotes from leftist cranks, and some statistics and citations that come out of nowhere. I'd like more careful and clear footnotes, detailed charts. Another 'Ben,' Ben Wattenberg does this -- taking a prosocial, even paternalistic stance for the common (conservative) good -- more effectively and convincingly in "The good news is the bad news is wrong' and 'The first measured century,' with all of the sagacity, a little less of the personal humor, and all the data needed to make critical points.

"Survive" is also a short, fast, almost light read. I finished quickly, feeling unconvinced that the authors had answered the question explicit in the title of their work. Maybe Stein and his co-author did a better job of answering the question, "Should America survive?" His basic answer, "education" is a highly risky proposition at best, because he makes clear with his story that family upbringing and values as well as an exposure to life itself may matter most than more formal forms of education.

Rating:
Summary: The Moose Hole - America's Guide for Survival
Review: Can the United States of America survive the brutal and irrational hate-mongering of the left that current threatens to divide the nation? That is the question posed by Ben Stein, quite possibly one of the smartest guys I know, and Phil DeMuth in their new book which was created to inspire the current generation of young Republicans and prevent another civil war that threatens this country at this current moment in our history, though to a less-bloody result then that of the original CW of the 1860s.

The left trumps up the idea that Americans today are poorer then they are now, which goes beyond logic when they try and convince the American populace that welfare, a system they installed to garner votes from the poor, works, when the numbers clearly show the opposite. First off, the GDP is never adjusted in these numbers, so it is utterly irresponsible to try and compare the poor of today to the poor of the 1960s and 70s. Secondly, what the left fails to note is that a good portion of the 12.1% of the U.S. population that appears under the poverty line are students in college (once they turn eighteen, they become consenting adults, so they are counted in these statistics) and retirees in Palm Beach, Florida. And lastly, and more importantly, this simple fact - Where have you heard of a country outside the United States claim that twenty-six percent of their poor population is obese? Or how about ninety-seven percent claiming to own a color television, seventy-eight percent owning a DVD player, twenty-five percent owning their own computer, or forty-six percent owning their homes? No where else but in America - for a country the left claims to be racist and sexist, the poor sure get a damn good deal, don't they?

The radical activists, most of whom find themselves on the left side of the political spectrum, blast the conservatives for being greedy gas-guzzling, ozone crimpling planet destroyers. In truth, it was the Republicans, namely Theodore Roosevelt, who started the modern conservation movement in this country, not as a method of fear-mongering to prevent economic progress but as a way of preserving a piece of this country's natural landscape while at the same time allowing the nation to expand to meet the demands of the populace. Now you have then environmental wackos such as Al Gore, Kirsten Dunst, and practically the entire cast and crew of the radical mouth-piece feature "The Day After Tomorrow" telling us that if we don't watch our ways, the world will be coming to an end. Get it through your heads, stop believing that human beings are bigger then the universe and therefore can drastically change the environment to our pleasing! Over the last three hurricanes in the Caribbean area, nearly two-thousand people have died - if we had control of the environment, wouldn't that number be zero? If we can't stop a hurricane then what good are we doing "theoretically" slowing down global warming via the Kyoto treaty (were it ever to pass through the UN), something that never been proven extensively to exist.

And there was a time when the youth of America looked the gentle men and women of Hollywood for inspiration in dire times such as World War II - Man, its amazing what a few decades can do! Well, we all knew Hollywood was heading in the wrong direction when they started supporting the Communists during the 1950s, which they continue to do to this day (for example, Oliver Stone - a communist sympathizer for decades - recently released a documentary demonstrating the so-called "positive attributions" of Fidel Castro's grip on the freedom of Cuba). In the modern era, we have peace hippies like Sheryl Crow and Richard Gere (who thankfully had the intelligence to know what country we were invading - Barbra Streisand could get some pointers from him) harping about "war is never the answer to solving our problems" (yeah, it did only end slavery, Nazism, fascism, and Communism but apparently she's right after all) and "karma" (if only they had been human shields - chicken doves). They can have their opinions but express them on their own damn dime and not mine, namely during performances (Linda Ronstadt) and in their movies (Silver City, The Manchurian Candidate, etc).

The only disappointing aspect of the book for me was the ending - I expected a bigger and/or better solution to the problem then they offered but since I am extensively involved in politics at the current moment, it may just be me. For those who are just starting off into the area of conservative studies (who may find the writings of Ann Coulter and Sean Hannity a bit advanced for them at the moment) will do well reading this book and starting off on the "right" foot. And for those already advanced, its not to bad to catch up on a few statistic you may have missed out on here and there as well as some delightful commentary from a man who has been inside the Hollywood machine.

Rating:
Summary: Don't read this book
Review: Honestly, this may be the worse book I have ever read. Ben Stein, you should go back to work for Richard Nixon. Oh yeah, that's right, he is a dirty crook who you supported. Stein attempts to silence the voice of reason and dissention in our country in a manner reminiscient of Hitler and Mussolini. Opposition is what makes America great, not our religious underpinnings. Sorry if I believe global warming really exists. Sorry if I want to pass on a clean world to my children and grandchildren. This book is useless partisan vitriole and will only be read by those already convinced of its conservative talking point dogma.

Rating:
Summary: Can America Survive? I Wonder...
Review: I disagree with the authors on many issues, sometimes profoundly. But I find that, despite these disagreements, they have reached the same conclusion about the Rage of the Left that I already had---and that they muster a more impressive array of facts to bolster that conclusion than I had at my disposal.

In addition, it is a well-written and literate book. This season, there are many interesting books to read...but this one does not feel like a hastily slapped-together work, as many of them do. It's possible that it might have value beyond the current era.

The United States---maybe all of Western Civilization---faces a long and difficult struggle against Islamic terrorism. Yet the Left focuses on other issues. Since the war manifested itself in American consciousness, I have argued with several on the Left---but find it impossible to shake them from their focus on other irrelevant supposed evils.

I am grateful to know that I am neither alone in my conclusions or my opinions on this.

Rating:
Summary: I expected better from these authors
Review: I wanted to like this book - but it turned me off pretty quickly .. Recycling Ann Coulter's assertion that "The Left" "Hates America" is unproductive hyperbole.

And stating that poverty isn't bad in the US because it's not as bad as it was during the Depression or is in Calcutta is a bit disingenuous.

Also, using quotes from idiots like Woody Harrelson, who don't really represent mainstream liberals, seemed like a cheap shot.

I was hoping for some good arguments - some of which were there, but the overall tone of the book was diminished by looking at the most extreme, nonrepresentative characters that the authors could dig up. (That's the same reason people hate Michael Moore, isn't it?)

I was encouraged that at the end of the book, the authors point out that education is the way to get back to the America we all love. Maybe both camps in Washington can make that a priority .....

Rating:
Summary: Unique and Interesting
Review: Just picked this up over the weekend and have been thinking about its message all day. This is a quick and insightful read. Unlike most of the other books on the market trying to right the liberal wrongs, this one is a call to arms at a personal level. What truly made this book unique is the last chapter where the authors put forth ideas as to what we can due in our homes to help educate our families and friends. I really thought the required reading lists were outstanding, everything from Civil War biographies to the American Spectator and Wall Street Journal. Pick this one up as soon as you can. A truly enjoyable read!

Rating:
Summary: A must read for anyone unfamiliar with the Left
Review: What a gem! You will be inspired by this book.

From the title you might think this was going to be another rant against the Left with the usual diatribe. Had I not seen Ben Stein's discussion on C-SPAN I would never have thought of buying this book. But he presented himself so well in front of a fairly hostile university crowd that I was compelled to read the book.

The book is as impressive as his discussion. He demonstrates a thorough knowledge of history which he effectively uses to debunk the rhetoric of the Left. But even more important you feel a renewed sense of pride in the America we thought was lost in the years of media glorification of all sensational.

What strikes you when you read the book is the sense of patriotism and fair mindedness that the authors bring. Stein's heritage and current mindset make him a prime candidate to be in the ranks of the Democrats - namely his compassion, concern for the weak, and his love of justice - and all of this comes out loud and clear. The authors simply lay out why such a position is more suited to today's conservative mindset.

Throughout the book we also are presented with quotes from a variety of the Left's notables which should appall any but the most fervent partisan. Most of the quotes are scandalous when you take your 'rhetoric filters' off, such as Sharpton's 1994 quote, "White folks was in caves while we was building empires... We taught philosophy and astrology and mathematics before Socrates and them Greek homos ever got around to it." - Sharpton makes white neo-Nazi revisionists sound intelligent. Simply put this book proves that our nation is under attack by the Left and is a more serious threat than the terrorists.

Even if you are not convinced that you should reconsider your affiliations, you will be forced to reconsider your acceptance of many assertions such as the degree of poverty that exists in our country. The coverage of the spectrum of topics is clear and readable. Stein's wry wit is in evidence and completely enjoyable, such as a reference to his performance in 'Ferris Buehler's Day Off'.

My wife also read the book and is in awe of the level of arrogance that leaders like Al Gore exhibit and that as many citizens of our nation could buy into his positions. She also finds as do I that Stein offers a more reasoned and practical approach to the important political issues that surround us today.

The promise of the book is not just to expose the lies we have been fed, but also to offer a solution and an answer to the question of 'Can America Survive?'. The answer is a resounding yes primarily through education. We are given great reasons to embrace reasoned patriotism, reject the self hatred espoused by the Left, and a sound bibliography of books and other resources to draw from to help in that renewal.

After reading this book I have a renewed respect for imparting to my children our pride in this great country and I also have answers to the ugly messages that are being sent by those who loathe us. My hope is that the book's message will so resonate with the American public that the Democratic Party will rebuild itself to become a worthy opponent to the Republican Party, since our successful political system is built upon the balance of two strong parties that seek the good and welfare of the people.