After Patrick Henry: A Second American Revolution [Paperback]

Neal Q. Herrick (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2009

Author Neal Q. Herrick considers government corruption to be the predominant problem facing the world today. Although bribery and influence peddling are the most visible aspect of this corruption, they are not, in Herrick’s opinion, the most serious. For Herrick, the more serious aspect of government corruption is the laws that bribery and influence peddling produce—laws that favor the corporations—resulting in, what he calls, a kind of delusional corruption that leads to unjust and unnecessary wars. After Patrick Henry is a book about both kinds of corruption, as they are inseparable and arise from the same structural failing: the failure to make the interests of government coincident with the interests of the people.

Tracing both forms of corruption back through history, Herrick gives a brief account of governmental descent into lawlessness, identifies the constitutional flaw that led to this lawlessness, and discusses some of the issues that must be considered in devising remedies. After discussing the four principles on which the US Constitution rests and pointing out the causal connections between the failure of the impeachment provisions and presidential wars, eroded political culture, and civil society complaisance, Herrick proposes a constitutional amendment and a strategy for accomplishing it.

Neal Q. Herrick taught at the University of Michigan. He headed the HEW-Labor Task Force that drafted the Occupational Safety and Health Act submitted to Congress in 1968. He is the co-author, with the late Harold Sheppard, of Where Have All the Robots Gone and a contributor to Work in America.

Editorial Reviews

Review

HISTORY/GOVERNMENT After Patrick Henry: A Second American Revolution Neal Q. Herrick Black Rose Books Hardcover $53.99 (400pp) 978-1-55164-321-2 Softcover $24.99 (400pp) 978-1-55164-320-5 Attend a party, read a blog, skim the editorial page of a newspaper, and you'll be treated to a bevy of opinions about the U.S. government and what it does wrong, or, less often, what it does right. But how many of these arguments are truly informed? How many stem from a careful scrutiny of the most important document in U.S. history to outline the supreme law of the land--the Constitution? One book that cannot be accused of a lack of research is Neal Q. Herrick's After Patrick Henry: A Second American Revolution. Here Herrick, a retired academic and author of two other books, offers an intriguing, in-depth argument concerning the ways in which the executive branch of the government has been allowed to overstep the law with no repercussions. Whether the executive branch is illegally declaring war against other countries--solely the job of Congress--or perjuring itself, it's the role of senators and representatives to judge and impeach the executive branch on the basis of constitutional law. Our system of checks and balances has dissolved into ineffectual displays of incompetence; politicians tend to ignore the call for impartiality and vote along party lines. Herrick writes, "We must revitalize our failed impeachment provisions in order to persuade our civil officers to resist the temptations of power and money and, instead, do the work we pay them for." After Patrick Henry stretches far and wide in its assessment of the American government; it's a sign of Herrick's talent as a writer that readers will find his pages highly accessible and often illuminating. He braids a multitude of sources--quotes from representatives, senators, academic experts, judges, and the words of the framers themselves--into a cohesive argument for the return of attention to the Constitution. The solution to our current problems, Herrick believes, lies in an amendment, and the amendment has to come from the people for whom the Constitution was written. Only by returning power to the citizens can we return to democracy. Readers will find much in this volume to stimulate wonder; people will find it hard to return to a state of blind acceptance after reading Herrick's call to action. "The price for neglecting this ultimate responsibility is likely to be higher than we want our children and their children to pay." (Softcover January 2009, Hardcover October 2008) Review Date: December 2009 -- ForeWord Reviews

From the Publisher

Author Neal Q. Herrick considers governmental corruption and the resultant lack of governmental responsiveness to the people to be the predominant problems facing the world today. In Herrick's view, there are two discrete types of corruption: venal and delusional. The most serious consequences of venal corruption (that is, bribery, influence peddling, etc.) is a body of legislation that favors monied interests over the people. The most serious consequences of delusional corruption (that is, the usurpation, abdication and exceeding of constitutional powers) are illegal wars, the erosion of personal liberties and - ultimately - tyranny. After Patrick Henry is about both kinds of corruption, as they are inseparable and arise from the same structural failing: the failure to make the interests of the civil officers of government coincident with the interests of the people.

Tracing both forms of corruption back through history, Herrick gives a brief account of our government's descent into lawlessness, and discusses some of the issues that must be considered in devising remedies. After discussing the four principles on which the U.S. Constitution rests, he points out the causal connections between the failure of the impeachment provisions and presidential wars, eroded political culture and civil society complaisance. Herrick then proposes a constitutional amendment and a strategy for accomplishing it.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Black Rose Books; 1st edition (January 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1551643200
• ISBN-13: 978-1551643205
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,468,889 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I received my BA in English Literature from the University of New Hampshire and my doctorate in industrial relations from the Union Graduate School. I am now retired from the University of Michigan, where I was a visiting professor. Heading the task force that drafted the OSHA Bill submitted to Congress in 1967 taught me something about our legislative process. I learned something about our Constitution during the twenty years I spent working with joint labor-management worker-participation projects.

The years I spent as a sailor, auto worker, door-to-door salesman, construction worker, Gandy Dancer, soldier, football coach, civil servant, researcher and faculty member taught me something about the ways in which public policy affects our everyday lives. I have co-authored, edited and/or written four books on public policy issues.

My most recent book, "After Patrick Henry: a 2nd American Revolution," was awarded the IPPY gold medal for "best book of 2009" in the "freedom fighter" category and the Foreword Reviews silver medal for "best book of 2009 in the political science category. It is an analysis of American history seeking (and finding) the answer to the following questions: "Why is our federal government so corrupt and what can be done about it?" I am now living in Virginia working on a book tentatively titled: "Dates in American History: and why we should remember them."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How "We the People" can regain our sovereignty under the US Constitution., January 12, 2009

By 

Kenneth F. Herlihy (Georgetown, Maryland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: After Patrick Henry: A Second American Revolution (Paperback)

("After Patrick Henry: A Second American Revolution" New book by Neal Q. Herrick)

This book is an eye-opener; it is long overdue. "We the People" should impeach officers of the nation's Executive Branch when they usurp the powers of Congress, especially the war-making powers. "We the People" should impeach Congressional representatives when they abdicate their Constitutional duties, especially when it comes to starting (and ending) wars. The impeachment process needs real teeth. This monumental book shows the way for 'Us the People' to regain our sovereignty from the usurpers and abdicators - who presently have earned-approval-ratings of about 20%. "After Patrick Henry" is a well-written, thoroughly-researched and powerful page-turner - quoting and naming the guilty and offering hope and a plan for Constitutional justice.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Politicians beware!, October 27, 2009

By 

Nelson M. Karp, M.D. "Nelson M. Karp, M.D." (Virginia Beach, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: After Patrick Henry: A Second American Revolution (Paperback)

Politicians beware! Until now, books on corruption in government describe the problem and state change must happen. After Patrick Henry describes the problem from a historical, political, philosophical and economic viewpoint merging different themes into one common denominator. The flexibility of constitutional law facilitating a constitutional amendment is the author's solution.

The author, Dr. Herrick, weaves history and current events into a web of knowledge never before defined - it allows the reader to focus in on the future utilizing the knowledge of past and current government doctrine.

Challenging the intellectual, informing the uninformed, and giving notice to corrupt government officials, After Patrick Henry should be on the bookshelves of all university libraries, as well as public libraries and private readers. The compelling, intriguing and, at times, challenging nature of the author's words make this text appropriate for all to read.

It is without reservation that I recommend After Patrick Henry to all.

5.0 out of 5 stars A good look at Constitutional erosion., May 7, 2010

By 

J. Mccormack (Virginia Beach, Virginia United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: After Patrick Henry: A Second American Revolution (Paperback)

This is a great book to show how we have strayed from the constitution, and how it has affected us. All three branches of our government have been greedy with power, and there is no stopping them; or is there a way after all. This book does give a solution to make the powers that be accountable to the people, but it will take a lot of work. One thing I will note is that sometimes we like to villify a democrat or republican because we disagree with them. But this book is excellent at showing that it doesn't matter who is in office, they are all breaking the rules and ignoring the constitution. It gives you a better perspective on the fact that they all are wrong, and we need to get the government in a place where they listen to the people again. Recently you can see how this affects us, look at how they voted on healthcare reform. It was done in a way so they would pass the bill no matter what the people said. This is a dangerous practice. I believe they could find a way to do anything they want regardless of what the rest of us think. We need to get the government back under the control of the people and the constitution, and this book shows us a way. This was written by Veronica McCormack.