America Back on Track [Hardcover]

Senator Edward M. Kennedy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 18, 2006

Senator Edward Kennedy reveals his inspired plan to revive the lapsed ideals of our nation

With a Senate career that has spanned more than four decades, Edward M. Kennedy has become one of the strongest voices in American politics. In America Back on Track, he argues that America is at a crossroads, having reached a point where it has departed more deeply from its fundamental ideals than at any time in its modern history. In response to the erosion of the nationÂ’s basic values, he presents a sweeping agenda for reform and renewal, speaking to the countryÂ’s most significant needs at home and abroad. National security, the war in Iraq, terrorism, and key domestic challenges such as jobs, health care, education, civil rights, energy, and the environment all receive major attention in his proposals to counter the harmful policies of the current administration, restore AmericaÂ’s respect in the world, and create a better America here at home where democracy, individual opportunity, equal justice, and innovation can flourish. With his first major policy book in more than twenty years, Senator Kennedy takes an in- depth look at our modern political landscape and offers innovative policies that he genuinely believes will guide the country effectively to the future.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

As the title implies, Senator Kennedy's book of political history, criticism and advice is an effort to reawaken the belief in progress that underlay politics in the 1960s, often lauding his brother's presidency and Johnson's just after. Kennedy presents some of his most important points in bulleted lists, giving the appearance of simplicity and clarity on complex topics like ways to adjust to globalization and "the shrinking world," steps to achieve "a sound energy conservation policy" and how to provide health care for all. Although Kennedy isn't often as clear as his bulleted points make it appear, his straightforward solutions—like equal federal, state and local government funding for education and an increase in the minimum wage to $7.25—are refreshing. Not unexpectedly, Kennedy's proposals also involve sharp criticism of the Bush administration: for focusing on the military war on terror rather than taking a broader view of global security; for the "politicization" of government agencies and departments like the FDA; for undermining civil liberties. His book will probably not start the next revolution, but Kennedy's talking points and proposed solutions offer a good basis for discussion, which, after all, is one aspect of democracy—which he fears is disappearing, or rather, being repressed. (Apr. 20)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

America's iconic liberal offers his analysis of how and why the nation has gone astray from its values and principles and how it can recover. Kennedy begins with a short history of the challenges that have faced the nation in the past and the proud achievements that have resulted from bold action. He acknowledges the changing political landscape since 9/11 with increased political polarization and concern about national security. Kennedy identifies seven challenges, devoting a chapter to each with historical references to provide cautionary lessons and solutions for getting back on track. With a Senate career spanning four decades, Kennedy sees the nation's primary challenge as reclaiming our constitutional democracy built in checks and balances between the branches of government. Kennedy criticizes the "unprecedented secrecy" of the Bush administration and the "bullying" of Republicans that prevents greater cooperation between Congress and the executive. In his first major policy book in more than 20 years, Kennedy also identifies other challenges, such as achieving an economy that provides equitably and providing healthcare to all Americans. Whether Kennedy fans or not, readers will appreciate his heartfelt concerns about the nation's direction and the ideals we all share. Vanessa Bush
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Viking Adult; First Edition edition (April 18, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670037648
• ISBN-13: 978-0670037643
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,563,122 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Edward M. Kennedy (1932-2009) represented Massachusetts in the United States Senate for 47 years. In 2004 he began interviews at the Miller Center of the University of Virginia for an oral history project about his life. For his 2009 memoir, "True Compass," he drew from his 50 years of contemporaneous notes from his personal diaries and worked closely on the book with Pulitzer Prize-winner Ron Powers, co-author of "Flags of Our Fathers" and author of "Mark Twain: A Life."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Checks & Balances Not Working, Need Robust Economy, May 31, 2006

By 

Robert D. Steele (Oakton, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

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This review is from: America Back on Track (Hardcover)

This will strike the most critical as a "formula" book, covering the "seven challenges" of constitutional democracy, new definition of national security, full participation in the world, an economy that works for all, health care for all, equal opportunity for all, and restoration of our values. I do not consider it a formula book. In the context of the other 700+ books I have reviewed as the #1 Amazon reviewer of non-fiction related to national security and competitiveness, I can safely say that no other person in America has written a book quite as relevant, quite as competent, to our declining dollar and our vanishing democracy. I am, incidentally, a moderate Republican.

The Senator, whose brother Jack was in my view assassinated for wanting to end the arms race so profitable to Wall Street, and whose brother Bobby was in my view assassinated for wanting to make government work as intended, is quite correct when he opens by suggesting that the checks and balances intended by our Founding Father are NOT WORKING. Excessive secrecy on the part of the Executive branch, combined with an abdicating Congress and a compliant Judiciary (the latter just rules against freedom of speech for government employees, penalizing those who denounce government waste, fraud, and abuse), have put not just democracy, but the fiscal and military health of the Republic at risk.

The Senator is very strong in emphasizing that national security today is too narrowly focused on a military mis-fit to terrorism, at the same time that we have lost the international moral authority that has long caused America the Good to be America the Safe. He articulates a complex but understandable approach to national security as being an integrated results of proper economic, educational, energy, infrastructure, counter-proliferation, and moral choices.

He sums up the failure of our global diplomacy (our unilateral pre-emptive diplomatic charade) as saying that we cannot deal with our enemies is we do not first deal fully and fairly with our friends.

He joins C.K. Prahalad (The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid) and Jeffrey Sachs (End to Poverty) as well as Alvin and Heidi Toffler (Revolutionary Wealth) in discussing how globalization is NOT a threat if we invest in our people's education, training, and health. Critics of this book confuse universal health care with free health care. What they do not understand is that health care costs are a form of imposed slavery, preventing individuals from reaching their full potential because they cannot move from one employer to another without losing health care--or if they have none, they lose the ability to heal and jump back into the work force. The Senator focuses wisely on preventive health care. He does not actively condemn the mis-management of the current U.S. health system, but one need only look at the jump in medical tourism to India and Singapore, where major operations cost one tenth to one fifth of what they cost in the USA, to understand that our health system, like our military systems and our prison system, is dysfunctional.

There is a solid focus in this book on life-long education, and a strongly stated concern about the rise in inequality that accompanies failures in education. The top 1% and 10% of the American households are capturing MOST of the wealth in America, at the same time that middle and lower class earnings are dropping. The Senator advocates an increase in minimum wages (what some call "living wages" at the same time that he recognizes that illegal immigration is part of what is keeping wages down (and cost to government up).

He focuses on 2006 as an opportunity to put the country back on track. Based on my drive across the Nation (from Missoula, Montana to Oakton, Virginia) I would say that the Nation is ready. I was stunned by the number of common sense people, from Harley Davidson mechanics to truck stop waitresses, that think that this government has lost its mind and is a major part of the problem. As I read this book I also read in the news about how the White House is approving unlimited surveillance of all domestic communications; the Director of National Intelligence can exempt corporations from Security and Exchange Commission accountability and reporting; and government employees have no freedom of speech, even to report crimes by their superiors. This country does appear to be going insane, and Washington, D.C. is the central nuthouse.

As the author states, government is supposed to be a guarantor of individual rights and equality (all men created equal and the rest of that good stuff in the Founding documents), but the Republicans (the extremists that have disenfranchiese we moderates) have been mounting a determined assault of government, seeking to reduce its role in protecting the majority, while favoring the special intersts that can afford to bribe our Representatives with houses, yachts, and private jet trips to play golf in Scotland...and of course cash. [I also recommend Tom Coburn's book, "Breach of Trust" in which he documents the corruption of the Republican and Democratic party leaders who demand that representative vote the "party line" rather than what is good for their district). Washington is BROKEN.

The Senator's final recommendation is brilliant: the U.S. budget must become more transparent. I call this "reality based public budgeting." What he is really talking about is the degree to which the budget is concealed from the public with escoteric earmarks, off budget funding, and budget decisions that bear no resemblance to our needs, but instead respond to bribery from special interests, and the ideological fantasies of extremists.

Overall this is a book that is full of common sense, that is thoughtful, that is easy to read and to understand. I put the book down thinking that the author is indeed a "great man" in the classical Churchillian sense of the word. He has a great mind, and he would make a good President. He has earned my total respect.

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Call To Action, July 16, 2006

By 

ADT "ADT" (Washington, D.C.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: America Back on Track (Hardcover)

In "America: Back On Track", the Honorable Senator of Massachusetts provides the nation his vision to "reawaken the belief in progress" this nation holds dear. Senator Kennedy display's to the world how America can recover the values it holds dear. He breaks down these values into seven challenges such as reaching a true state of equality, real national security, and reclaiming our constitutional democracy. He provides the reader with the problem, history, facts, and then issues us his thoughts on how to fix the problem.

The words of Senator Kennedy should be burned into the minds of public policy and political science students - both Democrat and Republican. As a political icon, Senator Kennedy's publication offers us a rare glimpse of why this country has gone so far off track and how to bring it back. Senator Kennedy and leaders like him have offered us their thoughts, it is up to the citizens of this great nation to take it in action.

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Clear, Reasonable, and Workable Political Alternative, July 6, 2006

By 

R. Miller (Quakertown, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: America Back on Track (Hardcover)

I both enjoyed and was encouraged by Senator Kennedy's thoughtful book. On the pages of this book, he presents a clear, reasonable, and workable legislative agenda, covering a wide variety of areas, that seeks to correct the mistakes of the current administration. If one is looking for alternatives to the current political mess, both foreign and domestic, in which we as Americans find ourselves, I recommend this book.

Because I have a deep respect for and interest in the political activities of the Kennedy family, my only regret is that the book would have included more anecdotal and autobiographical material. As a legislator, I think, Senator Kennedy is one of the best!