Customer Reviews

America Back on Track

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

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.

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.

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!

Senator Kennedy shares a plan, something you dont see much in Bush's White House on how to take us into the future. We can not keep living in the 'from', eventually we need to move to the 'to'. Senator Kennedy should be commended for his hard work and his strong presence. Kennedy points out some of the problems we are facing today and tackles the issues. Thats definately something you dont see in Washington DC. I couldnt imagine a world without the voice and strength of Senator Kennedy.

Great book! Great read. It's unfortunate that I purchased the book prior to the pasting of greatest senator of our time.

I'm an Independent voter who was skeptical of Ted Kennedy's new book, America Back on Track. But the book was so compelling and so insightful, I urge everyone, regardless of their political affiliation, to buy and read this book.

Senator Edward Kennedy provides us with his perspective of what is wrong with America, and what can be done to improve our country to the benefit of all. Our present administration in Washington panders and caters to the wealthy, and stifles dissent under the guise of it being unpatriotic. As was stated in an unrelated subject in another book, "Power covers up. Absolute power covers up absolutely, but not permanently." Under the Bush administration the wealthy receive huge tax cuts, and are rewarded for their support of Bush in his elections with positions of leadership regardless of whether they are qualified or not. Democracy is encouraged in Iraq, but any semblance of it is stamped out in our country with dissenters being forced out of their position of leadership with a loss of their benefits. More damage has occurred to this country under the Bush administration than under any president in our nation's history. Whether America wakes up remains to be seen.

Teddy delves into his childhood to explain his passion for wanting to get America back on track to being a truly equal opportunity country. With some sharp criticism of actions and policies of some that seek to expand their own power and that of their friends, this book opens the eyes of the open minded reader. It is a fast paced read with lots of information and references to US history.

If you prefer to feel that equality of all Americans is not an issue and that women and minorities have equal access to jobs and salaries as that of white males, this might not be the book for you. I did not feel ashamed for being a white male after reading it. However, I did come away with a sense of responsibility to participate more in the process to ensure America stays a hallmark to the world as the place for freedom and opportunity.

Move over Carl Rove, Ted Kennedy has a road map that will lead Democrats to victory in November. America Back on Track provides remarkable insights into issues American families care deeply about. Senator Kennedy gives Democrats all across the country the hope and insights to take back control of Congress in November.

This book is very much an "awake" call to Americans. Despite Kennedy's personal past issues, he is a politician who loves the poor and cares for the middle class. He opens your eyes to what is really going on in Washington right now. It is scary and startling. He is a man of great wisdom and great insight. He addresses all the hot issues--health care, Iraq, Iran He backs up what he says with referencres and dates and names. Despite all the problems we now face and our desperate lack of good leadership, Kennedy holds on to the great faith he has in Americans to bring America back to what it should be. I would also suggest Jimmy Carter's book, OUR ENDANGERED VALUES.