The United States was born as a Republic. The individual was the center of society and rule of law was King. Neutrality and non-entanglements were the North Stars of foreign policy. Preemptive wars were feared as precursors to executive tyranny. The Republic would not go abroad in search of monsters to destroy. Transparency was the rule and secrecy the rare exception. And the thrill of self-government was the utmost good. Since the emergence of Manifest Destiny and the Mexican-American War, the United States has progressively degenerated into an arrogant, swaggering Empire featuring hundreds of military bases abroad with defense commitments to foreigners. The degeneration was accelerated by the disintegration of the Soviet Union and 9/11. Bush, Cheney, and Obama are a philosophical triumvirate in national security matters. The Empire is earmarked by perpetual and global warfare unilaterally initiated by the President for the sake of domination; unchecked executive power; the crucifixion of the rule of law on a national security cross; the diminishment of Congress to a constitutional ink blot; secret government; unsustainable trillion dollar budget deficits; and, a craving by the public for risk-free lives more than freedom itself. The Republic can be regained if a President emerges who renounces executive usurpations and secrecy, terminates all U.S. military bases abroad and revokes all defense treaties or executive agreements, immediately ends the Afghan, Iraq, international terrorism wars, and makes the rule of law the nation's civic religion.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
70 of 70 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Mr. Fein presents a well researched set of ideas and has provided yet another powerful tool for the liberty advocate.
As an avid Ron Paul supporter, I was pleased to see that Mr. Fein struck a chord on all the right notes, particularly foreign policy. This topic is of incredible relevance today with the "war" in Afghanistan. The book discusses how America lost its principles of a humble foreign policy to a neo-con's wet-dream of hundreds of military bases around the world in a perpetual state of war... a boon to the military-industrial complex.
Another pillar of Fein's work is the topic of economics and the free-market system versus centralized/government-run markets. He makes the case that America has spent itself into oblivion at the hands of both Democratic and Republican controlled administrations.
A wonderful read for true conservatives who respect the Constitution, limited government, a humble foreign policy, and fiscal responsibility. This book is a great wake-up call and slap in the face to every tax-and-spend liberal as well as war-mongering neo-cons, both of whom seem to be sprinting towards tyrannical government control.
As an avid Ron Paul supporter, I was pleased to see that Mr. Fein struck a chord on all the right notes, particularly foreign policy. This topic is of incredible relevance today with the "war" in Afghanistan. The book discusses how America lost its principles of a humble foreign policy to a neo-con's wet-dream of hundreds of military bases around the world in a perpetual state of war... a boon to the military-industrial complex.
Another pillar of Fein's work is the topic of economics and the free-market system versus centralized/government-run markets. He makes the case that America has spent itself into oblivion at the hands of both Democratic and Republican controlled administrations.
A wonderful read for true conservatives who respect the Constitution, limited government, a humble foreign policy, and fiscal responsibility. This book is a great wake-up call and slap in the face to every tax-and-spend liberal as well as war-mongering neo-cons, both of whom seem to be sprinting towards tyrannical government control.
39 of 39 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Constitutional Scholar Bruce Fein takes a candid approach in this accurate, though sad, look at how far the American people have allowed their country to descend from a Republic self-governed to a near-dictatorship empire focused on expansion at any cost. Yes, it is upon the shoulders of the American people where he rests the lion's share of blame, for it is "We the People" who are granted phenomenal powers over government in the Charter Documents of the United States; it is we who have ultimately failed in remaining true to the legacy of the Founding Fathers in reining in corruption and adhering to the principles of the Constitution.
Fein leaves little room for bickering or finger-pointing as he slices into key moments of history (like the Mexican-American War) to illustrate as clearly as possible the shift the nation took from Republic to Empire. He does nothing to defend the defilers of the Constitution and picks out the worst culprits in our descent to Empire, their part in history laid bare -- such as John Adams' signing of the Alien and Sedition Act -- proving Madison and Jefferson right in their desire to restrain the Executive when even a Founding Father would abuse powers not granted him by the Constitution.
Fein unrepentingly targets the Executive, the Legislative, and Judicial branches, outlining their missteps with quotes from the wonderful Federalist Papers and from our Founding Fathers to set the tone for how the American Republic was meant to be, and through the darkness lights a candle of hope that we could one day reclaim the greatness America was meant for -- but only if we are willing to collectively take a stand and seize the powers granted to us by the Constitution over government.
Overall, American Empire delivers on its title and more; Fein takes us back to the Golden Age of America, a Republic where the individual was master of his own fate and neutrality was the watchword above all, and then leaves us with the America of today, her runaway government devoted to wars of intrigue and spying on her own people.
Can we return to a Constitutional form of government? Fein thinks so, but it will take a majority of the American people to wake up and see that our current course dooms us to bankruptcy and endless war before there is any real hope for a brighter future.
Fein leaves little room for bickering or finger-pointing as he slices into key moments of history (like the Mexican-American War) to illustrate as clearly as possible the shift the nation took from Republic to Empire. He does nothing to defend the defilers of the Constitution and picks out the worst culprits in our descent to Empire, their part in history laid bare -- such as John Adams' signing of the Alien and Sedition Act -- proving Madison and Jefferson right in their desire to restrain the Executive when even a Founding Father would abuse powers not granted him by the Constitution.
Fein unrepentingly targets the Executive, the Legislative, and Judicial branches, outlining their missteps with quotes from the wonderful Federalist Papers and from our Founding Fathers to set the tone for how the American Republic was meant to be, and through the darkness lights a candle of hope that we could one day reclaim the greatness America was meant for -- but only if we are willing to collectively take a stand and seize the powers granted to us by the Constitution over government.
Overall, American Empire delivers on its title and more; Fein takes us back to the Golden Age of America, a Republic where the individual was master of his own fate and neutrality was the watchword above all, and then leaves us with the America of today, her runaway government devoted to wars of intrigue and spying on her own people.
Can we return to a Constitutional form of government? Fein thinks so, but it will take a majority of the American people to wake up and see that our current course dooms us to bankruptcy and endless war before there is any real hope for a brighter future.
33 of 34 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I lent some editorial assistance to Campaign for Liberty in producing this book, so I'm certainly biased. That said, American Empire: Before the Fall was not what I was expecting -- Bruce Fein is a constitutional lawyer, but this was no lawyerly book, at least not in the pejorative sense. To be sure, Fein constructs a carefully argued and copiously documented case that our foreign policy is very much at odds with the best traditions the Founding Fathers bequeathed to us. But this is also an intensely passionate book, a cry from the heart of a man whose country has been stolen from him.
Fein packs a lot into a text of under 200 pages. He shows how presidential power and the executive branch as a whole have expanded relentlessly since 9/11. He traces the roots of our corrupted foreign policy into the 19th century, and shows how the imperial urge grew stronger in the 20th. He also describes the prudent alternative contained in the nation's "Charter Documents" -- by which he means not only the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, but also key foreign-policy speeches of George Washington and John Quincy Adams. All along, he rebuts arguments asserting that empire was necessary or inevitable. Far from being essential to America's freedom and prosperity, our hyperintervetionist foreign policy undermines constitutional liberties at home and breeds enmity abroad.
The book is an excellent introduction to contemporary non-interventionist thinking. As such, it will be useful not only to libertarians and antiwar conservatives, but also to liberals and hawkish conservatives who want to understand this neglected tradition.
Fein packs a lot into a text of under 200 pages. He shows how presidential power and the executive branch as a whole have expanded relentlessly since 9/11. He traces the roots of our corrupted foreign policy into the 19th century, and shows how the imperial urge grew stronger in the 20th. He also describes the prudent alternative contained in the nation's "Charter Documents" -- by which he means not only the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, but also key foreign-policy speeches of George Washington and John Quincy Adams. All along, he rebuts arguments asserting that empire was necessary or inevitable. Far from being essential to America's freedom and prosperity, our hyperintervetionist foreign policy undermines constitutional liberties at home and breeds enmity abroad.
The book is an excellent introduction to contemporary non-interventionist thinking. As such, it will be useful not only to libertarians and antiwar conservatives, but also to liberals and hawkish conservatives who want to understand this neglected tradition.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
A must read for all Americans
"If the truth is to unbelievable, it will be labeled a conspiracy" This Author breaks this rule and goes deep into the reasons behind where we are at this point in history. Read more
Published 9 months ago by US Army Veteran
He missed the big one.
Mr. Fein has much to say on Presidents past and present regarding the nation's fall from republic to empire, but he missed the biggest empire builder of them all. Read more
Published 11 months ago by V. Protopapas
Empire Slayer
Bruce Fein has performed a great service to his country. His book is a candid appraisal of the United States decades long meddlesome involvement in the affairs of sovereign nations... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Christopher Czechowski
A must read.....
This book is very enlightening from start to finish. It brings to light the real intentions of the American Empire with specific historical events. Mr. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Luchi
Back to Basics
Constitutional scholar Fein begins a sobering analysis, with 'where we are now' and explicates the principles of the beginning of America. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Joseph Elkhorne
This Book Truly Expounds Truth
This book is an absolute must read.
Fein is on point and carefully supports his reasoning throughout the book. Read more
Fein is on point and carefully supports his reasoning throughout the book. Read more
Published 21 months ago by NV
Some good parts, some bad parts, some better book suggestions
American Empire: Before the Fall has its positives and negatives, which I enumerate as follows.
Positives:
- Fein accurately portrays the current US government as a... Read more
Positives:
- Fein accurately portrays the current US government as a... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Barnabas O'Books
Good book
Good book. Makes some stunning claims. If claims are true certainly changes my view of the good old US of A.
Published 21 months ago by A. Reader
disappointing
I am a right winger, fan of Mike Church (where I heard Mr. Fein). I read national review, have read Gary North, span the mainstream right, libertarianism, and the Tea Party. Read more
Published 21 months ago by J. M Ullman
Ron Paul Propaganda
I am about a quarter way through this book and I am disappointed. The writing is not top notch, not smart and not articulate. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Katherine R. Mckeon
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