Customer Reviews

Cliches of Liberalism: Governing Through Insult, Confusion and Sound Bites

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"Socialism has failed everywhere it has been tried because it is incompatible with human nature." You can believe that statement, deny it, argue with it, or insult the person who made it. That assertion is in the Epilogue of "Cliches of Liberalism." By the time you reach it, you will know that it is true -- even if you deny it, argue with it, or insult the person who made it. With easily-understood lines of evidence that could be appreciated by a trial lawyer, David Wilcox presents a common liberal assertion, such as "we must find a way to pay for tax cuts," presents the liberal line of reasoning that backs up that assertion (doing it so well you will find yourself agreeing with it), and then with factual evidence and sometimes just good old common sense, makes you wonder how you ever fell for the liberal line. For instance, you don't have to "find a way" to pay for tax cuts because, as has been proven time and again, until you reach a certain level, they pay for themselves! For anyone who wonders if maybe the status quo might need some adjustments, or for the hard-core conservative or libertarian who got caught flat-footed by a liberal assertion, this is the book you need. For anyone who plans on spending the rest of his or her life in the United States, even if you don't want to get involved in politics, this is a guide-book you better have. Otherwise that political tour-bus you're riding could take you into a failing "-ism" and you won't even know how you got there.

In 10 essays, "Cliches of Liberalism" actually discusses over 40 liberal cliches. Some are very old and others are unique to Clinton, Gore and their pals. Almost certainly, we will hear all of them in the elections of 2000, and probably for some time after that. I strongly recommend this book to every voter who wants to understand many of the dishonest (and eventually expensive) liberal sound bites that will dominate the airwaves during the next year and a half. "Cliches of Liberalism" is inspiring throughout and reveals a lot of careful research. The notes abound with economic and other statistics. The 10-page index is extremely thorough. The book is also written such that the average American can read, understand and enjoy the discussions as presented. Unlike most political books that are usually written for a specific audience thuis book appeals to everyone.

The points brought out in the book were timely and succinct. Its well organized point-by-point debunking of often heard clichés justifying a Socialistic solution to problems of modern civilization makes it a handy reference as well as an interesting read.

While I frequently recognized quotes and references I had used myself to fend off the "Clichés of Liberalism", there were new and insightful analysis of the history and consequences of a "government" solution to society's problems. For anyone that is "unsure" about their political orientation, there is reference to a short quiz that can be taken to clarify how the reader thinks government and the individual should interact. You can make your own decision as to if you are moderate, liberal or conservative. The results might surprise you.

The author even touches on the clichés of homeowner associations wherein oppressive private government is justified so as to keep one's neighbor from "painting his house

purple".

With respect to the low moral and miserable state of readiness of today's military, I would have liked to see more discussion in the book on the basis for the author's position on the merits of an all volunteer army as opposed to compulsory military service.

All in all, I enjoyed reading the book. It is kept close at hand as a reference to fend off the "Clichés of Liberalism".

I'm happy to see that this nice little book is still available. I received my copy as a present many years ago. Most of the issues the author discusses are timeless like the many disguised variants of Marx's "from each according to his ability to each according to his need" such as "we must find a way to pay for tax cuts". The discussion of the Clinton impeachment is still relevant because Mrs. Bubba may be running for president next year. And the discussion about using the "Fairness Doctrine" to silence talk radio is back with us now that the Democrats control Congress. Beautifully written and carefully researched, this book is a great read.

Boy do I wish I had read this book while I was taking a course in economics last semester! Chapter 3 completely demolishes the mixed economy garbage that's taught in colleges everywhere. Citing economic experts such as Adam Smith, Milton Friedman, Fredrick Hayek and Alan Greenspan, this book shows how powerful, equitable and just capitalism is. It also shows how much damage liberals have done to the US economy by trying to impose the rotten ideas of socialism. Like Wilcox says, liberals seem to think that "we must guard against someone, somewhere having a good time". After reading this book you may never vote for another democrat!

This is a splendid little book that can be read in an evening or on a cross-country flight. It may not be very long, but it is packed with useful information that liberals don't want the general public to know about. For example, the book includes federal-budget deficit data for the 40-year period that the Democrats had control of the House from 1955 to 1994. You don't have to plow through the tables unless you really want to though because the statistics are summarized in the main discussion and the tables and their source are given in the Notes section.

The last essay, "we must save the neighborhood from people who would paint their house purple", really rung a bell for me. Wilcox describes a very serious problem that nobody else seems to be talking about. The growing number of planned communities that are controlled by homeowner associations are pitting neighbor against neighbor in ways that can rob you of your property rights and is a much worse problem than I realized. I am being driven out of my home by one of these associations. Wilcox has some good advice for how to fight for your home and gives useful WWW links that also have useful resources.

The last chapter is really inspirational and makes you want to go to that PTA meeting to ask why the children must read trashy novels from obscure writers or to just write a letter to the editor to ask why some new tax is needed for another wasteful government agency. If I learned nothing else form this book, I learned that liberalism is very expensive and very dishonest!

As an engineer, I'd like to think that what made this bookenjoyable was that another engineer wrote it. I found the ideas andarguments in the book to be well reasoned, cogent, logical, and articulate. My suggestion is to read it carefully and deliberately in order to extract all the gems of logic with which to clobber your liberal friends.

The book is purposely not heavy on political or economic "science" since it appeals to logic, reason, and Common Sense (no offense to PolSci or Econ students/professionals!). A must read for every conservative that wishes to engage the liberal beast.

This book is right on target in identifying the damage that liberals have done to our political system. Thirty years ago, this book might have been most appropriate for high school and beginning college students as a primer on American government and economics. Today, it can be used to idendify by example who has been shortchanged by our public schools. Our education system needs to have understanding of the material presented about American government and our free-enterprise system which is routinely neglected by modern educators.

The chapter on economics is outstanding. Like the book as a whole, it is sprinkled with examples to help make theoretical economic principles understandable. For example, the author's experience as a PhD research scientist is most evident in the section entitled "We Must Find a Way to Pay For Tax Cuts." Wilcox has done a great deal of research and clearly substantiates his arguments on how the Coolidge, Kennedy, and Reagan tax cuts more than paid for themselves.

I strongly recommend this book and personally look foward to more books by this outstanding political writer.

Section 2.1 on "Political Philosophy" finally explains why I have always found it difficult to classify myself as a republican, based on the resurgence of "moderate" republicans in the last several years. "Lunatic fringe" and "right-wing extremist" are terms that come to mind, but as Wilcox points out, these definitions of political "orientation," originally coined by liberals, are viewed as very negative. They are also stereotypes of political naivete and narrow-minded thinking. I've considered the Libertarian party to be a more reasonable ally to my point of view, but they have some very radical views and ideas. After reading Wilcox's section on "Political Philosophy," I came away with a new understanding about the "political spectrum" and how one-dimensional liberals are when identifying, or should I say chastising someone who doesn't subscribe to their political point of view. Wilcox lays it all out by describing the different means that liberals, conservatives and libertarians use to identify one's political stature. Wilcox clearly reveals that liberals have a very simplistic concept of political classifications by viewing conservatives "as being completely out of the mainstream of American thought," and grouping them with fascists. After reading this chapter, I finally matched up my very conservative beliefs with the Libertarian party. I originally had reservations about identifying with this party, but Wilcox provides very useful arguments for defending and contradicting liberal slander! In Section 3.4, Wilcox correctly evaluates the events that initiated and propagated the Great Depression. So many times liberal references credit Roosevelt's New Deal policies and Keynesian economics for ultimately driving the United States out of the depression, but with more insightful and thorough research, Wilcox makes the point that they only "exacerbated" the problem. Looking back to WWI, there was a tremendous surge of economic prosperity after the war. During the twenties unemployment was down and wages were up, partially due to the tremendous revenues created from the war, and as Wilcox reveals, because President Coolidge lowered the "maximum tax bracket to 25 percent." Contrary to what Keynes' followers believe, exorbitant tax increases do not give a linear return of tax revenues. Additionally, Wilcox fends off irrational arguments from liberals such as "the monetary supply was of no consequence for averting a major depression" by citing Nobel Prize winning economist, Milton Friedman, to convey more logical and sound arguments. Conclusively, Wilcox has done his homework, and I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for some counter-balance to our very liberal media!

This is an excellent book that delivers a distinctive insight, and an impressive analogy of how liberals are so obstinate and narrow-minded. With a logical perception, a thorough presentation of facts, and an amusing sense of humor, Wilcox submits devasting arguments against some of the most common liberal cliches.

This book provides an interesting overview of politics in America, from the beginning of the Cold War, to the present. It points out substantial issues to illustrate how liberals are firmly pushing our country to become a socialist society with egalitarian views. In his book, Wilcox makes a convincing case, that liberals have contributed to the descending teaching standards in our public schools, which has ultimately wrecked America's educational system. In a section of the book entitled "Our Children, Our Values", Wilcox matches this cliche to "The Bait and Switch Technique of the Salesman." On more sinister issues like... President Clinton's justification for bombing Yugoslavia - in the name of our children... with "The Con-Man's Sting."

The background of a research scientist becomes evident, as Wilcox displays an extensive investigation and a very clear analysis throughout this book. I highly recommend this book, for a therapeutic course in government and economics, to parents of students in our current public school system, and anyone over the age of 16. I predict that this intellectual/writer, David C. Wilcox, will become a distinguished name in every household!