6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
If you want a free America read this book!, November 20, 2010
A post-election Washington Post survey recently announced that 'few in the [Tea Party] movement agree on a legislative agenda beyond [merely] downsizing government.' Not so. Award-winning author Beverly Eakman has thrown down the gauntlet: In a mere 120 pages, Eakman lays out an astonishing and comprehensive legislative agenda that represents views common not only to most Tea Partiers, but to all constitutionally minded Americans -- and the various fed-up `others' -- who are sick and tired of party politics as usual. Eakman draws a line in the sand with A Common-Sense Platform for the 21st Century.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This Book Should Become the Touchstone for Every US Citizen, January 4, 2011
Coming at the confluence of the installation of newly elected candidates (on the heels, of course, of the tsunami of the 2010 mid-term elections...) and the beginning of the 2012 presidential campaign, the publication of this monumental yet simple book could not have been better timed. In my view, this book should become the Touchstone for every elected official, political candidate, bureaucrat, campaign worker and yes - every US citizen young and old.
About the size of "The Art of War", this succinct, information packed, value priced 120-page book contends, among other things, that we are now living in one of the most historic times in our nation's history: We are at a crossroads that will lead into either continued opportunity or enormous jeopardy where we all must become informed and then engaged to prevail.
In these limited pages of easy reading 12-point text, Eakman does an amazing job of succinctly analyzing the origin and current state of our nation, the broad stroke reasons behind this and what we need to do to save it. This excellent crisp work provides hard confirmation of an out-of-control government by offering a select "train of abuses and usurpations" imposed by a federal government that has obviously expanded exponentially from its originally intended scope. Eakman also examines the principles of constitutional powers; founding ideals; national sovereignty; criminal justice and law enforcement; national defense; economic stability; health care; research; environment; and education - all in the context of our time.
Eakman infers that our present state of affairs is largely a result of most urban residents and nearly all young adults across the country having little factual knowledge of how and why this country was created - let alone the paths that have brought us to this point in our history. As a result, we have all grown susceptible to feel good sound bites without any substance because we have become increasingly sensitized to them and frankly know no better. Eakman's book suggests that our nation's sensible foundation upon individual freedoms, responsibility, achievement, self sufficiency and contribution have been progressively morphed into collectivism where true liberty, individuality and success are traded for comfort, materialism and a false sense of security, and where reliance on federal involvement in everything is perceived to be essential.
Eakman's proposed common sense principles that should guide the development and implementation of a 21st-century platform include: fiscal responsibility; constitutionally limited government; germane term limits; free markets; and an environment of integrity, decency and self control. This also includes the specific identification of the principles that must be honored, e.g.: private property rights; non-intervention in the marketplace by government entities; reversal of entitlements and redistribution policies; a rededication to America, in contrast to self-defeating globalization polices.
Eakman submits that the future of our nation can no longer be left to the whims of popular agenda or political expedience - it must be driven solely by solid time worn tenets. Her book succinctly lists all these tenets, which can be employed by its readers as action items or used as tools to properly vet and evaluate political candidates and your elected officials.
This `People's Platform' includes fundamentals ranging from the elimination of earmarks and control of perks and compensation - to sun-setting every government program forcing periodic reevaluation, government's rush to erase any trace of Christianity from public life and the proven effectiveness of third-party initiatives. Eakman's platform also convincingly argues that political correctness and multiculturalism are enemies of our liberty and examines the role the media plays in advancing or destroying political agendas.
This is truly a remarkable little book.
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