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The Essential America: Our Founders and the Liberal Tradition

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The term "liberal" has been a dirty word ever since Ronald Reagan referred to it as the "L" word. In this timely book by former Senator and 1972 Democratic nominee for president, George McGovern, a cogent defense of this much maligned philosophy is offered. Liberalism, not conservatism, is the true compassionate political philosophy, and McGovern defends it masterfully. In my opinion the best quote in the book comes from chapter 3 where McGovern points out the obvious difference between the liberal and conservative view on the role of government: "I challenge my conservative friends to name a single federal program now generally approved by both of our major parties that was not first pushed by liberals over the opposition of conservatives." McGovern cites Social Security and Medicare as two of the best known examples, but I can think of a number of others such as the FDIC, the SEC, Head Start, just to name a few.

But perhaps the most important message in this book is that America should return to those ideals that once made it the most respected and envied country in the world: compassion, decency, and respect for the opinions of mankind. By doing this the United States could begin to win the war on terror and recapture its position as the most respected and admired nation in the world. Such a scenario would produce the cooperation and goodwill necessary to defeat the menace of terrorism. This message is needed now more than ever. I highly recommend this wonderful little book.

George McGovern's, The Essential America, is a candid, refreshingly-honest discussion of American liberalism, today's "most maligned political philosophy." This great American statesman tackles the criticisms of liberalism head-on, and clearly demonstrates how both the liberal and conservative traditions have evolved and eroded politically. George McGovern remains ever-faithful to the "social gospel," teachings instilled in him at any early age by his father, a devoted follower of John Wesley. Moreover, McGovern's political beliefs are soundly and squarely rooted in the U.S. Constitution.
McGovern remains unafraid to espouse liberalism--whether it be Jefferson's, Lincoln's, or his own. In so doing, he demonstrates how far America has strayed from the brilliant guidance of our founding fathers. He addresses all of the toughest issues of our day, including the war in Iraq, world hunger, and, of course, international terrorism.
This is a book only George McGovern could have written--specific, thoughtful, provocative-- a blueprint for a wiser, stronger American future in a more peaceful world.

George McGovern has always been a voice of reason and it's good to see he's still around and speaking out about things that are great about America and things at which cause us concern as a nation. You won't find many neocons reading "The Essential America" because they've "written" their own book on this country...and gotten us into a lot of trouble because of it. McGovern points out that so much of America's spending is in non-productive areas....much of it in defense that has produced us with little tangible results over the past fifty years. He rightly concludes that the current president and his ilk in Washington have not made the United States any safer in the world, but more vulnerable, given the needless foray into Iraq and the even larger question of the uneven tilt toward Israel. We'll be paying the price for those mistakes for ages to come.

Senator McGovern speaks of his war service in this book but does so humbly and with many references about what patriotism should be. He reminds us of the hollow phrase, "America...love it or leave it" and echoes his own words from 1972...."let us change America, so we can love it the more." I hope this is a fitting prelude to the defeat of George Bush in November...or to put it more liberally...erasing America's mistake. "The Essential America" provides a ringing endorsement of the liberal tradition in this country and it is a book that is definitely worth the read.

The 167 pages are easy and enjoyable reading. Buy several copies as gifts for all your friends and neighbors, especially young people.

The elder statesman explains how the search for the just society and a moral foreign policy based on reason and enlightened self-interest has been an essential part of the American quest from the beginning. Recognizing that both conservatism and liberalism are essential elements of the American tradition, he invites the reader to apply the principles of our nation's founding fathers to such issues as diverse as the Israel-Palestinian conflict, health care in America and hunger throughout the world.

The counsel of history helps inspire his opposition to never ending unwinnable wars that only prolong and worsen human agony producing uncontrollable results that frequently inflame whole regions to catastrophe; isolate America, weaken our own security and undermine our national interests as well as our values.

In spite of his crushing 1972 defeat (38% of the popular vote) at the hands of the Nixon campaign which was routed in a criminal conspiracy and more recently; the rise to dominance of the radical right and their dangerous policies, this old historian's optimism is infectious. He reminds the reader that ideological blindness will not dominate forever. He predicts that liberalism will play a far greater role in the next 25 years than it did in the past 25 years. Perhaps genuine conservatism will also make a come-back.

This great man's compassion finds inspiration in the Methodism of John Wesley as well as the Christian social gospel which considers the search for social justice a natural expression of personal salvation.

One is struck by his bottomless well of charity and kindness even to his political adversaries. He even makes a point to praise Richard Nixon for launching the Environmental Protection Agency, supporting civil rights and opening the door to China.

(May I also recommend his 1978 autobiography, "Grassroots"?)

In the U.S. Senate, George McGovern was a brilliant bipartisan visionary who joined forces with his good friend and senatorial colleague, Robert Dole in skillfully crafting, maneuvering, legislating and implementing the most massive assault on malnutrition in American history. He stresses that liberalism needs conservatives to point out its weaknesses and minimize its excesses. Both political philosophies have been with our Republic since John Adams and Thomas Jefferson bitterly battled with each other in an ideologically divided young nation. Both philosophies have redefined themselves numerous times as history developed. Both are as American as can be.

Certain snobbish and mean-spirited know-it-alls have twisted and spun and rewritten reality in a desperate and pathetic effort to make the good name of George McGovern synonymous with 1960's counterculture chaos and confusion and to blame monstrous results of monstrously misguided and long discredited policies on voices of reason and balance.

President Eisenhower thought a lot of George McGovern; and so did Barry Goldwater and countless other thinking conservatives who knew him well--many of whom remain his close friends to this day.

The real George McGovern is the son of a small-town Wesleyan Methodist minister. He was a World War II bomber pilot and real hero who learned the difference between reality and storybooks. He has spent his life as a tireless humanitarian who never suffers compassion fatigue, a passionate defender of rural American family life, a dedicated history teacher with a critical mind, a consummate listener, reader and deep thinker and a true Christian gentleman.

George McGovern comes straight from the heart and soul of America. And his voice speaks from the conscience of a kinder, gentler, older and wiser America.

The last two pages of this wonderful little book contain the closing lines of his acceptance speech 32 years ago at the Democratic National Convention. *This time. Let's listen...

"And this is the time. It is the time for this land to become again a witness to the world for what is noble and just in human affairs. It is the time to live more with faith and less with fear- with an abiding confidence that can sweep away the strongest barriers between us and teach us that we truly are brothers and sisters.

So join with me in this campaign. Lend me your strength and your support-and together, we will call America home to the ideals that nourished us in the beginning.

From secrecy, and deception in high places, come home, America.

From a conflict in Indochina which maims our ideals as well as our soldiers, come home, America.

From military spending so wasteful that it weakens our nation, come home, America.

From the entrenchment of special privilege and tax favoritism-

From the waste of idle hands to the joy of useful labor-

From the prejudice of race and sex-

From the loneliness of the aging poor and the despair of the neglected sick, come home, America.

Come home to the affirmation that we have a dream.

Come home to the conviction that we can move our country forward.

Come home to the belief that we can seek a newer world.

And let us be joyful in the homecoming, for:' this land is your land, this land is my land. From California to the New York Islands. From the redwood forest to the Gulf Stream waters. This land was made for you and me.'

May God grant us the wisdom to cherish this good land and to meet the great challenge that beckons us home.

This is the time."

Former Senator McGovern has written an accessible and down to earth book offering an alternative vision to the country. In his sincere and commonsense approach he states the factors he feels are most important to our national security; well educated children, healthy citizens, productive family farms and ranches, clean environment, and an open and honest political process that works in collaboration with its citizens and the governments of other countries. He does this in a gentlemanly manner always focusing on the issues while remaining respectful of former colleagues whom he disagrees on policy with. I found this very refreshing and a wonderful respite from the hatefilled diatrabes of pundits on FOX and other media news channels.

He also argues that the preemptive and illegal war with Iraq has not made our citizens safer and is against everything America is supposed to stand for. For far less than what has been spent on this war we could have made our citizens safer by putting money into our police and fire departments and strengthening security in other areas. We now have a federal deficit over $8,000,000,000,000 and growing rapidly. To combat this we are cutting social programs at home, many that invest in the education and future of our youth and the health of our citizens. The book points out that after the end of the cold war the industrial-military complex which had grown so huge was facing having to downscale. The government had the opportunity to use money that went into defense normally in other areas in the form of a "peace dividend". Now a perpetual "war on terror" assures the industrial-military complex they are in the green forever and that we can invade wherever they have an interest (legitimate or not) in the name of combating "terror." How convenient, not my idea of how my country should operate though. What has all this accomplished? None of it has made us safer and has eroded world opinion and trust. Gee, I wonder who is benefiting from all this? I doubt the answer to this question is the average citizen.

Unfortunately, even if someone like former Senator McGovern were elected President it will be difficult now to do anything but try to dig us out of over $8 trillion in debt. Still we need a major change and much more honesty in our government. It makes me feel ill when I hear politicians invoke God's name constantly and pray in public meetings then refer to dead civilians as numbers they aren't interested in, endorse torture, and get caught in lie after lie. I personally am praying for a huge housecleaning in the next election.

Prophetic Quote?

"Of all the enemies to public liberty, war is, perhaps, the most to be dreaded because it comprises and develops the germ of every other. War is the parent of armies; from these proceed debts and taxes. And armies, and debts, and taxes are the known instruments for bringing the many under the domination of the few. "In war, too, the discretionary power of the Executive is extended. Its influence in dealing out offices, honors, and emoluments is multiplied; and all the means of seducing the minds, are added to those of subduing the force of the people. "The same malignant aspect in republicanism may be traced in the inequality of fortunes, and the opportunities of fraud, growing out of a state of war... and in the degeneracy of manners and morals, engendered by both. No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare."

- James Madison, April 20, 1795

George McGovern offers some solutions to restore America to greatness in areas such as; addressing terrorism, Israeli- Palestinian peace, relations with other nations, and restoring the image of our country after invading Iraq.

The book included a great quote from Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson- "Wisconsin can get a new Senator, I can't get a new conscience." You aren't likely to read about any of today's Senators making that comment.

One of Mr. McGovern's poignant questions was "where is the peace dividend?"
After the cold war ended there was an expectation that defense spending would be reduced. As he states, it's not the burden of the military to export or spread democracy.

His highlighting of the farewell addresses of both Washington and Eisenhower was used effectively to show a point.

He questions why we don't trade with Cuba but we trade with China? Good question. It really makes no sense.

I don't agree with Mr.McGovern on more than a few issues. Seperation of church and state is but one of them. His view of Woodrow Wilson is another.

But McGovern explains his viewpoints eloquently, stating that he is a "straightforward patriot and a strong advocate of constitutional democracy."
His concern with hunger is admirable as well as his concern for the American worker and family farmer.

He proposes protecting the American worker from corporations that exploit cheap labor and bad working conditions with a possible closing of the American markets to those corporations.

"The Essential America" is well worth the read for it's common sense observations and ideas whether the reader is a Democrat or Republican.

Although I first bought and read this book when it was first published in 2004m - after hearing Mr. McGovern speak and having him sign the book - although I enjoyed it, I didn't have cause to give it a great deal of thought until recently, when I read (and reviewed) Barak Obama's second book, "The Audacity of Hope." That read brought me back to this one for a second look. The comparisons are far more obvious that the contrasts - each representing mildly differing perspectives on the meaning of Liberalism in American politics. One, from a senior statesman, long time senior US and past (unsuccessful) candidate for President of the United States - one who has a total of 10 or 11 books by now to his credit: The other by a young (by national political standards at age 45!)first term US Senator with recently declared presidential ambitions.

Two expositions on the true meaning of "liberalism" in the context of our democratic republic. While I found myself enthused and excited by Obama, my second reading of Senator McGovern's book reminds me that 1) Liberalism has always been an integral element of the American tradition; 2) That proponents of it have ALWAYS been at odds with more conservative beliefs and interests and, perhaps most importantly, that the things that seem like new ideas to a new generation of voters, by-in-large, are not. They are, rather, democratic populist liberal ideals redressed in today's clothing and reiterated in today's idiom.

In no way to I intend this comment to be misconstrued as criticism of Mr. Obama and his writing or expressed beliefs. Rather, it is to remind all of us - as it reminded me - that Liberalism is not a new concept. It may, understandably, seem that way to some young people who have spent the greater part of their adult lives dealing with the realities of Conservative government - sometimes encompassing all three 'separate but equal' branches of the Federal government.

McGovern's writing style (and the organization of this book) is a lot like the man himself. It is brief, concise and honest in a way young ambitious politicians seemed to eschew for some years. As with all of his writings, the now retired Senator, organizes the book to be first grounded carefully in history. A simple listing of the 6 chapters conveys the heart of this idea. They are:

1. Faith of Our Fathers

2. The Spoils of War and the Fruits of Peace

3. Liberalism and Conservatism: The American Condition and How We Got Here

4. The Changing Character of the Liberal-Conservative Equation

5. The Sources of Security and National Greatness, and

6. Come Home, America

As a senior statesman whose Will Roger's-like quiet innuendo and humorous suggestions are punctuated with deeply direct and judgmental observations (after all, he no longer worries about needing to be elected!) I would recommend taking a look at this book today - The wisdom and experience of the past is incredibly relevant to an understanding of both the issues of today and the WAY they are now represented and discussed - argues and debated. A recommended read for students of modern American history and political shenanigans.

The central theme of this slim volume is similar to other recent political books by Robert Reich and James Carville. Says McGovern, not "a single federal program now generally approved by both of our major parties . . . was not first pushed by liberals over the opposition of conservatives." While there are a couple of surprises here, the author's devotion to this central tenet of liberalism - - not all that government does is bad - - isn't. This is not to say that the book is uninteresting.

Chapter One starts off with a ten-page synopsis of the some of the key ideas of the founding fathers. Their commitment to a separation between church and state is there, for example. After that, we are treated to a critique of the current administration that reads not unlike what we've seen in other places.

The former senator and presidential candidate gives a fair amount of print to praising Republican president Dwight D. Eisenhower. While Ike was hardly known for progressive social policies, McGovern notes that he towed the line on military spending. The author uses the former president's often quoted lines about the military-industrial complex to back up his point. The fact that both men thought highly of one another made for an interesting side note.

McGovern proposes a laundry list of social programs to solve society's problems. While most of them seem sensible, they are presented in a scatological manner. The senator devotes a couple of pages to upgrading our aging rail system. He proposes gradually expanding Medicare to cover the entire uninsured population, in all age groups. At several points he addresses the treatment of alcoholism, a subject close to his heart since the untimely death of his daughter to alcohol poisoning.

The author addresses the fiscal implications of launching so many government initiatives at one time. But his explanation is short and won't satisfy many. In particular, fans of the Bush tax cut will be put off by the complete roll back of that plan. In addition, it's hard to imagine that halving military spending will be a popular notion.

McGovern comes across as a cantankerous octogenarian at a few points, once railing against the infringements on his privacy allowed by the USA Patriot Act. He promises to push federal agents back through the door if they ever come for him after reading his private records. This makes for a brief moment of comic relief.

A problem with the book is that it just doesn't offer much that can't be found in other places. He also doesn't seem to have a realistic path for accomplishing his goals. On the other hand he is clearly a man who loves his county and has great optimism for its future. In the end, one has to agree with his assessment of the wisdom of the people: In spite of the fact that they didn't choose him in 1972, they usually get it right, he reasons.

These are the thoughts, experiences and wishes of ex-Senator George McGovern from South Dakota who yearns for American greatness and peace in the world. He served in the Senate for eighteen years and ran for President in 1972. In 2000, he was awarded the Medal of Freedom by then Pres. Clinton.

He firmly believes in the moral and political principles of our founders: liberty, equality, justice, truthfulness, and compassion for all -- many of those are missing in today's America. Instead, we live in a world where millions of people are frustrated, angry, and desperate over the conditions of their lives.

He says that terrorism in American theaters, restaurants, shopping malls or buses may become a reality. He feels that terorism is caused mainly by the conflict between Israel and Palestine more than poverty and injustice. We've backed Israel since its inception in 1948 but, since 1967, they'be built large numbers of settlements on the West Bank of the Jordon River which they took from Palestine in the Six-Day War. There some Americans live amid hunger, poverty, illiteracy and disease. And yet America continues to pour billions of dollars into the development and defense of Israel. We have armed and equipped their military until it has become the most powerful armed force in the Middle East.

He had a lot to say about the stock market corruption. He compares it to the crash of 1929 only on a bigger scale.

He believes in the 'plain old-fashioned morality and common sense, as embodied in our founding documents and the faith of the future.' Our founders' words: "a decent respect to the opinions of mankind," "Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness," "government of the people, by the people, for the people." It is his stance that liberalism is "a philosophy and way of life we inherited from the Founding Fathers."

Liberalism's role is to harness federal power to serve the public interest. He calls Bob Dole a true "compassionate conservative"; his parents' (father was a Methodist preacher)were lifetime conservatives who considered his friendship with Dole as the crowning achievement of his political life.

He gives some details about Andrew Jackson's attempts at changing the government from being controlled by the wealthy to the "common people" of America. After Jackson, the "robber barons" exploited the nation's resources. We've endured the Populists, Progressives, then FDR from a conservative family in 1932 changed things and served four consecutive terms.

He calls Jefferson, Lincoln, Woodrow Wilson, and FDR as the architects of American liberalism. Roosevelt's "New Deal" was the most profound influence in shaping modern-day liberalism. He was a believer in free enterprise capitalism and created TVA which has outlived its time. He laid the foundations of the United Nations, which is on American soil in New York, his home state.

George McGovern is a dreamer in his old age, I feel. We won't be around to enjoy the paradise he wants this country to become. Wars begat wars, as in the past, and on into the future.