Customer Reviews

Extremism Triumphant: The Politics of Slavery and Abortion

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This is a book about how extremist views shaped and controlled the political environment in America.

Wipperman takes two controversial issues, slavery and abortion, and shows how extremist views shaped and encouraged unnecessary conflict. From Chief Justice Taney's activist perpetuation of the Southern slaveocracy to Justice White's lament of Justice Blackmun's decision to be the nation's "ex officio medical board," Wipperman shows how American political institutions either overshot Constitutional limits or deliberately abrogated rights secured by the Constitution.

Wipperman does not just beat up on some Court decisions and support others; he also critiques Presidencies and legislatures and shows how extreme views also shaped presidential and Congressional debates and actions. Extremism in the slavery debates thrust the nation into civil war. Extremism in the abortion debate has subjected 300 million Americans (pro-life, pro-choice, undecided or whomever) to the mere whims of the Court.

While his political preferences become clear, Wipperman provides a balanced view of the debates. I found myself praising him on one page and cursing him on the next.

Using political and judicial history Wipperman weaves a fresh analysis of Roe. All too often it seems as though one must be conservative, or follow a strict, textualist, or originalist approach to Constitutional interpretation to find fault with Roe. Wipperman succesfully debunks this concept. I highly recommend this work for anyone - left or right - who seriously wants to work through one of the major socials issue of our day.