Customer Reviews

A Nation of Sheep

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4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Judge Napolitano has done it again! With superb clarity he reminds us of the vast chasm between what the United States is and how the United States is meant to be. As in his prior books, the Judge chronicles the step by step erosion of our constitutional rights and now challenges each reader to stand not as a sheep, but a wolf. He also reminds us that the only power that government is to have is that consented to by the governed. If you read only one non-fiction book this year...make it this one!

Despite being an experienced jurist, Judge Andrew Napolitano does not use legalese. The good judge writes in a very clear, concise easy to read style. The book reads quickly. Once you start, you cannot stop. I finished in two evenings part-time.

The wise judge chronicles the systematic and rapid destruction of our Constitution, our individual rights, and our system of government. A Nation of Sheep is a must read. Are we to be wolves, like our nation's founders, willing to bite back at the hands that try to chain us; or mere sheep to be herded, controlled and led unquestionably by those who think they know better than us what is best for us? The fearless judge is certainly one of the wolves.

Does the federal government really follow it's own laws? Can the federal government really disobey the constitution in hopes of preserving the union's security? No, claims Judge Andrew Napolitano in his latest work A Nation Of Sheep. Napolitano asserts that the citizen's of the United States have been acting like sheep for quite some time now. All in the name of security, the people of the United States have been passive as the government strips them of their rights guaranteed to them in their own constitution. The Judge doesn't just blame the current executive, but traces the abuse all the way back to the revered Abraham Lincoln.
To understand much of Napolitano's reasoning for rejecting the idea that the government can "take" away our freedoms to provide us security, he starts off his work with a chapter entitled "Where Does Freedom Come From?" This particular chapter outlines a theory which is dubbed natural law. "Natural law," writes Napolitano, "states that because all humans desire freedom from artificial restraint, and because all human beings yearn to be free, our freedoms stem from our very humanity, and ultimately from the Creator of humanity" (p.2). Judge Napolitano suggests that the idea that government can take away our freedoms gives the notion that the government gave us our freedom; however, according to natural law, our freedoms come from God, and not the government. Whether the reader is a theist or not, the Judge provides ample examples of what the founding fathers thought about the subject; even Jefferson, probably the least religious of all the founding fathers, seemed to have supported the natural law theory. The Judge urges the reader to the Declaration of Independence, authored by Thomas Jefferson, which is showered with references of a deity from which our freedoms stem. Even if the reader isn't a religious person, the Judge argues that it is in our very nature to be free. So, say the reader doesn't believe in the divine, he or she could certainly agree it is in our nature to be free. A firm understanding of the natural law theory is necessary for the reader to, if not agree, at least understand Judge Andrew Napolitano's angst towards the policies of our federal government.
Although Napolitano spends the vast majority of his work dedicated to criticizing the current policies of our government, he reserves a good portion briefing the reader on some of the past abuses posed on the American people. Very briefly, Napolitano attacks even the very beginning's of our country's infancy. He specifically mentions the Alien and Sedition Acts passed by the Federalists. However, Napolitano pays special attention on the abuses carried out by Abraham Lincoln. Either because the Judge is particularly upset with the way Lincoln is viewed as a hero, or because he really does believe that Lincoln was more of a dictator than a president of a republic, the Judge shows no positive bias for the president. A fact that our school's conveniently overlook, Judge Napolitano points out that " During the Civil War, [Abraham] Lincoln closed down newspapers across the country and seized telegraph lines so as to censor communications that he perceived as threats to his war effort"(p.30). Not only did Lincoln close down newspapers, but he even banished a congressman named Clement Vallandingham from Ohio! All this, according the Napolitano, for calling Lincoln a monster and a tyrant, which he was, at least in Judge Napolitano's assessment. As plain as day, the first amendment states that congress shall make no law abridging the peoples free speech. Lincoln, as far as Napolitano is concerned, showed no respect to his oath of office of President of the United States, after all, the constitution exists in the good times as well as the dire periods.
Truly, Judge Napolitano doesn't let ideology get in the way of his assault on certain president's abuses of power; he reveals to his reader the faults of the Democrats most loved president, Franklin D. Roosevelt. He slams Roosevelt for an executive order he signed called the "War Powers Act." The War Powers Act gave Roosevelt the power to monitor international communications during World War Two. This act, according to The Honorable Judge Napolitano, is also blatantly unconstitutional. Napolitano sights a few more acts carried out by Roosevelt, including expediting Japanese Americans to prison camps, all to show his audience that infidelity to the United States Constitution is not something just as of recent times, but, indeed, dates way back, in many times, to some of our most beloved leaders.
However, Napolitano's bulk of criticism is aimed at the current occupants of the Federal Government. Not only the executive branch, he also blames congress for passing unconstitutional laws. This is a breath of fresh air in today's political atmosphere where Democrats always blame Republicans and vice versa.
Never forgetting to mention the prophecies pronounced by George Orwell in his book 1984, Napolitano's only objection to Orwellian's world is the date he predicted it to happen. Living in post-September eleventh America, Napolitano implies that America has reached the epitome of suppression. In A Nation of Sheep, Judge Napolitano claims that the government dropped the ball when it declared terrorism, not al-Qaeda, it's enemy. The Judge claims that this was the prerequisite to the stripping of American's most basic civil liberties. Now, in the wake of September eleventh, America has an enemy not bound by "geography, ideology, or state authority"(p.65). The reader might object, thinking to him or herself, that terrorism is bad, and the government should do anything in it's power to eliminate it; however, Napolitano doesn't advocate a free pass to terrorism; simply, he believes the government uses this new enemy as a means of increasing it's power, and abusing the constitution. Much of his book covers the deceptively named Patriot Act. Napolitano implies that the bill was posted only fifteen minutes before the vote was taken under the pretensions that there wasn't time to read it, and now, the federal government can search your home or office without going to a judge, required by the constitution, and without you knowing until after the search has been conducted. Judge Napolitano also exposes that the government didn't stop with terrorism investigations, particular sections can be used in criminal investigations! Whether the reader agrees with him or not, the Judge makes it very clear to the reader that the vast majority of the so-called Patriot Act is not only unconstitutional, but also morally wrong.
Napolitano doesn't just stop at blaming the government for abolishing our God given rights, he actually goes into how ineffective the government can be when people become dependent on them for security. As far as airport security goes, he seems to hold particular hostility towards the government. Reporting on the TSA's lists of what can and cannot be brought onto an airplane, Napolitano points out "Gel-filled bras and fluids with medical use(including, specifically, K-Y Jelly) are exempt from the three ounce limit imposed on most fluids at the security gates. The TSA goes into bizarre detail, permitting sabers and meat cleavers, for example, in checked luggage, but prohibiting water"(p.123). It's hard to believe, but the Judge provides ample proof for his claims; however, forasmuch as Judge Napolitano bashes the government for it's ineffectiveness, a clever mind would be quick to point out that since September eleventh two-thousand one, the United States has been free of domestic attacks. To the Judges credit though, he does somewhat answer this objection with a quote from Patrick Henry, "Give me liberty, or give me death." It's hard to tell how many of his readers would actually prefer death over some of their freedoms being briefly suspended, but the Judge makes it clear that much of our founding fathers held the belief that freedom and security are not to be balanced; because, if we lose the values that this country was founded on, then we truly have nothing left to defend.
The rest of Judge Napolitano's book is showered with seemingly countless circumstances where the government has abused it's power, stripped Americans of their freedoms, and legislators breaking their oath of office. After citing a slew of facts and numbers, the Judge urges the American people to stop following their shepherds, and start acting more like wolves. Wolves, claims Judge Napolitano, can think for themselves, and don't trust that the shepherds always look out for their best interest.
In hindsight, this reviewer found that the Judge did a superb job of keeping his work readable, without dumbing it down to an elementary level. The Judge does describes himself as a pro-life libertarian; with that, he refrains from showing any obvious bias towards the right or the left. Whether it be the president, the legislators, or even the judges that refuse to do their jobs as defined in the constitution, Napolitano doesn't give anyone a free pass. It's refreshing for any American to read a book where it's author actually respects the rule of the land, the freedom this nation was founded on, and the ideas of our founding fathers. In this reviewer's mind, A Nation Of Sheep should be required reading for anyone that wishes to hit the polls in November, of course, that is to be taken only half seriously.

Another home run by the fearless New Jersey judge! From the Federalists of the Founding generation, to Dishonest Abe Lincoln, to the flag-waving "patriots" of the present, Napolitano tells how our Constitutional rights as Americans have been undermined and denied-always by leaders claiming to "protect" us. When will we ever learn that government is the enemy of liberty?

Judge Napolitano is not happy. After you read A Nation of Sheep, you won't be, either. At least not about the state of our rights, freedoms and privacy in 2008 America. What you will be, if you are like me, is angry; angry to discover how poorly the U.S. Constitution has been respected and followed by the people sworn to uphold it throughout much of American history, and how the current administration is arguably the worst we have ever witnessed in this regard. Napolitano argues that they engage in this illegal and anti-American behavior because we the people let them get away with it; WE ARE the nation of sheep, and far too few of us choose to stand up and fight - become "wolves" instead.

I have often watched Judge Napolitano comment on American politics and law in his role as a pundit on cable television news. I don't always agree with him, but this book is powerful and convincing. Hardly any American would argue with the notion that we live in a dangerous age, but more and more, the real question is becoming that of whence comes the greater danger to the nation, foreign lands or Washington D.C. and our own so-called public servants.

READ THIS BOOK if you care about your country. True patriotism sometimes requires that we get angry in order to find the motivation we need to stand up for what counts. Judge Napolitano is standing, and he needs all of us to join him!

Judge Napolitano has obviously taken his oath of office seriously, 'defending the Constitution against all enemies, foreign AND DOMESTIC'.
The examples he provides show the attempts, and successes, of governments past and present to subvert our Constitutional rights. It's not a new scenario, it's rarely unsuccessful, and the results are compounding.
If you are not the type of person to dig deeper, look for answers, and get involved then you are probably better off passing on this book. After all, if the rest of the flock is unconcerned everything must be OK, right?

I've often felt as if I were among the few Napolitano calls wolves: Americans that dare to scream, holler and shout when government violates our Constitution. But even knowing of the vast Constitutional abuses I have been witness to in my lifetime, I never realized how widespread (and indeed, how old) some of the most egregious violations of our Constitution are.

This book is a must read for all Americans. The American government is ours, and we must awaken to its behavior before we lose the ability to do anything about it.

Did you know the government can remotely activate the cell phone in your pocket or purse and listen in to any conversation you have within range of the microphone? You will learn this and more in Judge Napolitano's eye-opening book. Of course, if you like your tax dollars being spent on people monitoring your personal conversations, are enamored with the Red Light Cameras popping up at every intersection in your town, or are otherwise looking forward to living in an Orwellian nightmare, this book is not for you. Keep grazing. If, however, you value your freedom and your civil liberties, get off of your computer (which is most likely being monitored anyways) and read 'A Nation of Sheep'.

This is one of the most important books of the decade. It should serve as a wake up call to all of us "Sheep", to open our eyes and see exactly how and why our civil rights are being legislated away by the people that are supposed to be working for US!

I hear many people say, "If you're not a terrorist, and if you don't do anything illegal, why should you worry about the patriot act, or the homegrown terror bill." If you think this to be true, YOU must read this book.

We are already on The Slippery Slope to loosing the very rights our forefathers fought and died to uphold. Alarmist? Absolutely not - this book isn't about what could happen - It's about what HAS happened and the legal interpretations / ramifications of current legislation.

It's a short book and reads very fast. For the sake of your kids and the future of this country, please read this book. When you're done you should then check out Naomi Wolfe's book -"The End of America, a letter of warning to a young patriot."

A Nation of Sheep is a book that documents the abuses that are being perpetrated on the American public on a daily basis, and it contains a litany of instances where the current administration has broken the law by violating the Constitution. It is written in a very readable style, and is a relatively quick, but detailed, look at the various types of abuse.

I did find several problems with the book. First, I got the sheep and wolf analogy the first time and the second time, and every time thereafter. About the 5th time got annoying; by the 10th I wanted to quit reading the book. In addition, there is really no conclusion to the book. The author makes a few mild statements about what might potentially cure the problem, but doesn't really advocate any change, other than to tell us all to quit being sheep and start becoming wolves.

While actually a three star bok due to the problems, I will give the book 4 stars because I think it's a very important book for the public to read. After reading it, if you are not scared, you really haven't been paying attention.