Customer Reviews

The New Birth of Freedom: Vision for America

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Ronald Reagan restored to this nation a pride and integrity that has been failing at a catastrophic pace, with a lot of the credit going to the do little Clinton Administration. Our tax system must go, or Social Security system is on the brink of collapse and our Medicare and Medicaid policies are a joke.

Mr. Forbes nails almost everything in this book. From foreign policy to the morals of our youth, we are in need of total reform. We are on the wrong course and this book can act like the compass we need to guide us back.

The book does read a little like a political rally speech but Mr. Forbes speaks the truth. Read it as a handbook to a new America, the old America that we once new.

Here, Mr. Forbes sets out his vision for what is wrong with America, and how to fix it. As someone who was ready to vote for George W. Bush, this book opened my eyes to the REAL candidate. I didn't read the entire book yet , but focused in stead on chapters about the Moral Crisis facing America today.

He holds nothing back, which is probably why the media and Washington-types can't stand him. For example, about taxes, he talks about the tax laws as if they are a mythic beast and he wants to slay a dragon. The best thing about this book is how he reminds me of Ronald Reagan. Mr. Forbes is like that. It's an idea that anyone can understand, and I think that "common touch" is exactly what we need in a leader. And, like the best Presidents we ever had, he's not an Insider, but someone who can take on special interests and the tax laws.

I did not read anything in this book that I could disagree with,(except maybe his views on the gold standard-- but I'm the one confused in that area). This is a well planned book on a vision of where America should be headed. Forbes covers important issues like health care, education, national defence, economics and yes, foreigh policy. He is obviously well versed in all theses areas from personal experiences and contacts world wide. Forbes articulates very well on all the issues making a convincing argument that would compete well in the political arena.

The news media should consider this man a real contender for the White House that can act as an agent for real change in America. Have a look. Read the book.

In 1996, when Steve Forbes ran a long shot race for the presidency, many voters (including me) dismissed him as a rich kid with no political experience on an ego trip. His commercials seemed mean-spirited, and his campaign came across as a one-issue rant; the flat tax would solve all of society's woes. What a difference four years can make!

Steve Forbes is again seeking the Republican nomination, but this time he has a well-rounded, coherent message which is fully presented in his new book. Rich in specifics, and refreshingly vacuous on spin, A New Birth of Freedom spells out Forbes' comprehensive plan to get America back on track. Heroically restrained in knocking Bill Clinton (the word "Monica" never appears) and other obvious targets, Forbes is more general in his criticism of career politicians whom he sees as out of touch with America.

His message is far more than a flat tax nepenthe-although abolishing the IRS and replacing it with a flat tax is still a cornerstone of his would-be presidency. Still he presents several other features and many of them are nothing short of courageous in their specifics. He has concrete ideas on how to improve not save "social security." Rather than the ambulance-chasing attorneys' dream "Patient's Bill of Rights" currently being forced through Congress, Forbes offers a "Patients' Declaration of Independence" that will remove government's intrusive and clumsy hands and allow individuals to make their own decisions and empower dedicated doctors and nurses by eliminating bureaucratic red tape. While other candidates tremble at the mention of the word "abortion," Forbes takes a bold pro-life stance, and perhaps unlike any other candidate since the Roe vs. Wade debacle, he has a systematic, pragmatic plan to lead America into its proud, post-legal abortion era. For those of us who are sick of seeing rich politicians send their children to exclusive private schools, while squashing poorer parents' abilities to do the same, Forbes has a common sense goal of seeing voucher programs thrive. Gone will be the days of placating pushy teacher unions while ignoring the concerns of poorer families. Although I would like to see him take an even stronger stand against China, he would replace the current U.S. policy of blind appeasement with a healthy concern for American interests and a vociferous call for human rights in the nation where pandemic atrocities against mankind are common knowledge. This is merely one facet of his call to replace Clinton's haphazard make-it-up-as-you go foreign policy by making America a respected international presence again

Despite being born into wealth, Forbes shows a true understanding for people of more modest means and displays a genuine concern for minorities which could easily explain why so many prominent black conservatives including Alveda King and Herman Cain are backing him.

After 8 years of Clinton, anyone short of Jack Kervorkian will seem like a good president, and some of the other candidates-notably George W. Bush probably would be very impressive as Commander-in Chief. However, before making up one's mind to cast a vote for our next president, I strongly urge everyone to read this book and compare Forbes thorough proposals to the other noble contenders' visions. Four years ago, I could not see myself ever backing Steve Forbes, but A New Birth of Freedom combined with his improved broad-based message has changed my mind. I heartily recommend this book written by our next president.

I'm not a sharer of Steve Forbes political views. I didn't know much about his plan for the flat tax. But after reading this book that include letters that people wrote to him, I'm not sure that the flat tax is such a bad idea. Forbes also talks about the excellent health care system in Delaware and how all states in America should have a systems' like Delaware.The only problem with that is that Delaware is one of the smallest states in the nation and so its health care system is fairly easy to manage. You then take a state like California that is huge, it becomes much more difficult to model a system like Delaware's. Overall this is one of the top three presidential candidate books of the campaign season.

Writing now after the election is over, I can say without a political axe to grind that this is one of the best books -- and it is the clearest vision -- to come out of the 2000 primaries. Forbes lays out clear, solution-oriented plans across a host of key issues; and were they to be enacted (and all of them are capable of being enacted rapidly), they would change America for the better forever. Forbes doesn't see color: he just sees poor and rich; and he wants to even the playing field for everyone, not by taking from anyone, but by expanding opportunity for all. That's a classically American way to look at things, and Forbes has a plan to make it work again -- and better -- in the new century. Well worth a read.

Steve Forbes claims at the start of his book that the goal is to show how "we" can launch a new birth of freedom that will help all Americans achieve their dreams. He should have just come right out and say it: the goal of this book was to publicize Forbes' presidential platform!

I agree with most of Forbes' platform. In fact, initially I was dead set against a flat tax but Forbes' presentation actually got me thinking about the possibility. He is very good at explaining the simplicity of the tax, and it is quite compelling in that regard. Of course, multi-millionaires like Forbes would be the ones getting the biggest cuts.

In any event, this book is totally unnecessary. Forbes should have typed up a little brochure and spent his money on publicizing that instead of the book. The format of each chapter is quite consistent -- Forbes presents pages upon pages of background information to an issue, and then outlines his opinion/ideas. This makes for a slow (and often dull) read, as the introductory material is generic and most readers are probably aware of what Forbes outlines. This 200-page platform could definitely be edited down to a 20-page brochure.

I only recommend this book to the biggest Forbes' enthusiasts. My favorite part of the book did not even come from Steve Forbes, rather in a quote on success from his grandfather B.C. Forbes.

"Business was originated to produce happiness, not to pile up millions. Are we in danger of forgetting this? Too often in talking with so-called "successful" men I cannot but feel that they are making business an end and an aim in itself, that they regard the multiplying of their millions and the extension of their works as the be-all and end-all of life, life itself. ...They are so obsessed with the material that they cannot enjoy the immaterial, the intangible, the ideal, the spiritual -- quiet thought, self-communion, reflection, poise, inward happiness, domestic felicity..."

There's no secret that Steve Forbes is a rich, white, Republican male. It's no great secret that many people despise him for for four rather foolish reasons, these being that he's rich, white, Republican and male. The truth is, his beliefs are far closer to the average American's than any wealthy liberal. However, the general population and media will not accept him for the faithful, patriotic and hard working American that he is.

Steve Forbes lets all his beliefs be known in this book, he'll tell you several times for each. However, he repeats the same points because our problems today are not compartmentalized...they are institutional. Taxes, crime, abortion, education, drug abuse and general immorality are all intertwined. Tackling one problem will not solve any of our issues, they are merely symptons of a greater disease.

Steve Forbes is generally in line with most people on taxes, simpler is better. However a simple flatter tax would lower the rate on most "wealthy" people, the lost tax revenue would most likely be replaced by gained taxes from closed loopholes. Heaven help any politician that even mentions lowering taxes for anyone other than the middle class, the poor or the elderly. The facts are, you don't have to raise taxes on the sacred constituents (the middle class, poor and elderly), you can cut back on government waste to make up for it. I digress, this is a book review, not an economics class.

By and large, Forbes' beliefs in the social arena mimic his economic ideals. Simpler is better, seems to be an across the board answer to real progress for America, not the progress of "progressives" but the progress of hard working Americans who want to have the opportunity to realize their potential. Forbes is right on the mark with his simpler ideals, they facilitate communication and understanding between government and citizens. Despite the seemingly repetive nature this book is still a good, light and enjoyable book which will occupy your reading habits for a short while and possibly make you wonder where you really stand in politics.

The title of my review ought to paraprhase all the nice things I have to say about this book. Mr. Forbes is an eloquent writer, who glibly conveys his thoughts. Often, when people refer to the adjectives "conservative" and "liberal", they, quite understandably so, misconstrue their meanings to be "dogmatic" and "progressive". Not so. Steve Forbes believes in the inherent goodness of people, and is certain that when they're given more control of their own assets, they will direct it to good cause.

Steve Forbes offers a truly inspiring and thoughtful perspective on America today in "A New Birth of Freedom". Forbes not only illustrates his keen understanding of this nation's history, but unlike other politicians he offers a substantative message on how we as a nation can reach our fullest potential. Furthermore, Forbes reveals the leadership skills that seem vacant in Washington today. His honesty and integrity provide a refreshing contrast to politics as usual that is too often suffocating the real change needed in this country. "A New Birth of Freedom" offers a genuine and clear perscription for this country's aillments. Furthermore, this book reveals a rather remarkable history of the Forbes family!