22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Unprecedented Detail, September 24, 2004
This review is from: Our Plan for America: Stronger at Home, Respected in the World (Paperback)
It's not a nail-biter, but this kind of book is unprecedented. I have never seen a candidate write a book full of campaign promises. There is a lot of detail here. Nobody can say John Kerry didn't explain how he would do it. If there is a way to hold a candidate accountable for his campaign promises, this is it. John Kerry wrote them down and gave them to us.
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Easy read...but a book with no references, October 15, 2004
This review is from: Our Plan for America: Stronger at Home, Respected in the World (Paperback)
It is important if you choose to write any kind of non-fiction (factual) book that you supply information as to where to get your information. I don't really care if you are liberal or conservative; you must look at this book as containing little to no substance.
In the 296 pages (pages 1-123 are the actual "plan") you will not find a single footnote or endnote. Statistics provided in the book are done so without documentation except for the rare graph that does little other than create some eye candy. The "plan" information is provided without concrete goals as to how Kerry is going to get the job done. There are GOOD ideas presented in this book, ideas that I would hope both candidates would accept; however, these ideas are just words without direction.
How as a people are we supposed to believe anything said to us with out proper documentation? For instance (pg. 63) "In February 2002, the Bush administration said America, under their leadership, would create nearly 6 million jobs by mid-2004. Instead, to date, the economy has lost more than 1 million private-sector jobs under President Bush." This is a great piece of unsubstantiated information. Where do the authors get this information? Bush probably did say this, however, I cannot find the information to go and find the speech in which Bush said this. Information provided to the reader MUST be factual and backed up by good statistical information.
Another quick example (pg. 61) "In the 1990's, we had a strategy of fiscal discipline that rewarded work and invested in the potential of out people. That strategy helped lay a foundation for the economic growth that lifted up all Americans Not only were nearly 23 million jobs created but family income went up for all income groups, while poverty and unemployment fell to the lowest levels in decades and our nation went from large deficits to record surpluses." This again is great information but there are no proven facts or reference articles that are provided here. There are statistics necessary to back up this information!!! What was the unemployment rate at the time Clinton was in office? What is the considered level of poverty at the time this statistic was taken?
Please don't get me wrong. This is a very important election and I would say EVERYONE should read this book. I would also say that people should spend the time and read Bush's ideas which are on his website (www.georgewbush.com). However, you need to really LOOK at the information provided to you.
EVERYONE NEEDS TO STUDY!!! You must make the most informed decision in this campaign, do not base you decision on whether you like one guy or don't like another. Don't make a decision because one is liberal and one is conservative.
Don't make a decision based on a war that neither candidate has provided substantial information to the people (probably because most of the information is still CLASSIFIED). I could rant on one side of Iraq or the other, but without all the information my ideas would be only opinions, not based on factual evidence. Remember every day there are positive things happening in Iraq, the newscasts are much to caught up in telling us about the violence occurring in Iraq. I guess the newscasters (and the American people) are not interested in the schools being rebuild, power plants coming online, children getting fed, or women who are free to walk on the streets. There is more to this war than terrorism. Freedom is slowly taking hold.
I am a 24-year-old student and I understand money is tight. I also don't feel that a person trying to educate themselves to vote should have to pay for a book containing the views of a potential candidate. If you agree, call your local democratic office and see if they will get you a copy that is what I did. Once you get a copy encourage other people to read it, it is a fast read!
MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION THIS YEAR!!!!
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21 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
For open minds only!, September 3, 2004
This review is from: Our Plan for America: Stronger at Home, Respected in the World (Paperback)
If your mind isn't absolutely and emotionally made up yet, this book is important because it describes itself as the AUTHORIZED campaign book for Kerry/Edwards. This is what they are committing to.
I gave this 5 stars because it is an absolutely necessary book. Without it, we have to rely on political sound bites that are contradictory at best and radically emotional at worst. We needed a documented commitment by Kerry/Edwards so that we can cut through the hype and make an honest educated evaluation. This is it.
Whether you like Kerry/Edwards or not, this is their standard reference without the confusion. All other sources, including many reviewers on this page, are busy telling you what they want you to hear. This book tells you what Kerry/Edwards actually claim so that you can decide for yourself.
Read this first, objectively if you can, THEN decide! Your vote and our nation's future is worth the measly $13 price tag!
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