Customer Reviews

Our Plan for America: Stronger at Home, Respected in the World

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

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.

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!!!!

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!

How refreshing to have a political leader actually lay out a plan for the future and create goals that require accountability. It's astonishing that the current president still, after nearly four years, has no plan to provide healthcare to Americans or to keep jobs in this country. Just like his lack of a plan in Iraq, he never had a plan for those of us in the United States.

This book proves that Kerry is different.

The first Presidential Debate has shown the entire world what a great leader the visionary and brilliant John F. Kerry will make, as well as how downright stumbling and pathetic his nominal "opponent" truly is. After such a spectacular triumph, its certainly the perfect time for any remaining undecided voters to read OUR PLAN FOR AMERICA, which comprehensively details the Kerry/Edwards vision for bettering our Bush-whacked country. Kerry offers intelligent, highly workable solutions to make us a safer and stronger country. The Kerry/Edwards plan will also take large steps to gain back the respect the world once had for the U.S., despite Dumbya's loathsome attempts to completely obliterate that respect. Read this book and learn why America deserves a president like John Kerry.

This is the best plan I've ever seen from any presidential candidate, with one notable exception: the "Real Solutions for America" booklet offered by John Edwards during the 2004 presidential primary campaign. Fortunately, John Kerry is on the same wavelength with his VP candidate and the Kerry-Edwards plan is very similar to the Edwards plan in content, if not in presentation.

The plan is well thought out and recognizes the interwoven nature of many issues that must be tackled as a whole to be successful. For example, the plan recognizes (fortunately, for America) that in addition to strong foreign policy leadership and cooperation with our allies on resolving the conflict in Iraq, in addition to securing key possible targets to keep them safe from terrorists, such as our ports and our chemical and nuclear plants, it is vital for our long-term security to get our nation off of our dependence on mideast oil. Kerry and Edwards lay out a reasonable plan for doing this. It's a welcome recognition of the fact that we'll never be secure as long as we're dependent on such an unstable part of the world. It's a recognition that the current President has not made and probably will never make. And it's something we need to start working on right now.

Kerry and Edwards also recognize how developing alternative energy so that we can get off our dependence on mideast oil will make us a leading nation in terms of alternative energy technology. This will build a strong basis for our economy in the future and create jobs in America.

Of course, the plan also covers better education for our children, making health care more accessible to more Americans, and realistic ideas for creating more jobs in America. All of their plan is paid for without raising taxes on the middle class.

We can only hope that Kerry and Edwards get elected along with a Democratic Congress that will allow them to do their work, because this is a brilliant plan that we should all hope to see implemented.

Anyone who's serious about America's future should read this book. Maybe, if we're wise enough to elect John Kerry, he can rescue us before it's too late.

It is here in this book, clearly stated, coherent, and comprehensive. The problems with his plan are:

1. He assumes that people can read, reason, and think
2. The plan is a little bit more complicated than 'God told me to kick butt!'
3. The rich will only get a little bit richer, while the poor will get a lot richer
4. He wants to govern all Americans, not just the Religious Right

Kerry wants us to be a little bit more tolerant, and he wants us to understand that the US, however powerful, is just one country among many. If the above does not make his opponents go ballistic, the last point most certainly will.

Here it is in plain English! Clear statements of political philosophy and plans. This is an excellent book.

While campaign boasts may go unfulfilled, it is important to know what path Kerry and Edwards are committed to. Topics include defeating terrorism, strengthening our military, achieving energy independence, improving the economy, and improving education and health care. What they say is sensible and suggests to me that they would be a more competent team than the one now in office. Read it and see if you agree.

Having read my fair share of campaign books, I was pleased by the detail offered. Ironically for all of the complaining they do, the 'other' party thrives on secrecy, hypocrisy, and distortion.

Provision of John Kerry and John Edward's ideas for American prosperity and security are radical only because we live in a time when many other candidates have talked over the American people's desire to know what is happening in their own country. Even if the proposals themselves are not revolutionary, the trust in American people is.

This president and vice president are truly exceptional.