Customer Reviews

Red or Blue? This Book is 4 U!

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Since no one else has reviewed this book here, I will write a lengthier review than usual.

Red or Blue? is a thoughtful and bold plan to resolve the many difficulties that plague our political system. Mr. Jackson asserts that our government is broken (and broke) because there is a near 50-50 split between Red and Blue political philosophies, resulting in gridlock and unhappiness on both sides. We are essentially two nations fighting over control of one government, each trying to impose our ideas on the other group.

Consequently, Mr. Jackson proposes a Constitutional amendment to peacefully separate the U.S. into two nations: A Blue Country made up of the west coast, Nevada, Wisconsin, Illinois and every state east of those two; and a Red Country made up of the remaining southern, midwestern, western and southwestern states.

He provides comprehensive details of how the amendment could be implemented, the transition process to maintain stability, the period of five years in which Americans would hold dual citizenship and be able to move freely between countries, the division of assets (including population) and liabilities (including the national debt, divided on a population basis), international and military issues, currency and energy resource issues.

He also speculates how each new nation might handle issues such as health care, Social Security and other entitlement programs, immigration, energy and the issuance of money. He does admit that there would still be political divisiveness within the new nations (think libertarian and cultural conservative Rs, or moderate and far-left Ds), although each country's individuals would mostly agree on the main issue of limited government vs. expanded government.

I found it particularly interesting that Mr. Jackson's interviews with his wide circle of Red and Blue friends showed that each group is utterly convinced that their own nation would be so clearly superior in every way that there would be a flood of migration that would overwhelm their nation. He analyzes voting records to convincingly debunk this fear.

While it is obvious that Mr. Jackson is fairly conservative in his own political beliefs, and cannot help making often-clumsy generalizations about Red and Blue philosophies (what about libertarians?), he makes a respectable effort to remain neutral, reminding us numerous times that both Blue and Red sides have good reason to believe that the country would be better off if their philosophy prevailed. (And indeed, most people are happier living under the system they believe is best.)

Mr. Jackson, whose resume is included in an appendix, is an experienced business owner and civic leader (note: I do not know him personally), and he comes across as a reasonable man with well-reasoned ideas. (Although he could have used an editor to fix some small errors and repetitive language, as well as a better font and layout of his self-published book.)

Unfortunately, if anyone actually reads his book, he will undoubtedly be labeled a radical, right-wing nutcase for his ideas. But it is becoming increasingly clear that the U.S. cannot (and probably should not) remain intact. The political divisiveness and sheer size of our nation, not to mention the fatal flaws in our political system which encourage corruption by special interests and consequent runaway spending, make separation inevitable. We can only hope that it will occur under peaceful conditions such as those suggested by Mr. Jackson.

A fascinating book.