Customer Reviews

Red State Uprising: How to Take Back America

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If, like me and so many others, you love the blog RedState you will love this book. You may think that since you are already going to vote for Conservative candidates this November you are set and don't need this book, I would suggest that you know people who are on the fence. You need to persuade them. So, read this book and get the information you need to be more convincing in your conversations with people who aren't quite sure. You can also buy extra copies and hand them out and help open some eyes and minds. We need EVERY vote in November. Every vote!

Erickson and Uhler present their information and arguments in 15 short chapters. They spend the early chapters blasting big government Republicans and making the argument for swapping out the status quo GOP for a more Conservative version. Yeah, the media keeps telling you it won't work, but we should give it a try because where we are is so bad that we have to do the right thing for America and our children and their children. What we have been doing for 50 years is a losing game. Democrats: "We want this program funding at X level!" GOP : "Oh, too big, too expensive! How about program X funded at 75% of X?" And so over time we get entitlements we can't afford and a monster government that benefits only the politicians, the bureaucrats they employ, and those who have heavy connections and can feed at the government trough with a shovel. The rest of us have to fund the government with dollars and be happy when they give us back nickels.

The authors then take us through why this approach to government is not a fulfillment of the American ideal and why it is bad for us. They give us specifics and numbers about how our nation is running off the rails, is being crushed by debt, and is being plundered by those in power and their cronies.

Finally, they show us why we need to reform entitlements, downsize government, and get back to the Constitution and bind our public servants (not political leaders) with the chains provided in that precious document. Are you, like me, offended every time these hypocrites in Washington take an oath to uphold, protect, and defend the Constitution knowing they don't believe in the document and intend to ignore it everything they do?

The last three chapters show us a way forward, discuss the option to start a third party if the GOP won't be reformed, and how conservatives can take back America.

I hope you use this terrific book to make an even bigger difference this November. We need to send a Krakatoa sized explosion this election because only something that big will frighten the incumbents enough to change their ways. They only adapt when they face extinction. So, let's help them realize that the old ways no longer work and they must change or find a different form of employment.

Reviewed by Craig Matteson, Saline, MI

Erick Erickson and Lewis Uhler have written a comprehensive book on what has gone wrong with the United States over the last decade and how to repair it. They correctly note the problems with Obama's policies and explain how these policies have mired us in an extended recession. But, by far the strongest part of the book is the introduction where they acknowledge that the Democratic takeover of the country was due in large measure to failed Republican policies most of which undermined free markets. Fiscal conservatives, they argue, need to read find a gameplan for defeating the disasterous Obama policies. But they also must prevent the coming Republican majority from acting like the last one. While I find their evidence convincing, I do not think it supports their conclusions.

Our current economic crisis is a result of failed statist policies. From federal control of interest rates, to manipulating the policies of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government sent false signals to the economy resulting in a massive misallocation of resources. In addition to that, the Federal Government seized control of the pharmeceutical market, regulated traditional education out of existance, and increased regulation over all aspects economic affairs. If this sounds like what you would expect from the policies of liberal politicians, you would be correct. Liberal politicians did promote these policies. But the liberals, in this case, were all Republicans.

Erickson and Uhler begin their story by noting how Republicans, beginning with the election of George Bush, gradually abandoned their committment to free markets and small government. Bush, in fact, was a "big government" conservative, and with the help of Karl Rove, he was able to bring most of the establishment Republicans in Washington with him. While continuing to voice "socially conservative" themes in public (abortion, gay marriage, etc) these politicans rejected small government in favor of a government that promoted their social ideals. Instead of demanding the government leave education to local communities, they sought to control it from the top. Rather than let housing markets manage themselves, they sought to establish their own permanent power base by creating an "ownership" society by manipulating the credit market from Washington. Finally, they sought to preserve their own election success by wasting tax payer money on stupid and wasteful earmarks. The results were disasterous. The economy collapsed as the misallocation of resources became apparrent, and the Republican base simply rejected the establishment which came to be represented by John McCain. Into this arena came Obama promising no new taxes on anyone making less than $250,000 and promising a social agenda that would be paid for by spending cuts elsewhere. Of course Obama lied. But enough voters were disgusted with the Republicans that they stayed home, while others, cautiously hoping for a rational Democrat leader, voted for Obama.

The rest of the book details the outcome of this bargin with one of the New Party founders and ACORN supporters. The results have been unemployment over 10%, a lingering recession, and a future of no more than single digit economic growth. It will take years to unraval the damages done by this administration, if ever. But what is the alternative? The authors suggest returning control to the Republicans, who at their worst are never quite this bad. But they correctly note that we cannot just elect any old Republicans to office. It is easy to talk tough about "abortion" and other issues that really have no impact on actual legislative issues. Instead, the authors suggest fiscally conservative voters focus on a committment to small government and on ending earmarks.

I think, for the most part, that the author's suggestions are reasonable. Voters should reject any candidate who is unwilling to oppose both taxes and spending. And to a great degree, "tea party candidates" are doing just that and winning, though the Republican party, as a body, would rather not fund them and remain a minority, than fund their campaigns and face the internal reform these candidates might bring. But I want to suggest an alternative to the uprising strategy the authors propose. Even if tea party candidates are successful, and some of them surely will be, one has to ask, is it likely that the Republicans will bring long term reform? After all, the Republicans swept Congress in 1994 using a "Contract with America" that shared similar themes to the tea party uprising. And that contract, while promoted in 1995, was abandoned as soon as the party realized it could seize control of both the legislative and presidential branches of government. The Democrats may support the wrong principles, but they at least have some. It is not at all clear Republicans do. And if the Democrats lose power before they can enact the rest of their agenda (Cap and Trade, etc) they can easily wait until the next economic disaster follows the statist policies of the Republicans.

So what is to be done? I am unconvinced that the tea party candidates will lead to any long term reform. The best alternative then may simply be to give up on America and move elsewhere. This country was a great idea, but the ideas of freedom, equal rights and treatment under the law, free markets, and a true separation of church and state have all been co-opted by a party that believes in unlimited government. The Republicans, far from being an alternative, are simply accessories. What is wonderful about this book is it reveals, without intending to, just how hopeless the situation really is.

I got an early copy of this book and already devoured it. A friend of mine is now reading it and I am hoping he passes it on as well.
If you are a fan, or even an occasional visitor of[...], you owe it to yourself to pick up Erick's book. Small government fans, rejoice!

I agree with most everything in Red State Uprising and I wanted to like it. However, there is nothing new in here. It is a quick concise summary of what has gone wrong with American politics, a glimpse at how things should be, and a few thoughts about how to get there. Nothing wrong with that! However if you have ever listened to conservative talk radio, ever gone to a Tea Party rally, or read conservative blogs on the Internet, then you have heard all this before and could have written a similar book.

I would recommend this to people who have had no exposure to the material. Consider it a cursory introduction. If you have already been introduced, look for something with more substance.

Erickson does a thoughtful job of laying out the problems with our government and providing (in Chapter 13) a "Way Forward". Like many readers of Red State Uprising I am a follower of his Red State blog and even attended the Red State Gathering in Austin earlier this year. The underlying philosophy of the book is familiar (from Erickson and others) but the differentiating factors are its comprehensive scope and logical organization. For those seeking a concise manifesto, Erickson provides it.


Bill Bowen - author of The Target

Several interesting thoughts were brought up in this book. They are as follows;

1. The authors suggest that any third party created will just give the die-hard Democrats any future elections handed to them on a silver platter. Yet I was under the impression that the country was ripe for a new third party to take command of the beast, and give it new direction.

2. President Obamas early political history is spelled out better than any other place I have seen it articulated before. The authors even suggest the playbook that Obama might be using.

3. The authors suggest the Republican party did not do enough to overthrow ObamaCare. And that ObamaCare will derail small business.

Alternate reading and study:

Why ObamaCare is Wrong for America: How the New Health Care Law Drives Up Costs, Puts Government in Charge of Your Decisions, and Threatens Your Constitutional Rights

Also consider requiring individuals to purchase government-approved health insurance (and fining those who do not comply.)

Outcome of ObamaCare; Obama's healthcare law has stiff costs and consequences, including less care, skyrocketing insurance premiums, likely national insolvency, ... story): An article from: The New American

Repealing ObamaCare is not an option--it is absolutely essential. It is absolutely essential, that is, if the United States of America is to survive as a constitutional republic with a federal government of limited powers. Repealing ObamaCare is also absolutely necessary if we hope to avoid national economic collapse.

Repealing ObamaCare: since ObamaCare will finish bankrupting our country and gives our government virtually unchecked powers to command Americans to make ... An article from: The New American

On March 23, 2010. Attorneys General from 18 states sued the federal government, accusing it of committing "an unprecedented encroachment on the liberty of individuals living in the Plaintiffs' respective states, by mandating that all citizens and legal residents of the United States have qualifying healthcare coverage or pay a tax penalty."

In the 22-page complaint, the plaintiffs aver that in passing and signing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law, specifically the individual mandate that every American purchase a health insurance policy, Congress and the executive branch exceeded their constitutional authority. The complaint specifically cites Article I and the 10th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution in support of the state' case.

The Constitution & healthcare reform: though ObamaCare has been enacted into law, it is patently unconstitutional. The states can nullify this federal ... An article from: The New American

4. Before I read the book I was willing to go to Washington, D.C. and take an axe to all the B.S. wasteful spending going on there. The authors suggest any government trimmers who show up in D.C. get introduced to the "gravy train" early on so that they forget about cutting anything. At least 50% of the American public do not want cuts to any government programs.

Alternate reading and study: Shakedown Socialism: Unions, Pitchforks, Collective Greed, The Fallacy of Economic Equality, and other Optical Illusions of "Redistributive Justice"

5. Government interferes with business.

6. The Republicans are too spineless to grasp the bull by the horns, and fix the nations problems once and for all.

7. Social Security funds should be privatized like other successful nations were. Instead of being dumped in the US Government bottomless pit to be wasted on every pet project that comes along.

8. Big Government = bad. Small Government = good.

Alternate reading and study: A Simple Government: Twelve Things We Really Need from Washington (and a Trillion That We Don't!)

9. Roe vs. Wade will never be over-ruled.

10. The authors accuse Obama of not doing enough to back and support the CIA.

Alternate reading and study: Courting Disaster: How the CIA Kept America Safe and How Barack Obama Is Inviting the Next Attack

Like I said these are some of the issues brought out in the book. But not all of the issues that caught my attention. I do recommend the book to anyone interested in these issues. It does have a Republican slant...