59 of 64 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
from crackpot extremist to heroic statesman, September 4, 2006
This is the first book by Buchanan I have read. In the past I viewed him as correct on the immigration issue but too focused on the cultural aspect and not focused enough on the anti-labor and anti-environmental effects of immigration policies touted by those who fradulently define themselves as "pro-labor" and "Green".
But from reading this book I believe he does have a valid point to make.
I believe perhaps the biggest intellectual contribution he makes to these issues is his discussion of what is the nature of American nationhood. He makes some compelling arguments that the Neocon notion, which is the intellectual underpinning of right-wing open-borderism, that the nature of American nationhood is simply one of ideas, is incomplete at the least and perhaps downright false. His view of the core of nationhood is, as he quotes from someone on the other side, rooted in "blood and soil".
I am not totally convinced, but he does provide powerful supporting arguments for his point of view based on a mountain of examples from throughout the world.
As far as I can tell, Buchanan does not say that there is necessarily anything meritorious about nationhood being defined by "blood and soil" rather than "ideas", but, his core point is, that is the way the world works, and those who wish our nation to be governed based on a falsified view of reality are planting the seeds of disaster.
Of course, as it relates to immigration policy, the notion of what is the nature of our "nationhood" is not necessarily a central issue, because the open borders policies adovcated by the "axis of extremism" (my term for the open borders coalition of the radical left and radical right) are fatally flawed on so many levels that they would be disastrous even if the flood of illegal aliens entering our country were amenable to becoming supportive members of a society based upon the ideals our nation is intended to aspire to- such as equality, justice, and tolerance.
All in all, there are many books which have come out recently that relate to the illegal alien invasion of America, and Buchanan's is one of the better ones, and, equally important, it has achieved a popular following that puts it in a good position to serve as a strong positive force in advancing the popular uprising around the country that is demanding a more progressive and sustainable immigration policy for our nation.
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111 of 126 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Democrat who WOKE UP, August 27, 2006
I am a person who hass worked in national politics for 12 years and always on the Democratic side of the aisle. I have, however, woken up to the reality that BOTH parties are afraid to say what Pat Buchanan says so well in this book : we are being invaded by criminal illegals, and we have to act now to stop our country from being taken over by uneducated, poor criminals who have no desire to become part of America.
Pat Buchanan says what Bush and the rest of our national politicians - in both parties - are afraid to say. Facts are facts, and the truth is that this country is being turned into a Mexican barrio full of illegals with their hands out.
If you doubt Pat Buchanan or think he is a nut... take a drive through Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Antonio, Miami or NYC. We are importing over 5,000 illegal poverty-stricken people into this country every day and it will be our downfall. Buchanan is right and he simply states the TRUTH.
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48 of 52 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Essential reading, plain and simple., September 6, 2006
It really does not matter on which side of the argument you fall on; you need to read this book. I did not agree with everything Mr. Buchanan said, nor will most. The great thing about this book is the overwhelming amount of statistics, history and other people's opinions (like JFK's) that are included. That is the meat of the book. The seemingly unending amount of shocking statistics (from trusted sources) is what hit me the most. He also brings up topics of the illegal immigration debate I had never thought of (i.e. the up swing in certain diseases brought in by the illegals and the increasingly bloody black v. Hispanic gang battle).
I can see why some people have said this book is racist. That being said, they are wrong. Mr. Buchanan just plain refuses to be politically correct. For that, he does deserve commendation.
In the end, whether you agree or disagree with Mr. Buchanan's opinions, the statistics and history are not up for debate. Sparing the multiple details, I can tell that this book has changed my stance on the issue and I can see why people like Juan Hernandez (arguably the slimiest most underhanded bum-pimple involved in illegal immigration) are not holding back in trying to slap it down.
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