What We Do Now (Paperback)

~ Dennis Loy Johnson (Editor), Valerie Merians (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Shortly after the presidential election of 2004, Dennis Johnson and Valerie Merians contacted a group of prominent writers, journalists, and activists from the Left and invited them to answer one crucial question: "What do we do now?" The response was swift and the resulting collection of 24 essays offers a wide variety of ideas, practical strategies, and inspiration (ideal for those tempted to bury their heads in despair) by writers such as Lewis Lapham, Eric Foner, Jennifer Pozner, Greg Palast, Medea Benjamin, Leslie Cagan, Howard Dean, and Maud Newton. Aside from some thoughtful post-election analysis, most of these pieces focus on the future rather than the past, particularly on maintaining the momentum built by the wide coalition that formed to oppose George W. Bush's reelection. The book also seeks to fill a void. According to Johnson, much of the mainstream media is "profoundly out of touch" with a large group of citizens--principally the 56 million who voted against President Bush--regarding what constitutes important news, and this book is an attempt to move some neglected progressive issues into the spotlight.

The topics covered include the direction and potential of the Democratic Party (with emphasis on formulating a coherent message), voting and election reform, the role and uses of the media, environmental issues, economic policy, international relations, and tax and fiscal policies. Though the book emerged in the wake of a defeat for the Left, there is much optimism here, signaling that the 2004 election may have brought about not the end of a movement, but a beginning. --Shawn Carkonen

Product Description

An all-star lineup of progressive voices respond to the election of 2004. Howard Dean, Donna Brazile, Lewis Lapham, Greg Palast, Nicholas Kristof, and others all write on what we can do now to respond to the rise of the right.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 203 pages
• Publisher: Melville House (November 30, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0976140764
• ISBN-13: 978-0976140764
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,123,336 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars INSPIRING, January 22, 2005

By	Frank Burke (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This book was like sitting around with a bunch of really smart friends after the election and commiserating and getting mad -- except these friends had some really great ideas about what to do about it. The thing I liked was the range. There were some really interesting discussion about how to reform voting and big policy ideas. But even better was Steve Almond's essay about getting mad and sticking up for liberalism, and the one by Maud Newton about the significance of your taxes and what's done with them. The essay about how you can work for the environment was good, too -- stuff the average person can do. We need more books like this in the future, but I'm glad this one came out now because no one is talking about any of this anymore. Since the election, it's like everybody -- the candidate, the party, MoveOn, all the big shots -- have disappeared. This book makes me think this is the future: grassroots, the real power of the left.

45 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A helpful guide, January 22, 2005

By	Claire Weinstein (Culver City, CA) - See all my reviews

This is a heartening book in dark times. The essays are all very different but i found some of their suggestions brilliant and common-sensical. I would recommend this book for the average citizen who is unhappy with the way our country is going and wants to do something about it.

52 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I am not alone, January 24, 2005

By	Robin Orlowski "political activist" (United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This book examines what we in the left should do after George W. Bush was elected to a second term.

Although a majority of people were against his Iraq policies, the allegedly 'liberal' mass media made the election returns seem like a solid mandate. Bush actually had won by a slim margin of victory, and Kerry actually had put up a good showing in that close race.

Notable progressives such as Leslie Cagan and Jenifer Ponzer eschew hand-wringing and finger pointing for constructive and proactive solutions. I fear that we on the left have become too accommodating to other viewpoints without giving the American people an affirmative reason to vote for our own side.

We consequently have allowed our opponents to define (mislead others) what being a liberal is instead of reminding people that liberalism is the very same ideology which has fought against tainted food, lynching, and segregated public facilities. I personally do not want to live in an America without these and many other developments.

I also appreciated that this book offered contact information so we could get in touch with other like-minded people, and build an America which all people can be genuinely proud of. This book is not just the authors venting steam, but represents a collection of people who actually want to move others into collective action.

Notable progressives such as Leslie Cagan, Donna Brazille, and Jenifer Ponzer eschew hand-wringing and finger pointing for constructive and proactive solutions. I fear that we on the left have become too accomodating to other viewpoints, and have allowed our opponents to define (mislead others) what being a liberal is instead of reminding people that liberalism is the ideology which fought against tainted food and segregated public facilities.

I also appreciated that this that it offered contact information so we could get in touch with other like-minded people, and build an America which we are proud of. This book is not just the authors venting steam, but people wanting to move others into collective action for the common good.