I assume most readers like myself try to identify the author’s leaning before reading a political book. In this case while Andrew Yang has run previously as a democrat, his core discussions in this book are absent of bias towards either of the two major parties. His identification of the dysfunction within our political system and proposed solutions I imagine would appeal to the moderates within both parties and the approximately 45% registered independent voters. There are left leaning concepts discussed such as universal basic income, however the core discussion surrounds our flawed electoral system which is vigorously protected by Democrats and Republicans party leadership alike to retain their power.
To clearly signal the prevalent failures in our current political system problem, the author shares voter data indicating the approval rating for Congress Is approximately 20%, yet the re-election rate for members of Congress is 94%. The shocking re-election rate is driven by the fact that 80% of primaries are uncontested. The author clearly and succinctly demonstrates that the primary cause for this failure is the electoral system, and more specifically, closed primaries and the plural voting methods instituted in most all local, state, and federal elections.
He also identifies other social, journalistic, and technological challenges influencing the current sociopolitical environment.
Mr. Yang does great work explaining the challenges and the proposed solutions for each of the issues. While all the solutions were interesting and compelling many seem to represent wishful thinking and not yet ready for prime time or real implementation based on the current political environment.
However, I find Mr. Yang’s contention that the closed primary system is the most glaring culprit for dysfunction and his proposed pragmatic solution for change rather compelling.
Many agree with his conclusion that closed primaries allow the two major political parties and their fringe extreme elements to dominate and pre-select victors in primary elections. In-turn as 80% of general elections are pre-destined due to demographics, gerrymandering etc. whomever wins the primary wins the general election four times out of five. Typically, most primary voters consist of the extreme fringe elements of the two major parties representing only 10-20% of their respective registered voters. Thus, you have a very small population of extremists on both sends electing our representatives. It follows that these representatives will pander to the extremists in both parties and thus the failure for our elected to leaders to compromise in a bi-partisan fashion to address the multitude of challenges facing our nation.
I find the message in this book symbolizes the swell of independents and the moderates in both parties who are fed up with the current electoral system and are beginning to mobilize for change.
The primary electoral solutions presented by Mr Yang, Ranked Choice voting inclusive of open primaries are aligned with many groups acting for change including the Forward Party, Institute for Innovation, and Represent Us. If you enjoyed this book I would also recommend, The Politics Industry by Gehl and Porter.
I have characterized myself as a center leaning Republican for over 35 years. As the result of events over the past six years I have become disenchanted with the republican party and more so with the two-party system. I am seeking ways to support centric and effective government which brought me to this title.
Something must change if America is to effectively provide for the well-being of our people and remain a global leader. I feel Mr. Yang has proposed a simple (but not easy) viable solution for the approximately 60-80% of Americans who fall in the middle to win back our government from the extremists on both sides and once again establish a government by the people and for the people.
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From the Publisher
About the author
My experience with Andrew on his election journey
In 2018, I joined Andrew Yang's presidential campaign team as the sixth employee of a team that would grow to more than 300. For Asian Americans in the United States, Andrew Yang has opened up the ascent path for us all on the thorny road of politics. And though it may take three or five years before most people appreciate Andrew’s work, reading his new book Forward, only confirmed my belief that Andrew has what it takes to bring new life into America’s political system. In terms of the political spectrum, Yang Gang has always come from left, right, center, and everywhere in between. Having lived in the entrepreneurial wonderland of Silicon Valley for 30 years, I’ve seen business fairytales come and go, but Andrew Yang created a fairy tale in American politics. I was lucky enough to become his “three-dynasty veteran'' by going through the presidential election with him, working with Humanity Forward and aiding his campaign for mayor of New York. The utopian ideal based on reality is the spiritual pillar of my three years following Andrew Yang. I hope that we will all become the propellers of social progress. My work for Andrew focused on fundraising. I always believe that "where is the money, where is the heart", and everything else is floating clouds. But the most precious wealth I earned in my three years with Andrew was the group of like-minded friends I cultivated along the way. Such friendship will continue and become Andrew Yang's future political wealth and resources. Forward brought back many memories of campaigning with Andrew from his “crowd surfing” in Los Angeles to riding the subways in New York, I learned from Andrew every step of the way. Each stage of working with Andrew—presidential campaign, Humanity Forward, and mayoral campaign—came with difficulties. With every venture, I would ask myself whether my effort was worth it or whether, like Sisyphus, I was pushing a boulder to the top of the hill only for it to roll back down again. But seeing Andrew Yang's prepare to push the rock up the mountain for the fourth time, inspires me to keep going. As the first and second generation Chinese Americans, we can all study the views and positions of this book. A gradual blueprint for political reform has been drawn for us, encouraging us to imagine and to work towards a better future. A new batch of Andrew Yang are just like our Asian next generation. , Andrew Yang is our Asian Obama. The bamboo ceiling has been broken by Andrew Yang. We are all grateful to the United States and the American political system. Even though it is not perfect, we are still grateful and willing to contribute as we move forward together.
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2022
- Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2021
In 2018, I joined Andrew Yang's presidential campaign team as the sixth employee of a team that would grow to more than 300. For Asian Americans in the United States, Andrew Yang has opened up the ascent path for us all on the thorny road of politics. And though it may take three or five years before most people appreciate Andrew’s work, reading his new book Forward, only confirmed my belief that Andrew has what it takes to bring new life into America’s political system.
My experience with Andrew on his election journey
Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2021
In terms of the political spectrum, Yang Gang has always come from left, right, center, and everywhere in between. Having lived in the entrepreneurial wonderland of Silicon Valley for 30 years, I’ve seen business fairytales come and go, but Andrew Yang created a fairy tale in American politics. I was lucky enough to become his “three-dynasty veteran'' by going through the presidential election with him, working with Humanity Forward and aiding his campaign for mayor of New York. The utopian ideal based on reality is the spiritual pillar of my three years following Andrew Yang. I hope that we will all become the propellers of social progress.
My work for Andrew focused on fundraising. I always believe that "where is the money, where is the heart", and everything else is floating clouds. But the most precious wealth I earned in my three years with Andrew was the group of like-minded friends I cultivated along the way. Such friendship will continue and become Andrew Yang's future political wealth and resources.
Forward brought back many memories of campaigning with Andrew from his “crowd surfing” in Los Angeles to riding the subways in New York, I learned from Andrew every step of the way.
Each stage of working with Andrew—presidential campaign, Humanity Forward, and mayoral campaign—came with difficulties. With every venture, I would ask myself whether my effort was worth it or whether, like Sisyphus, I was pushing a boulder to the top of the hill only for it to roll back down again. But seeing Andrew Yang's prepare to push the rock up the mountain for the fourth time, inspires me to keep going.
As the first and second generation Chinese Americans, we can all study the views and positions of this book. A gradual blueprint for political reform has been drawn for us, encouraging us to imagine and to work towards a better future. A new batch of Andrew Yang are just like our Asian next generation. , Andrew Yang is our Asian Obama. The bamboo ceiling has been broken by Andrew Yang. We are all grateful to the United States and the American political system. Even though it is not perfect, we are still grateful and willing to contribute as we move forward together.
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- Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2021
