For over two decades, Richard Gephardt has represented the people of St. Louis, Missouri, in the U.S. House of Representatives. He is also a major figure in the national Democratic party, serving as the House Minority Leader and (should the Dems ever regain the majority) the most likely candidate to become Speaker of the House. Having foregone the presidential campaigns of the 2000 election to take a shot at House leadership, Gephardt has laid out in An Even Better Place his conception of the most pressing concerns affecting the American people on the brink of the 21st century. Although he does have specific recommendations in areas like public education and international trade, Gephardt's overarching theme is one of reinvigorating what he sees as the two main components of liberalism, community activism, and citizen participation. His goal is to move away from the destructive politics of personal attacks and reassert an active commitment to fulfilling values and ideals. He lays out his ideas, formulated through years of contact with the people he represents, in a clear, straightforward style. And though he's extremely engaging, even friendly, the stakes are of the utmost seriousness. "Democracy and freedom depend upon all kinds of citizen participation," Gephardt warns. "Without it, they will die--maybe sooner, maybe later, but they will die." Whether or not you agree with Gephardt's specific policy suggestions, that principle seems unassailable--and his commitment admirable.
Richard Gephardt won't be a presidential candidate for the 2000 race, so his book can be read as a reflection of his genuine concerns rather than a political platform. It still reads like a platform, but the concerns are no less valid. As minority leader in the House, Gephardt led the failed Democratic effort to halt the impeachment of President Clinton. That sordid process (and the affair that precipitated it) crystallized public disgust and loss of interest in politics. Gephardt laments the unfortunate outcome of even greater distancing between the public and lawmakers. He cites important trends that need serious attention: lingering feelings of insecurity even as the economy continues to grow, job shifts from manufacturing to "knowledge" industries, increased globalization of the economy, unresolved trade issues, health and education issues, and so forth. He profiles companies with policies that make workers stakeholders and decision-makers and programs that actually deliver on social promises. He's best at describing the shifting political landscape, from his own entry into grassroots Democratic politics in St. Louis to the current bleak partisanship that promises little cooperation in dealing with issues of concern to Americans. Gephardt ties the growing partisanship to the rising influence of extremist groups. He is troubled by the growing incivility of politics, the personal nature of "slash and burn" campaign tactics. He advocates campaign reform and making the process of voting simpler and easier. Gephardt also chides citizens to stop disparaging politics and to get more involved in local politics, highlighting the risks to democracy when citizens become disenchanted with the political process. Vanessa Bush
From Kirkus Reviews
Personal reflections and policy proposals from the minority leader of the House of Representatives. Gephardt (D-Missouri) is something of an anomaly within his party these days in that he actually sounds like a Democrat. He is pro-union, admits to being a liberal, thinks government has a positive role to play in the lives of American citizens, and doesn't much like the policies of the Republicans. Yet as partisan as he is, he decries what he terms ``the politics of personal destruction,'' the vindictive war of innuendo and accusation between the two major parties that has been going on in Congress since the time of Watergate. Citizens, he fears, now view politics as little more than ``gladiatorial entertainment'' and so see little value in participating in the political process. Gephardt sounds sincere when he states that he believes such cynicism can be overcome and enumerates several ways in which cooperatively we can all make America an even better place. Unfortunately, he does not go into much detail on what specifically we all might do. Though he covers a number of important policy areasfrom labor relations to health care, foreign trade to schoolinghis recommendations are safely vague, his arguments underdeveloped. He is perhaps most effective when he ties his own son's battle with cancer to the need for health-care coverage for all Americans, but sums up what might be done in a single sentence suggesting that tax credits for small businesses could help. Assisted by former aide Wessel, Gephardt writes clearly and accessibly; its regrettable that he seems to feel the need to oversimplify in order to reach a wide audience. Not bad, as books by politicians go. Gephardt does seem to truly care about where America is headed. However, hes ambiguous as to just where that might be. (8 pages b&w photos, not seen) (Author tour) -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
About the Author
Richard Gephardt (D-Missouri) is the House Minority Leader and a former presidential candidate. A father of three, he and his wife Jane split their time between their home in suburban Washington, D.C. and Gephardt's native St. Louis.
