We the People: A Call to Take Back America

by Thom Hartmann

Book Overview

America faces its greatest threat since the Civil War. The worst fears of the Founders are being realized, as powerful corporate interests have taken over our culture and representative government. We... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1882109384
• ISBN13: 9781882109388
• Release Date: March 2004
• Publisher: Coreway Media
• Length: 220 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 7.5" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Powerful, Moving, An Important Must-Read

If you Haven't read a any of the Thom Hartmann Books, you are in for a real treat. Thom's Newest book, We The People: A Call To Take Back America," is simply must reading. It's not quite describable, but a cross between animated comic and Japanese anime art, but it's talking about all the political and democracy issues that Thom takes on so well-- corporate personhood, the right wing threat to democracy, selling off the commons, how the founders, particularly Jefferson, of America would have viewed today's situations.... I've reprinted just about every article Thom publishes lately, on my progressive. tough liberal website OpEdNews dot com, where I am editor publisher. His articles are always among the most popular. (They are usually first published on CommonDreams dot org.) If you know Thom's work, whether his brilliant books, Last Hours or Unequal Protection, or his OpEd articles, you'll want to be sure to get this newest book. You'll be very glad you did. If you're smart, you'll order two or three, since you're definitely going to want to pass them out to people you care about. I don't think anyone discusses democracy, not any pundit or politician alive, than Thom Hartmann. He approaches his subject matters with vision, depth of history, compassion and intelligence. He says he comes from the "radical middle" and it's true. his positions are ones the average person agrees with-- filled with common sense and great wisdom. You'll want to hide this book from your right wing relatives... just getting a look at it will be like a punch in the face, or... a flush of blood to the brain. But you'll want to get lots of copies to give to your friends. I'm getting a copy for each of my kids (23, 20 and 14.) Frankly, when I heard that some of Thom's writing had been adapted to a comic format, I was skeptical. But it's been brilliantly done. The originally ideas that were in Thom's essays are actually improved upon by the creative imagination of his editors and illustrator-- Gene Latimer (Editor), Paul Burke (Editor), Neil Cohn (Illustrator.) Don't think of this is a comic book. Think of it as a hyper-idea media document that will rivet your attention and move you to passion. This is a powerful book that will make a difference. I know at least one person who has started a We The People Campaign, inspired by this book.

Addresses the dangers of losing our democratic liberties

Impressively written by Thom Hartmann, nicely illustrated by Neil Cohen in a "reader friendly "graphic novel" format, then collaboratively adapted and edited by Gene Latimer and Paul Burke, We The People: A Call To Take Back America directly addresses the dangers of losing our democratic liberties from a variety of corrosive influences including corporate special interest groups who finance and exploit the fears and intolerance that so often separate the political right from the political left. Only a "radical middle" can restore and defend the principals of fair and democratic government against the growing temptations of fascism. If you are a social activist committed to good government and the constitutional rules set out in order to promote "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness", or simply someone who has become aware of, and concerned about, the increasing political polarization of our country, the read We The People: A Call To Take Back America.

Putting Justice into the Picture

This is a delightful work of art and advocacy by one of the most eloquent and thoughtful commentators on America's current direction. Mr Hatmann and colleagues have produced a superb document on how power is usurping justice and the common good in the age of corporative monopoly. Having heard the brilliant and articulate author on Australian radio speaking to issues raised in his "Unequal Protection", I had high expectations of this book. I wasn't disappointed. Complex issues are treated with intelligent simplicity,directness and respectful detail. Ingenious visuals capture the essence of the real issues facing a US gazing into the bottomless blue hole of pap television and syndicated media trivia while the noblest of America's traditions and commitments are carried off for re-wording or the junkyard. Reading this book is a pleasure and an education. For educators like me, it is a most valuable resource.

Hartmann's Call for an American Revival

Thom Hartmann, a leading radio voice in progressive circles and a diligent writer promoting American values, has combined the hard-hitting, concise common sense message of populists Jim Hightower and Molly Ivins in a cartoon context reminiscent of the best of Gary Trudeau's "Doonesbury." This approach enables readers to more readily absorb the important points encompassed by Hartmann in "We The People."Hartmann is a scholar of early American history with a solid grounding of the philosophy of the Founding Fathers, which he effectively utilizes in drawing important differences and parallels between the early days of the Republic and now. A highlight of this informative work is his valuable insights comparing the Patriot Act of the Bush administration and the Alien and Sedition Acts passed by the Federalists during the administration of President John Adams. Then, as now, attempts were made to squelch opposition as journalists fighing the principle of power immersed in the hands of the privileged few, and allying themselves with the new Democratic Party led by Thomas Jefferson, were arrested and put in jail. The Federalists sought to maintain the very monopolistic practices against which colonists rebelled with the Boston Tea Party, which was the first major act in breaking the stranglehold of Britain's East India Company.Striking parallels emerge as Hartmann compares the current practices and long-term goals of the Republican right and previous forms of government such as Feudalism, German Nazism and Italian Fascism. While spokesperssons of the right recoil at the associatiion of such totalitarian practices alongisde what they term conservatism, Hartmann contends that Bush-styled Republicanism marks a strong departure from traditional conservative thought. He cites the stated goal of rightist tax advocate and stanch Bush ally Grover Norquist to "drown government in the bathtub." Hartmann notes that Feudalism, Nazism and Fascism bore the similarity of of merging cumulative corporate wealth with a central government. Norquist and other Bush disciples seek to destroy protections traditionally enjoyed by the citizenry, leaving them every bit as vulnerable to a government-corporate elite as were vassals in the Middle Ages.A frightening corroboration of this viewpoint has been realized. Not that long ago the world's leading corporation was General Motors. Its employees enjoyed the benefits of a Union Shop promulgating safe and healthy work standards, along with a satisfactory minimum wage, medical care, sick leave, and retirement benefits. Currently the largest corporation is Walmart. Its economic dominion is exemplified by the temporary worker stripped of benefits. This enables an all-powerful employer to subject employees to long, burdensome word schedules devoid of the protections and benefits enjoyed by the General Motors work force.Hartmann sounds another alarm bell in the face of a frightening current trend. In writing about the dang