The Eighth Deadly Sin

By Fred Stone

The Eighth Deadly Sin was born of frustration resulting from over fifty years of witnessing citizens of the United States participate, if only benignly, in the slow decay of the American way of life. ? Our democratic nation that at the end of World War II was the envy of the world and leader in nearly every measurable category has, with the exception of the wealthy, permitted its living standard to stagnate if not decline. Parents ignore the education of their children leaving them unprepared to compete in the workforce. Elected leaders stand by as the health of the citizenry suffers from preventable diseases, some the result of man-made products. They shrug their shoulders as industries are shuttered and jobs move off shore. ? And while shunning the advice of other nations they wring their hands in angst as the mightiest military force the world has ever known is reduced to garrison duty, not knowing how they should be used to put an end to stateless terrorist organizations that roam the world. ? Americans are transfixed as the nation morphs from the world's greatest creditor to the world's greatest debtor, no longer master of its own destiny but dependent on others to buy its IOUs so that it might continue its unsustainable lifestyle for a few more years. ? How did it happen and what needs to change if the United States is to remain the leader of the free world? ? Today, as an exploding world population competes for a growing list of declining resources, the United States faces its greatest challenge-that of bridging the chasm between the "haves" and "have nots" to bring stability and peace to a world dangerously out of balance.?

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 142594292X
• ISBN13: 9781425942922
• Release Date: August 2006
• Publisher: Authorhouse
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.94 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

POLITICAL SCIENCE/HISTORY

The book is very appropriately titled as the most significant chapter defines the sins and relates them to the erosion of the American Way of Life. Those sins transgress the elements that are the fundamental essence of our American heritage that is gradually dying for reasons and rationale pointed out in the composed chapters. Lt Col Stone makes a firm statement that the American voter must wake up and make our elected officials accountable for the erosive condiments they have concocted in the form of self-serving decisions and legislation. A"reality check" and analysis of key factors that are eroding the values of this country on the national and international scene is quite well documented. Lt Col Stone does a credible job of describing those economic, political, religious, civic, educational, national defense, and domestic/international decisions that are substantively contributing to his contended degradation of national values. He validates the depth of study and research with footnoting as opposed to an appendix. Footnoting as used in this book was a great idea clearly giving a larger measure of authenticity to specifics. Lt Col Stone's description of the Bush Administration's recurring domestic and foreign policy blunders leaves little doubt how he believes historians will characterize the associated leadership. His book broaches President Bush's national and international failures which our media consistently criticized, while leaving positive aspects to the imagination of the reader Chapter 17, "Denial", is the strongest chapter of the book. It highlights the relationship of prior chapters to the eight deadly sins. Scarcity of footnoting here proves he is summarizing his analysis and relating the importance of denial to our national values. Stone feels that Americans have failed the course on several fronts including: (1) not realistically addressing our national debt, (2) falsely believing population growth can be adequately supported, (3) using omni-present government legislative actions motivated by short term self-serving objectives, (4) the enigma of continued reliance on an oil based economy, (5) attempting to make our form of democracy work in the Muslim Middle East through military action and national policies, (6) failure to deal with our nation's Social Security System demise now, and (7) lack of American initiative for mistake accountability. Our American educational system dilemma is appropriately addressed with a personal touch for resolution. Lt Col Stone relates his upbringing and mentoring in his family and community as prime examples while American parents desire to lower standards rather than acknowledge their failure to adequately to participate in the educational process.. The book is a civic "Call to Arms". It is a well documented discussion of the many daily facets of living in our country that we abuse by accountability denial and by lack of assuming voter responsibility by not voting out of office govern

The 8th Deadly Sin: The Slow Erosion of The American Way of Life!

The Seven Deadly Sins are Pride, Envy, Gluttony, Lust, Anger, Greed and Sloth, each with a specific punishment in hell. Pride is to be broken on a wheel. Dismemberment while alive is the penalty for Anger, the Glutton is forced to eat rats, toads and snakes. Lt. Col. (ret) Fred Stone goes one step further and states that Denial is also a Sin, the Eighth. He writes, "Americans overwhelmingly are unwilling to take responsibility for their mistakes, preferring instead to blame others for their failures. Denial and blame cuts across every segment of society, the rich and poor, religious and atheist, political activists and disinterested unregistered voters... We have honed denial to a razor's edge: No one is immune from the failing." The current national debt is one of America's denial points. Stone writes "Few Americans are aware of and even fewer appreciate the implications of the huge debt in Treasury notes being held by foreign investors." Stone quotes an article written by Anna Quindlen in the February 7, 2005 issue of Newsweek, "More than 40% of our national debt is held by other countries... China holds 500 billion in Treasury bonds, Japan 720 billion." Americans are in denial of the inevitable failure of the Social Security program; they are in denial that the earth will be able to support an increase in population and that they can continue living an instant gratification lifestyle. Americans are in denial thinking that the current governmental administration cares about long-term effects while in actuality it is motivated by the short-term, specifically corporate profits. They are in certain denial if they don't realize that the oil-based economy is about to collapse. And finally, Americans are deeply in denial if they think that current foreign policies and military strategies will be successful in the Middle East. Stone's book exposes the American citizenry to its short-comings and downright failings as a democratic society. Sometime in the last three or four decades, he says, Americans have mutated into a nation of gluttonous over-consumers. Because of wide-spread technological advancements, the United States is under constant scrutiny by third world countries who see a land of rude, obese and wasteful entertainment seekers. "The hatred mixed with the envy of America by so many around the world is reinforced each time they see or hear on television, the Internet or some other news media, the material wealth enjoyed by Americans...and all taken for granted; indeed, viewed as a birthright by the American people." The 8th Deadly Sin isn't an America-hating, Bush-bashing rant, or even a forecast of doom and gloom. The 8th Deadly Sin is a book written for citizens that share Stone's love of country and his sense of honor and duty. Through Stone's military background, life experience and intensive independent studies, he has come up with a pro-active plan to make the United States worthy of its position as the world's major super power