The trust committed to me

By Mark Sanford

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0963861514
• ISBN13: 9780963861511
• Release Date: January 1
• Publisher: U.S. Term Limits Foundation
• Length: 124 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Political autobiography of U.S. Rep. Mark Sanford (R-SC)

This is Mark Sanford's political autobiography of the three terms he served as U.S. Congressman from South Carolina, from 1995-2001. It is the story of a citizen legislator who goes to Washington believing that government is meant to serve the people rather than the other way around. Throughout the book, Sanford displays some Reaganesque qualities. He is guided by a well thought-through political philosophy that harkens back to that of America's Founding Fathers, and he possesses an ability to articulate that philosophy in a highly compelling manner. Sanford's emphasis is on the issue of term limits, which along with fiscal responsibility was one of his two main areas of interest at the time. Other topics include Social Security reform, foreign policy, and Congressional pork projects. In the book, Sanford exhibits a familiarity with some of the finer details of public policy. For example, he mentions the writings of Laurence J. Kotlikoff, a leading expert on the economic impact of the eventual insolvency of U.S. entitlement programs. Elsewhere Sanford discusses diffused costs vs. concentrated benefits, a concept usually confined to academic lectures on political theory. Sanford also outlines his approach to foreign policy. He recognizes two key considerations prior to committing U.S. troops abroad: our national strategic interest must be at stake, and there must be a reasonable likelihood of success. Although he wrote this prior to the terrorist attacks of September 11, it is timeless enough to be applicable to a post-9/11 environment. All in all, the book is a smooth read that makes for a great way to acquaint yourself with Mr. Sanford, who is currently governor of South Carolina, and who is widely considered to be a leading contender for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012.