Independents Day: Awakening the American Spirit
Selected Book Details
- Paperback
- Edition: Reprint
- Author: Lou Dobbs
- Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics)
- Release Date: September 2008
- ISBN-10: 0143114190
- ISBN-13: 9780143114192
- List Price: $15.00
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Summaries and Customer Reviews provided by Amazon
SummaryFrom The New York Times bestselling author of War on the Middle Class, a powerful look at the critical issues facing America on the eve of the 2008 Presidential election |
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
This should be mandatory reading!
Rating:
Independents Day: Awakening the American Spirit should be mandatory reading for all Americans. I read it after the election, but still found it timely and appropriate. Lou Dobbs is one of the reasons I am proud to be an American. If you want more out of a book than entertainment, read this!
Meet the Press has a new host.
Rating:
After reading the book I think we have found the new host for Meet The Press. The perfect un-biased host. As Tim Russert did, he leans a little to the left, but has a very un-biased opinion on both sides of the coin. Wouldn't it be nice.
Howard Smith
Reporting the Problems
Rating:
Lou Dobbs is a journalist and TV reporter. The cover says Big Business and the government is at war against working Americans and democracy. One front is the massive debt to burden taxpayers for future generations (bonding taxes the many to benefit the few), the other is the attack on "good jobs at good wages", increasing health care costs, and the educational system ("dumbing down" students). Small businesses have been attacked since WW II. Big Oil attacked cities to disperse people, eliminate local agricultural farms, and create a dependency on oil. Dobbs says the twin-party system has failed America. But this has been going on since the late 19th century. Matthew Josephson wrote "The Politicos" to explain how financiers and manufacturing capitalists conquered the Republican and Democratic parties to become their masters (like Mark Hanna). The controlled media and the educational system have fooled generations who know little of history and economics. The devaluation of the dollar after 1971 was followed by higher prices for oil and other products. This was a stealth tax that continues to the present day.
The `Introduction' lists the faults of those who control the government. "Their arrogance now threatens the future of our nation, and their elitist sense of entitlement has reached such heights that our leaders are now openly dismissive of the will of the people" (p.1). Dobbs says the problem of illegal immigrants and open borders is a symptom of this class warfare. Its purpose is a further attack on working Americans. The corporate media ignores the real issues (p.3). Dobbs lists the problems created by out "elite" (p.6). Dobbs asks important questions on page 7. Why are we the world's leading debtor nation? Why can't we defeat the insurgency in Iraq? Why do we have consecutive trade deficits since 1976 (p.7)? Why are we dependent on other nations for oil and consumer electronics? Can we believe the elites in politics, business, academia, and the media in allowing NAFTA and the World Trade Organization to control America? Dobbs says the twin-parties are incapable of serving the people (p.9). Dobbs believes the participation of citizens in politics and government will effect a change. But only if they form a united movement. Dobbs is dead wrong in saying no political apparatus or party machine is needed. Only a united movement of the people can effect a cure for the politics of the "elite". Howard Jarvis' book sketched the organized movement needed to put Proposition 13 on the ballot in California. That took 16 years! Dobbs should have used a fact checker for this book. My recollection of history differs from this book. Look up the Yazoo Land Fraud of 1799 for "scandals and corruption" (p.21).
The chapters on hidden lobbies that are tax-exempt is particularly informative ("Shadow Governments"). Chapter 8 doesn't tell how Big Corporations have controlled and influenced major religious bodies. Chapter 9 tells of the economic harm from illegal immigrants. It imports poverty and increases costs for public benefits. The class warfare against ordinary Americans is listed in Chapter 10. Is schooling less effective because of what is on TV (p.174)? [Is there a need for censorship?] Chapter 11 tells of the increase in drug use in America. Is it caused by TV advertising? Is the residue contaminating our water supply? Can we win the war on drugs? Chapter 12 examined the madness in the media. Does junk news distract people from the real news? Do they serve the public? Is it the fault of Big Corporations? Why aren't other journalists free to speak out (p.205)? Chapter 13 summarizes this book. Does it convince you that our present condition is a form of political repression?
Lou Dobbs "Independent"
Rating:
I received a pre-release copy of "Independents Day: Awakening the American Spirit" by Lou Dobbs for professional review. Not being a huge Lou Dobbs fan, I wasn't sure what to expect, even though I knew he was very patriotic and now writes a weekly syndicated column. I have to confess that I was quickly drawn in and captivated by the contents of the book and, actually, pleasantly surprised by its insight, depth, research, genuineness, practicality, and motivating nature--and is even very funny at several parts. Most of all, rather than just being a negative critique of American modernity, it is a remarkably pragmatic and inspiring work--having just finished it, I am truly quite motivated to do a host of things he outlines in his book, including taking better care of me. This is not just another political diatribe--it is a cultural manifesto.
The book begins with a summary of eight major problems threatening America, in the first chapter, "One Nation, Divided, and Without a Clue." Before detailing his and others' (including our Founders') solutions to our problems in the subsequent chapters, Dobbs opens up the book by explaining these major threats that are tearing apart the fabric we call America: (1) we've lost the connection to and sense of our Founders' America, vision, and legacy; (2) we've got no control over spending--and too much debt, nationally and personally; (3) America's borders and boundaries are still too fluid and unprotected; (4) we've lost our moral compass, and must relearn our Founders' path to civility; (5) we've devalued human life to the point that we've lost the sense of human wonder and awe--which has ultimately contributed to our mistreatment of one another; (6) we are failing our children and the younger generations by not being more intentional in passing down to them the baton of building a better America; (7) the dissolution of the traditional family; (8) Apathy--physical, mental, and spiritual.
The following eight chapters not only detail each of those problems, but give Dobbs' and others' practical solutions--which we can begin implementing immediately. The genius of the book is not found merely in Norris' practical wisdom and motivating altruism but our Founders' work and instruction for future generations. As a supporter of a strictly constitutional America(as proposed by such congressmen as Ron Paul), I've read quite extensively about the Founders and Framers of America. Dobbs does an exceptional job to include throughout each chapter significant (and in-context) excerpts from them, not merely trite Whitman samplers or overused quotes to suffice pseudo-history buffs. Dobbs includes insights from our Founders on a host of today's issues and problems (as Norris calls them, "old solutions for new problems"), such as those on restoring good government, reducing taxes and debt (national and personal), addressing border and immigration issues, raising youth, establishing morality and civility, and even enhancing good nutritional habits (yes, Thomas Jefferson spoke about that too).
Dobbs obviously has a great handle on cultural issues, pundicy, and research, as the reference works cited throughout the book are reputable and scholarly resources--well-known and widely-used in each particular field of study. (The End Notes alone are a veritable gulf of information and resources.) Dobbs does not disappoint in any respect, even in conveying plenty of personal stories as well, many told for the first time in this book, personal accounts with border agents and troops abroad to stories of American-heritage revisionism and his weekly work-out plan with his family's nutritional diet.
There are many pleasant surprises in the book, including what America's Founders thought about a host of issues we face today (including those one wouldn't typically think they would have addressed--like exercise and nutrition, or marriage and family), the best summary and pitch for the Flat Tax I've read, a remedy for the millions of illegal immigrants already living in the country, proofs of how we've been fighting Muslim extremists since the founding of our country, a battle plan concerning how to flank the enemies of today's youth, a fascinating critique of how we've devalued humanity in comparison to our Founders (and how to reinstill their higher value), some very inspiring faith-stories (and of course tough-guy stories too), Lou's weekly workout program and eating plan (how he stays in such great shape), one of the most fascinating and challenging readings (chapters) on the American family, and (for icing on the cake) a batch of new Dobbs photos at the center of the book.
The book concludes with a rallying call in chapter 10, "Reawaken the American Dream," then gives a few appendices in which are copies in entirety of the three documents that Norris says should be posted in every American home: the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Ten Commandments.
Without reservation, I wholeheartedly recommend "Independents Day: Awakening the American Spirit." Whether you are a Lou Dobbs fan or not, or even an American, you'll be motivated over and over to not give up on America, Americans, our cultural wars, or your personal finances, faith, life calling, marriage and family, health, etc. Far more than just a typical book on politics and government, this is an insightful and inspiring cultural manifesto on rebuilding America and rediscovering the American dream. Well done Mr. Dobbs!
Very fine work by our friend, Lou Dobbs..."Let's Get To Work"!
Rating:
CNN's Lou Dobbs, who has exposed such little
charlatans as Morris (gag,swallow) Dees and
other maggots, clears the air on why the Dem-
opublican and the Republicrats really are the
'The Evil of Two Lessors' and should be avoided
like the plague! If only he'd quit beleiving in
the 'hoax of the twentieth century' and stop us-
ing the incorrect word'democracy' (folkes, he re-
ally means 'Constitutional Republic'. But these
are small complaints when he screams on his show
five night a week at that 99-i.q idiot at Penn.
Ave. "You Go Lou"!
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