Losing AmericaLosing America
Confronting a Reckless and Arrogant Presidency
Title rated 2 out of 5 stars, based on 10 ratings(10 ratings)
Book, 2004
Current format, Book, 2004, 1st ed, Available .Book, 2004
Current format, Book, 2004, 1st ed, Available . Offered in 0 more formatsA congressman who has served for more than fifty years presents a cautionary argument against current Bush administration practices that he contends disrupt the balance of governmental power, limits public participation in decision-making, and compromises privacy, in a call to action that reminds readers of the Constitution's original purpose. 70,000 first printing.
A fifty-year veteran of Congress presents a cautionary argument against Bush administration practices that disrupt the balance of governmental power, limit public participation in decision-making, and compromise privacy.
In the months and years following September 11, Senator Robert C. Byrd viewed with dismay what he considers a "slow unraveling of the people's liberties," a time when dissenting voices were stilled and awesome power swung suddenly to the president to fight a "war on terror."
The way down this path violates historic American principles. It provides no regard for the balance of powers or the role of the Congress; it invades our privacy; it makes no attempt to educate the public and build consensus. It displays little regard for the environment. It grapples little with the realities of people who have to work for a living, rear children or care for aging parents, and cope with physical ailments - problems that plague our country and cry out for attention. Swept along, we have entered a war under a new and dangerous doctrine without proper consideration, and we have rushed dangerous legislation through Congress willy-nilly. We have a White House that favors the rich and the well-connected, lavishes tax cuts on big businesses, and pushes through unfair tax legislation.
Most serious, this administration has, in greater measure than ever before, operated under a cloak of secrecy, which is deeply antithetical to the principles of our nation.
For far too long, argues Senator Byrd, too many of us have passively gone along, aiding and abetting a dangerous process. Now is the time, he urges, to regain the Constitution that our forefathers so wisely left us, a time to return to the values and processes that made America great.
West Virginia Democrat Robert Byrd has served the U.S. Congress for 51 years, 45 of them as a senator. This text is an extension of the work Byrd has done over the past three years in the U.S. Senate to make the public aware of the many damaging and radical changes--and violations of historic American principles--that have taken place under the current Bush administration. Written at the urging of noted individuals, including Senator John Glenn and W.W. Norton senior editor, Ed Barber, Byrd's text examines major issues including the Patriot Act, Afghanistan, homeland security, the "axis of evil," and the war in Iraq. No subject index. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
A ringing call to action by one of the country's longest serving and most respected legislators. In the months and years following September 11, Senator Robert C. Byrd has viewed with alarm what he considers to be a "slow unraveling of the people's liberties," when all dissenting voices were stilled and awesome power swung suddenly to the president to fight a "war on terror." This path violates historic American principlesit shows no regard for the balance of powers or the role of the Congress; it invades our privacy; and it eliminates public participation in and understanding of government. Swept along, we have entered a war without proper consideration and rushed dangerous legislation through Congress. Now is the time to regain the Constitution, to return to the values and processes that made America great. Byrd does not shrink from speaking the truth to an ever more aggressive and imperial White House.
A fifty-year veteran of Congress presents a cautionary argument against Bush administration practices that disrupt the balance of governmental power, limit public participation in decision-making, and compromise privacy.
In the months and years following September 11, Senator Robert C. Byrd viewed with dismay what he considers a "slow unraveling of the people's liberties," a time when dissenting voices were stilled and awesome power swung suddenly to the president to fight a "war on terror."
The way down this path violates historic American principles. It provides no regard for the balance of powers or the role of the Congress; it invades our privacy; it makes no attempt to educate the public and build consensus. It displays little regard for the environment. It grapples little with the realities of people who have to work for a living, rear children or care for aging parents, and cope with physical ailments - problems that plague our country and cry out for attention. Swept along, we have entered a war under a new and dangerous doctrine without proper consideration, and we have rushed dangerous legislation through Congress willy-nilly. We have a White House that favors the rich and the well-connected, lavishes tax cuts on big businesses, and pushes through unfair tax legislation.
Most serious, this administration has, in greater measure than ever before, operated under a cloak of secrecy, which is deeply antithetical to the principles of our nation.
For far too long, argues Senator Byrd, too many of us have passively gone along, aiding and abetting a dangerous process. Now is the time, he urges, to regain the Constitution that our forefathers so wisely left us, a time to return to the values and processes that made America great.
West Virginia Democrat Robert Byrd has served the U.S. Congress for 51 years, 45 of them as a senator. This text is an extension of the work Byrd has done over the past three years in the U.S. Senate to make the public aware of the many damaging and radical changes--and violations of historic American principles--that have taken place under the current Bush administration. Written at the urging of noted individuals, including Senator John Glenn and W.W. Norton senior editor, Ed Barber, Byrd's text examines major issues including the Patriot Act, Afghanistan, homeland security, the "axis of evil," and the war in Iraq. No subject index. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
A ringing call to action by one of the country's longest serving and most respected legislators. In the months and years following September 11, Senator Robert C. Byrd has viewed with alarm what he considers to be a "slow unraveling of the people's liberties," when all dissenting voices were stilled and awesome power swung suddenly to the president to fight a "war on terror." This path violates historic American principlesit shows no regard for the balance of powers or the role of the Congress; it invades our privacy; and it eliminates public participation in and understanding of government. Swept along, we have entered a war without proper consideration and rushed dangerous legislation through Congress. Now is the time to regain the Constitution, to return to the values and processes that made America great. Byrd does not shrink from speaking the truth to an ever more aggressive and imperial White House.
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- New York : W.W. Norton, c2004.
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