Reading List: Attention Deficit Democracy by James Bovard

Written from a Libertarian point of view, Bovard takes Presidents and members of our government over the past 50 or so years to task for their attempts to grab power and for doing wrong in the name of the American people. His book has meticulous footnotes and evidence making it hard to argue with his premises. It's focused heavily on the Clinton and Bush II presidencies but goes back even further at certain points to illustrate that misbehavior on the part of our leaders isn't usually an aberration, it's more a rule.

In a time when Americans are probably more ignorant than ever about the workings of our government and the world, it is people like Bovard who can truly illustrate the calamity that such a situation represents. If we as the American people continue to allow our leaders to break the constitution and overreach their powers (which is exactly what the Founding Fathers feared) without any recourse, it could spell the end of our great nation.

I think this book is a must read for those looking to get up to speed about what our leaders, both Democrat and Republican, have been up to. It also delves into the comfy symbiotic relationship between the media and the government that allows the public to be misled. Overall, I highly recommend this book for all those who care about the future of our country.

Quote from the book:
"America needs a higher grade of patriotism. It is not patriotic to ignore violations of the Constitution. It is not patriotic to "look the other way" when politicians ravage rights. It is not patriotic to pretend that politicians are entitled to all the power they can grab, at least until they get impeached or indicted. It is not patriotic to give the benefit of the doubt to people trying to shackle you.
Americans must begin to think again as free citizens, and not like wholly owned subsidiaries of Washington. We will know that Americans have regained the right perspective towards Washington when a negligent congressman dreads a public meeting with his constituents the same way the average citizen anticipates an IRS audit.
Government is far more likely to destroy us than to raise us. Americans have long been taught to count on their rulers to protect and rescue them. But a bogus panacea is worse than no panacea at all. And Leviathan (note: he's referring to our corrupted government) is the most bogus panacea of them all."

James Bovard's blog:
http://jimbovard.com/blog/