Rethinking the American Union for the Twenty-First Century

by Kent Brown, Marshall DeRosa, Donald Livingston (Foreword)

A great dissatisfaction with the government rests within society, yet the discussion continues to revolve around the same issues. In 7 essays, scholars propose that the real problem is size and scale, suggesting that the country is simply too big for one central government. This thought-provoking book begins a debate on how to divide it on a more human scale. Such scholars as Dr. Thomas DiLorenzo, Yuri Maltsev, Donald W. Livingston, Kent Masterson Brown, Marshall DeRosa, Kirkpatrick Sale, and Rob Williams contribute to the debate.

Genres: Politics, History, Cultural

224 pages, Hardcover

First published October 31, 2011

Reviews

[Cindy Heaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting concept and well thought out group of essay's to support the claim. They have certainly convinced me that the United States is entirely too large to be a democratic republic. The population has grown so large that the people can not be represented. The United States of America is really 50 sovereign states in a union and that union can be dissolved if the State feels the central government has not fulfilled or broken the contract (the Constitution). Three States even put that into writing before ratification of the Constitution. In ratifying the Constitution, the States made the Central Government, not the other way around so the State should still hold the most power. Breaking the USA up into a Federation of smaller countries makes sense for a free republic.

Claims are backed up by real world examples of small successful countries. One thing I think these essay's miss on is how to do it. A group of people in Vermont have been working toward a succession goal for years and have yet to manage it. I don't see it happening peacefully with our power hungry, bloated Federal Government.

[Bryan Mutchler · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a word, depressing. Depressing to realize how far the US has fallen from it's Original Intent, which was under attack immediately after ratifying The Constitution from Nationalists in the General Government, namely Supreme Court Justices. This book describes the tortured logic of Lincoln that took the Country into a horrible and unnecessary War and how States have seceded power to the General Government ever since. I would recommend this book for anyone wanting to explore further the ideas that the US is just too big in every aspect to continue as it is indefinitely.

[Jason Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Editor Donald Livingston compiles eight essays--including two that he authors himself--that collectively wrestle with the notion of secessionism.

Despite the political liability attached to the term, the hard facts remain: America was born in secession, and any serious understanding of our history must reconcile this understanding.

Liberty is much more basic to our character than union, and if dissolution would serve to increase liberty, the authors argue, then make the most of it.

An independent American South would be the third largest economy in the world, behind only China and Japan.

American politics are becoming so divided that rethinking the American union must needs be part of the calculus. This book is a good starting point for the discussion.

[Ietrio · Rating 1 out of 5]

Techniques to improve the grip of bureaucrats on the throat of business. The good side, the bureaucrats are by nature ineffective and this is yet another text to pump up the list of published works of the said bureaucrats.

[Tim Renshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

solid set of complimentary essays on the topic.

[Joshua · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely incredible read, one of the most unique perspectives out there , all culminated into one amazing work, I highly recommend reading this masterpiece!

[The American Conservative]

'The authors agree on the unacceptability of top-down government as practiced in this country: having 435 House members, 100 senators, nine Supreme Court justices, and one president rule more than 300 million people in one-size-fits-all fashion.

The authors share the belief, dating back to ancient Greece, that, to be genuinely self-governing, republics must be small in population and territory, i.e., wholly unlike America. They consider ways to devolve political power to smaller, more manageable units of government. With varying degrees of persuasiveness, the authors address philosophical, political, moral, and constitutional issues bearing on such a task.'

Read the full review, "What Keeps the States United?" on our website:
http://www.theamericanconservative.co...

[Bernie Laforest]

This is an important collection of work and deserves some serious debate.