Positively American: Winning Back the Middle-Class Majority One Family at a Time

by Chuck Schumer, Daniel Squadron

New York’s popular senior senator, who won reelection by the largest margin in the state’s history, offers a bold plan for change in the Democratic party

As the results of the last presidential election played out, it became clear that while Democrats call themselves the party of the middle, the middle class does not consider the Democrats their party. Now, Chuck Schumer, who has gained national prominence as the head of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and as a member of the Finance Committee, offers his plan for capturing the middle-class vote and moving his party back into the majority. Democrats can accomplish this, the senator explains, without abandoning their traditional principles.

Schumer envisions a hypothetical, average middle-class American family—he thinks of them as "The Baileys"—who spend "as much time talking about the cost of cornflakes as the cost of the national debt." He then details specific proposals he believes would keep America safe, secure, and on top; and support the aspirations of a prosperous and growing middle class while speaking to anxieties created in a world changed by technology and globalization. For example, he proposes

• increase the number of college graduates by 50%

• reduce property taxes by 50%

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 23, 2007

About the author

Charles Ellis "Chuck" Schumer is the senior U.S. Senator from the State of New York, serving since 1999. A liberal Democrat, in 2005, he became chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. In November 2006, he was elected to the new post of Vice Chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus. In this position, he is the fourth-ranking Democrat in the Senate, behind President pro tempore Robert Byrd, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin.

In January 2007, he published a book called Positively American, outlining strategies with which Democrats could court middle-class voters.

Reviews

[Elliott · Rating 1 out of 5]

Winston Churchill said of Neville Chamberlain’s surrender of Czechoslovakia “You were given the choice between war and dishonor. You chose dishonor, and you will have war.”
Just like Chamberlain Chuck Schumer is a curious figure to oppose resurgent fascism. He is neither temperamentally inclined to fight nor particularly good at it when his hand is forced.
He is a superb vote against his base’s best interests and for his opponent’s best interests. In his courting of the fictional “Baileys” he is determined to chase at shadows.
Appeasement is back in season.

[Corey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Admitting you make all your political decisions based on what you think your far right imaginary friends would want you to do is WILD.

Anyway Chuck Schumer's ideas in this are very strange when they're not just outright misinformation.

I don't know what kind of technology he thinks exists but many of his proposed "solutions" rely on the implementation of technology that does not exist at scale and/or at all in the year 2025 and certainly did not exist in 2007.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

very interesting account of the middle class and politics. the political system intertwines with schumer's account of his own political growth/education, the fictional middle class family and the world of congress.

[SC · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great overview of how the Democratic Party can return to its progessive roots and coincidentally win back the majority of the electorate.

[Ahmed Moalim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well im reading this book now and i guess its quite good.

[David]

The best!!!!: The book came to me in excellent shape thanks to the way you packed it for shipping...I appreciate the stellar condition the book arrived as it was a gift to a special friend.

[sleeps9hours · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting to read a book by a politician. He seems to mean well, but doesn't fully get the middle-class, or at least only gets the older generation (50+).

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting Democratic game plan to win back the middle class. Many good points. Too many big government points. I don't think Pelosi-ville has read the book.

[Erik]

SIGNED

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've gotten very behind on my reading and I'm very happy to be done with this book that I was required to read for my internship.