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America Back on Track
From one of America's most respected progressive voices comes an inspiring vision of reform and renewal
In a Senate career spanning more than four decades, Edward M. Kennedy has become one of the most authoritative voices in American politics. His first major book in more than twenty years, America Back on Track argues that our nation has departed more deeply from its fundamental ideals than at any time in modern history. From a dangerous foreign policy to the threats against constitutional checks and balances, Kennedy tackles the country's gravest concerns and charts a course toward a stronger, freer, and fairer America. A provocative call to action, this will be read by everyone seeking political clarity in these tumultuous times.
In a Senate career spanning more than four decades, Edward M. Kennedy has become one of the most authoritative voices in American politics. His first major book in more than twenty years, America Back on Track argues that our nation has departed more deeply from its fundamental ideals than at any time in modern history. From a dangerous foreign policy to the threats against constitutional checks and balances, Kennedy tackles the country's gravest concerns and charts a course toward a stronger, freer, and fairer America. A provocative call to action, this will be read by everyone seeking political clarity in these tumultuous times.
- GenresPoliticsNonfiction
240 pages, Paperback
First published April 18, 2006
7 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
About the author
Edward M. Kennedy
57 books32 followersEdward Moore "Ted" Kennedy was a United States Senator from Massachusetts and a member of the Democratic Party. In office since November 1962, Kennedy served nine terms in the Senate. At the time of his death, he was the second most senior member of the Senate, after Robert Byrd of West Virginia, and the third-longest-serving senator in U.S. history. He was best known as one of the most outspoken and effective Senate proponents of progressive causes and bills. For many years the most prominent living member of the Kennedy family, he was the youngest brother of President John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert F. Kennedy, both victims of assassinations, and the father of Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 1, 2023
Very interesting insights into the late Senator Kennedy's views on numerous domestic and foreign policy issues.
Whether you'd agreed with the late Senator's views on many issues or perhaps you'd disagreed with his views on many issues, America Back On Track" offers insight into the late Senator's thought process and reasoning.
Whether you'd agreed with the late Senator's views on many issues or perhaps you'd disagreed with his views on many issues, America Back On Track" offers insight into the late Senator's thought process and reasoning.
October 23, 2024
I’m rating this a five on the books by politicians scale. I thought the most interesting aspect of this book was the argument for a positive government that Kennedy makes. Democrats and progressives need to do better at pointing out where government has worked. We need a positive forward looking vision to counteract Conservative anti government propaganda.
November 23, 2011
First published in 2006, this book is now seriously out of date as the 2012 Republican Presidential primaries are taking place. Kennedy details many of the failings of the Bush presidency, blaming many of the current problems on Bush or the Republicans. Now that Obama is in office, the G.O.P. candidates are point out the same woes, but this time it's Obama or the Democrats fault. In this regard, it's just more of the same from our politicians, e.g., "the other guy is wrong", "I / my party can do better". but when they take office, it's more about STAYING in office than seeking compromise to accomplish something significant.
Also, reading this in 2011, with the economic problems the Country is facing, many of Teddy's programs would take huge amounts of money to fund, money no longer available as we try to limit our deficit spending.
All in all, the book is too far out of date to recommend at this time. Bush is gone, and Teddy has passed away. This book should suffer the same fate.
Also, reading this in 2011, with the economic problems the Country is facing, many of Teddy's programs would take huge amounts of money to fund, money no longer available as we try to limit our deficit spending.
All in all, the book is too far out of date to recommend at this time. Bush is gone, and Teddy has passed away. This book should suffer the same fate.
January 14, 2014
Kennedy asserts that America has gone astray from the values that founded the country. If I had a dollar for any time a politician said that, I would have enough dollars to keep my book addiction sated—and I have quite the addiction. He says there are seven ‘challenges’ that the country faces, and surprise, surprise, Kennedy has just the right ideas to meet those challenges. Cue the National Anthem. Aside from organizational issues and citation issues (which are grievous!) the entire book is really another Bush-bashing. Kennedy claims OVER and OVER and OVER again that partisan politics are to blame for not being able to overcome these challenges that America faces but then spouts the most biased and unsubstantiated liberal rhetoric that I just had to smile to myself and say, “Methinks he doth protest too much.”
For full review http://ireadalotofbooks.com/
For full review http://ireadalotofbooks.com/
August 15, 2015
One line take-away: Presidents JFK and Clinton = good, Bushes = bad. But seriously...
I'd dare to guess that if you're a liberal you'll be nodding your head and saying, "Preach on, brother!" but if you're a conservative you'll spend three hours shaking your head. I'm in the former category and was only disturbed by the fact that, ten years later, we're still dealing with the same "political challenges" and, given the increased polarization in our nation's rhetoric, I don't expect the situation to get any better.
I'd dare to guess that if you're a liberal you'll be nodding your head and saying, "Preach on, brother!" but if you're a conservative you'll spend three hours shaking your head. I'm in the former category and was only disturbed by the fact that, ten years later, we're still dealing with the same "political challenges" and, given the increased polarization in our nation's rhetoric, I don't expect the situation to get any better.
Read
May 29, 2008I typically find myself on the other side of the political spectrum but I must say that I enjoyed this book and especially his ideas on education. He identified real problems facing our country and proposed solutions but spent too much time attacking George W. Bush. (disclaimer: I read about 2/3 of this book, a few of the chapters lost my interest).
September 30, 2011
The late Senator E. Kennedy divulged a litany of injustices that occurred during the Bush administration and also points out the failure of the judicial and legislative branches which should have held them accountable. He also had great ideas on how to better America, but some were described in more detail then others.
February 12, 2009
The Lion of the Senate remains sunnily optimistic, despite the setbacks he's suffered, that our country can right itself from the destructive path it's been on.
Kennedy not only lays out where we've gone astray, but charts a course for the path that will restore us to greatness.
Kennedy not only lays out where we've gone astray, but charts a course for the path that will restore us to greatness.
October 24, 2009
Being honest, I learned so much about what Pres. Bush and did not do during his administration. Sen. Kennedy had SOO many ideas on ways to improve America. This book was published, so of course the results of this last election weren't included.
Read
July 30, 2011I miss Teddy. Say what you want---he never accepted a pay check from the federal govt. and he always looked out for the less fortunate. His brothers' lives were taken much too quickly, but he carried on the legacy of 'carrying the torch' and maintaining the backbone of working class america.
February 19, 2013
An interesting insight to our government through Teddy's eyes. So far I am enjoying it. He really does give insight to the Bush administration and the government at that time. I thoroughly recommend it, regardless of your politics. Definitely insightful and a thoughtful message.
July 8, 2017
A nice reminder of our values as a nation and that our government has actually worked for us in the past; what has gone wrong; and what we must do as individuals, to get us back on track. Written by a man who had spent nearly his entire life doing what he has preached.
March 25, 2009
Part memoir / political science / American history this is an interesting, worthwhile read.
Currently reading
February 12, 2010So far typical left-wing stuff: Heart is in the right place, head is up the rear-end.
Read
January 6, 2012Audible (Abridged)
April 21, 2017
AMERICA BACK ON TRACK
Continuing the Reagan Revolution in American politics (“Government is not the answer – government is the problem” and “Starve the Beast”), George W. Bush turned the White House into a penny arcade and the nation into a game of musical chairs. Michael Moore reacted by writing the book, “Dude, Where’s My Country?” Senator Edward M. (Ted) Kennedy responded in a more organized but no more respectful way with “America Back on Track.”
The book is divided into seven major sections, or “challenges,” as promised in the Introduction. These are topics Kennedy thought crucial to future of the country and areas that the Bush administration was failing miserably in at the time of writing (the book was published in 2005, probably written in 2004). In order:
1. Reclaiming our Constitutional democracy. The Bush administration was consolidating power in all three branches of the federal government, thus subverting the governmental design created by the founders to create competing interests to avoid a dictatorship. If Kennedy could only see the Trump administration, today he would just weep.
2. Develop a new definition of national security. We have become accustomed to solving our international problems by dragging out the military. Kennedy suggests this is wasteful if not disastrous; instead we should rely on the military but first on diplomacy and decreasing the “need” for foreign countries to attack through foreign aid and sharing our knowledge with others while protecting our intellectual property.
3. Participate in a shrinking world. We need to be an international player economically, educationally and socially so that they are raised up to our level rather than kept as low as possible. In particular, we must up our game in education, especially in the biological sciences, other sciences, math, and medicine.
4. Achieve an economy that works for all. We now have an economic divide that is destroying the chances for economic advancement for all but the top 1%. That is ruining the “American Dream” and crippling our economy in general.
5. Provide health care to everyone. This is still a disaster and might get worse with Trumpcare, whatever that turns out to be. Republicans caused Obamacare premiums to skyrocket by reducing the promised government-provided subsidy by 89%, thus torpedoing the whole enterprise. What will they do for a replacement?
6. Resume the march of progress toward equality. Eliminating by law, if not by practice, discrimination against minorities, women, gays and believers in other religions was marching along, more or less, until the Reagan and Bush-43 administrations began campaigns to go back to the 1930’s on voter suppression and gerrymandering.
7. Restoring our basic values and reunite our nation. We have become increasingly divided by bickering, name-calling and isolation so that it is now difficult to even carry on a reasoned dialogue. The Rush Limbaughs and Alex Joneses of our country have bred hatred and misunderstandings to the point that we are close to civil war again, but divided in different ways than in 1861.
Kennedy had great, perhaps too great, faith in his countrymen to eventually come to our senses and reunite into a solitary country. It is hard not to believe that the post-9/11 slogan “United We Stand” was just plonk for the punters as the Brits would say – sleaze for the suckers on this side of the pond. Can we come together? Omar El Akkad has just written a book in what might be called “speculative fiction” in the spirit of “The Handmaid’s Tale,” describing the “American War” which begins in 2075. In it the country is divided into sections after the war ends and Global Warming with rising oceans have essentially swallowed up Florida and other low-lying regions. I haven’t read it yet, but will soon. If Kennedy’s prescriptions are not taken seriously I see El Akkad’s book as prophetic.
And throughout the book, as Kennedy describes the complete collapse of honor, morality and democracy in the Bush White House I kept thinking that it was merciful Kennedy was taken with a brain tumor years ago. If he were alive today to see our contemporary Republican in office he would be even angrier, perhaps angry enough to start the next revolution. As Franklin said after the Constitution was written, “A Republic – if you can keep it.” Can we? It seems to be slipping away in this age of opacity instead of transparency and truthiness instead of honesty.
Continuing the Reagan Revolution in American politics (“Government is not the answer – government is the problem” and “Starve the Beast”), George W. Bush turned the White House into a penny arcade and the nation into a game of musical chairs. Michael Moore reacted by writing the book, “Dude, Where’s My Country?” Senator Edward M. (Ted) Kennedy responded in a more organized but no more respectful way with “America Back on Track.”
The book is divided into seven major sections, or “challenges,” as promised in the Introduction. These are topics Kennedy thought crucial to future of the country and areas that the Bush administration was failing miserably in at the time of writing (the book was published in 2005, probably written in 2004). In order:
1. Reclaiming our Constitutional democracy. The Bush administration was consolidating power in all three branches of the federal government, thus subverting the governmental design created by the founders to create competing interests to avoid a dictatorship. If Kennedy could only see the Trump administration, today he would just weep.
2. Develop a new definition of national security. We have become accustomed to solving our international problems by dragging out the military. Kennedy suggests this is wasteful if not disastrous; instead we should rely on the military but first on diplomacy and decreasing the “need” for foreign countries to attack through foreign aid and sharing our knowledge with others while protecting our intellectual property.
3. Participate in a shrinking world. We need to be an international player economically, educationally and socially so that they are raised up to our level rather than kept as low as possible. In particular, we must up our game in education, especially in the biological sciences, other sciences, math, and medicine.
4. Achieve an economy that works for all. We now have an economic divide that is destroying the chances for economic advancement for all but the top 1%. That is ruining the “American Dream” and crippling our economy in general.
5. Provide health care to everyone. This is still a disaster and might get worse with Trumpcare, whatever that turns out to be. Republicans caused Obamacare premiums to skyrocket by reducing the promised government-provided subsidy by 89%, thus torpedoing the whole enterprise. What will they do for a replacement?
6. Resume the march of progress toward equality. Eliminating by law, if not by practice, discrimination against minorities, women, gays and believers in other religions was marching along, more or less, until the Reagan and Bush-43 administrations began campaigns to go back to the 1930’s on voter suppression and gerrymandering.
7. Restoring our basic values and reunite our nation. We have become increasingly divided by bickering, name-calling and isolation so that it is now difficult to even carry on a reasoned dialogue. The Rush Limbaughs and Alex Joneses of our country have bred hatred and misunderstandings to the point that we are close to civil war again, but divided in different ways than in 1861.
Kennedy had great, perhaps too great, faith in his countrymen to eventually come to our senses and reunite into a solitary country. It is hard not to believe that the post-9/11 slogan “United We Stand” was just plonk for the punters as the Brits would say – sleaze for the suckers on this side of the pond. Can we come together? Omar El Akkad has just written a book in what might be called “speculative fiction” in the spirit of “The Handmaid’s Tale,” describing the “American War” which begins in 2075. In it the country is divided into sections after the war ends and Global Warming with rising oceans have essentially swallowed up Florida and other low-lying regions. I haven’t read it yet, but will soon. If Kennedy’s prescriptions are not taken seriously I see El Akkad’s book as prophetic.
And throughout the book, as Kennedy describes the complete collapse of honor, morality and democracy in the Bush White House I kept thinking that it was merciful Kennedy was taken with a brain tumor years ago. If he were alive today to see our contemporary Republican in office he would be even angrier, perhaps angry enough to start the next revolution. As Franklin said after the Constitution was written, “A Republic – if you can keep it.” Can we? It seems to be slipping away in this age of opacity instead of transparency and truthiness instead of honesty.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews