The Politics of Freedom: Taking on The Left, The Right and Threats to Our Liberties

by David Boaz

Is it any wonder that Americans have become so dissatisfied with government today? Politicians have given us soaring federal spending, rampant violations of our constitutional rights, a futile war in Iraq, corruption, incompetence, and a growing nanny state. Now one of the leading libertarian critics of big government raises the flag of freedom. David Boaz takes on both liberals and conservatives who seek to impose their own partisan agendas on the whole country. He discusses the roots of American freedom, the growing libertarian vote in America, the arrogance of politicians, and everything from taxes and education to terrorism and the war on drugs. For the millions of Americans who don't fit the red-blue divide, who are fiscally conservative and socially liberal, who reject big-government conservatism and nanny-state liberalism, this book points the way to a new politics of freedom.

Genres: Politics

250 pages, Hardcover

First published January 18, 2008

Reviews

[Manny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little book by David Boaz from the Cato Institute. I have long been a fan of Boaz. His views on many of today's hot topics may seem obtuse to some that continue to view things through an emotional prism. However I have learned that if you remove emotion from the problem or question, you are left with nothing but the facts. Then you are equipped to make an "EDUCATED" decision based on fact and not emotions.

"The Politics of Freedom" is a collection of many years worth of essays by Mr. Boaz. Boaz tackles many of the subjects that are considered taboo by many from 'Right to Life' to 'gun restriction' and everything in between. His discussions are a lighter change from the heavy rhetorical and ideological views maintained by many hyper-partisans today.

I am against political parties, however if I had to choose a party, it would be Libertarian although I consider myself [l]ibertarian. Emphasis on the lowercase 'l'. I really wish more people could read this book and other like it with an open mind, they won't though.

[The American Conservative]

'Unfortunately, the libertarian swing vote may also contain some inconsistent friends of freedom. Based on Boaz’s own figures, a majority of them still voted Republican at the height (one hopes) of big-government conservatism and they experienced their biggest swing toward the Democrats in 2004, when pro-war, pro-Patriot Act, tax-and-spend John Kerry was the presidential candidate. That’s partly due to imperfect political choices but it doesn’t help that Boaz’s definitions are so elastic: Lots of people will tell pollsters that they prefer lower taxes and fewer government services in the abstract without actually favoring such policies in practice.'

Read the full review, "Agenda for Anti-statists," on our website:
http://www.theamericanconservative.co...

[Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic collection of David Boaz's essays over the years, and well worth a read to get a comfortable grasp on libertarian/classic liberalism's viewpoints.