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The New Road to Serfdom: A Letter of Warning to America
In March 2009, British conservative Daniel Hannan became a celebrity overnight when he assailed prime minister Gordon Brown on the floor of the European Parliament. A thoughtful and articulate spokesman for conservative ideas, Hannan is better versed in America's traditions and founding documents than many Americans are. In The New Road to Serfdom, Hannan argues forcefully and passionately that Americans must not allow Barack Obama to take them down the road to European Union-style social democracy. He pleads with Americans not to abandon the founding principles that have made their country a beacon of liberty for the rest of the world.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published September 28, 2010
79 people are currently reading
1015 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Hannan
15 books73 followersBritish politician, journalist, and author who is a Member of the European Parliament. He is also the Secretary-General of the Alliance of European Conservatives and Reformists (AECR). Hannan advocates localism, and he has written several books arguing for democratic reform. He is also President of the Young Britons' Foundation and a patron of Reading University Conservative Association. He is a Eurosceptic and is strongly critical of European integration. Besides politics, Hannan is a journalist; he has written newspaper leaders, a blog for The Daily Telegraph and currently writes for the online news website and aggregator CapX, and has published several books. Born in Peru, Hannan speaks Spanish and French fluently.
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February 18, 2017
This pre-Brexit book, published in 2010, is rather prescient since it warns Americans to not go the way of the European Union (EU) prior to the population of the UK actually taking the same advice and voting not to remain. Written by a British MEP, it serves as an articulate reminder to Americans regarding the blessings and uniqueness of our great experiment in democracy. It details the pitfalls and delusional utopianism of socialism and warns us to not to compromise our sovereignty in the name of some globalist vision being run by authoritarian and anti-democratic elites. Putting a twist on Carl von Clausewitz's well-known aphorism, the book also confirms that the EU certainly is "the continuation of Germany by other means."
May 9, 2011
The New Road to Serfdom by Daniel Hannan
You might recall this conservative member of the European Parliament for his outspoken criticism of Obama-Care in the months before the bill passed. Hannan warned the US that it would be foolish to throw away its health care system to follow the example of Britain, where the NHS has resulted in some of the worst care (not to mention avoidable death) in the western world.
We didn’t listen. So Hannan is back with a book that has little in common with the original Road to Serfdom by Frederick Hayek except this: They both represent a warning to the United States, or indeed any country who is following the road that we are. And that is the road to greater and greater central control. It is a road to serfdom.
Hannan looks at the sorry and declining state of European political organization and compares it to the genius of the American system and asks this central question: Why on earth would America want to follow Europe’s example?
He says, I have been a Member of the European Parliament for eleven years. I am living your future. Let me tell you a few things about it.
What he tells us is not good. And it starts with a startling and enlightening fact: The US Constitution, with all its amendments is 7,200 words long, The EU Constitution, now formally known as the Lisbon Treaty, is 76,000.
Daniel Hannan begins his book by noting the Europe, at one time a world backwater, became a world power precisely because its states were forced to compete in a race to the top. He says, The richness of European civilization has always resided in its diversity, its pluralism, its variety. Yet, comparing the political structures of the United States and the EU, we see that those values, exported across the Atlantic centuries ago, are thriving better in the new home than on their native soil.
And further:
Europe’s success resided in the fact that it never became a unified state, but rather remained a states system. This lack of a strong central authority encouraged a culture of enterprise and adventure, of exploration and mercantilism.
Predating and predicting US success with its system of Federalism, Hannan asserts, Many European advances were driven by the ‘phenomenon of the refugee’. As long as there was somewhere to flee to, the power of the autocrat was checked. As long as there were competing states, no dictatorship could be secure.
But this dispersal of power or “systems competition” which first propelled Europe has been replaced with a type of European centralization that is leading the Continent to decline. Says Hannan, This is a phenomenon that political scientists call “systems competition”…. The EU is a depressing example of what the United States might turn into: A federation that is prepared to sacrifice prosperity for the sake of uniformity.
US federalism and its dispersal of power was chiefly designed to prevent the growth of a dictatorial central state… The founders understood that large administrations would become prey to vested interests and that the law of dispersed costs and concentrated gains would make big government expensive, inefficient and nepotistic.
So what happened? What has caused increasing centralization in the US? Hannan explores a number of historical events…. Theodore Roosevelt’s widespread use of executive decrees, the 16th amendment, of which he says,
was the first of a new set of measures aimed at strengthening the national government. It allowed Congress to make conditional grants to states in return for their discharge of particular policies. Form then on, states often found themselves acting simply as the local administrators of a national policy. The 17 Amendment, and the New Deal, about which its leaders he says,
The New Deal Democrats, like many elected representatives today, were in the grip of one of the most dangerous of political fallacies: the idea that at a time of crisis, the government’s response must be proportionate to the degree of public anxiety. “Doing nothing is not an option!”….. but doing nothing is always an option, and often the best option.
Continuing with this dangerous fallacy, Obama’s policies continue the New Deal mentality. Of Obama’s policies, Hannan says that they: amount to a sustained project of Europeanization: state health care, government day care, universal college education, carbon taxes, support for supra-nationalism, bigger government, a softer foreign policy.
While the growth of big government gives power and benefits to certain politicians, it represses the economy and represents a moral hazard. Hannon states: The expansion of the state doesn’t just reduce economic growth. More damagingly, it tends to squeeze out personal morality. As taxes rise, charitable donations fall. As social workers become responsible for vulnerable citizens, their neighbors no longer look out for them.
The New Road to Serfdom is a bracing warning from a foreign politician who has, he says, seen and lived our future, and begs that we turn from the road we are on before we too are unable to flee autocracy and are forced to experience it.
You might recall this conservative member of the European Parliament for his outspoken criticism of Obama-Care in the months before the bill passed. Hannan warned the US that it would be foolish to throw away its health care system to follow the example of Britain, where the NHS has resulted in some of the worst care (not to mention avoidable death) in the western world.
We didn’t listen. So Hannan is back with a book that has little in common with the original Road to Serfdom by Frederick Hayek except this: They both represent a warning to the United States, or indeed any country who is following the road that we are. And that is the road to greater and greater central control. It is a road to serfdom.
Hannan looks at the sorry and declining state of European political organization and compares it to the genius of the American system and asks this central question: Why on earth would America want to follow Europe’s example?
He says, I have been a Member of the European Parliament for eleven years. I am living your future. Let me tell you a few things about it.
What he tells us is not good. And it starts with a startling and enlightening fact: The US Constitution, with all its amendments is 7,200 words long, The EU Constitution, now formally known as the Lisbon Treaty, is 76,000.
Daniel Hannan begins his book by noting the Europe, at one time a world backwater, became a world power precisely because its states were forced to compete in a race to the top. He says, The richness of European civilization has always resided in its diversity, its pluralism, its variety. Yet, comparing the political structures of the United States and the EU, we see that those values, exported across the Atlantic centuries ago, are thriving better in the new home than on their native soil.
And further:
Europe’s success resided in the fact that it never became a unified state, but rather remained a states system. This lack of a strong central authority encouraged a culture of enterprise and adventure, of exploration and mercantilism.
Predating and predicting US success with its system of Federalism, Hannan asserts, Many European advances were driven by the ‘phenomenon of the refugee’. As long as there was somewhere to flee to, the power of the autocrat was checked. As long as there were competing states, no dictatorship could be secure.
But this dispersal of power or “systems competition” which first propelled Europe has been replaced with a type of European centralization that is leading the Continent to decline. Says Hannan, This is a phenomenon that political scientists call “systems competition”…. The EU is a depressing example of what the United States might turn into: A federation that is prepared to sacrifice prosperity for the sake of uniformity.
US federalism and its dispersal of power was chiefly designed to prevent the growth of a dictatorial central state… The founders understood that large administrations would become prey to vested interests and that the law of dispersed costs and concentrated gains would make big government expensive, inefficient and nepotistic.
So what happened? What has caused increasing centralization in the US? Hannan explores a number of historical events…. Theodore Roosevelt’s widespread use of executive decrees, the 16th amendment, of which he says,
was the first of a new set of measures aimed at strengthening the national government. It allowed Congress to make conditional grants to states in return for their discharge of particular policies. Form then on, states often found themselves acting simply as the local administrators of a national policy. The 17 Amendment, and the New Deal, about which its leaders he says,
The New Deal Democrats, like many elected representatives today, were in the grip of one of the most dangerous of political fallacies: the idea that at a time of crisis, the government’s response must be proportionate to the degree of public anxiety. “Doing nothing is not an option!”….. but doing nothing is always an option, and often the best option.
Continuing with this dangerous fallacy, Obama’s policies continue the New Deal mentality. Of Obama’s policies, Hannan says that they: amount to a sustained project of Europeanization: state health care, government day care, universal college education, carbon taxes, support for supra-nationalism, bigger government, a softer foreign policy.
While the growth of big government gives power and benefits to certain politicians, it represses the economy and represents a moral hazard. Hannon states: The expansion of the state doesn’t just reduce economic growth. More damagingly, it tends to squeeze out personal morality. As taxes rise, charitable donations fall. As social workers become responsible for vulnerable citizens, their neighbors no longer look out for them.
The New Road to Serfdom is a bracing warning from a foreign politician who has, he says, seen and lived our future, and begs that we turn from the road we are on before we too are unable to flee autocracy and are forced to experience it.
November 10, 2016
I have to rate this 5 stars just because there are so many amazing points in here and it's so eloquently written. But it's an ultra-conservative, pro-capitalist book, so I can see why many might get offended by it. But it falls right into my category! Ideological without being too political.
April 22, 2011
I read this "Tea Party" book as a courtesy to a conservative friend. It was filled with blatant inaccuracy, tons of stats and numerical claims without citations, and revisionist history you'd expect to find in a Bob Jones textbook. He made a few good points about government size and responsibility, but most of it was colonialist, pro-establishment, xenophobic nonsense.
January 8, 2017
Conservative magical thinking in an Orwellian illusion of reality where rich will become serfs if they show some compassion and help when help is needed. The massive effort to rationalize the false trope of "helping causes dependency" is at work here. Read with an expectation of the agenda of the author.
This is more of the "don't feed stray dogs or they'll just keep coming back for more" philosophy - plus kick it when it's down that represents what passes for acceptable behavior to "them that's got" today.
This is more of the "don't feed stray dogs or they'll just keep coming back for more" philosophy - plus kick it when it's down that represents what passes for acceptable behavior to "them that's got" today.
March 14, 2013
Daniel Hannan is a member of the European Parliament from South East England. He became famous for a speech criticizing Gordon Brown's government and Britain's economic policy and staggering debt that went viral on YouTube. I am a bit ashamed to have to recommend a book by an Englishman reminding America of its greatness and what has made us exceptional, but it seems we are forgetting, and our political class is becoming ever more hostile to the notion of American exceptionalism.
As Hannan argues, America is in fact exceptional. It is the only nation that is defined by its principles rather than by a race, ethnicity, or mere geography. Hannan warns that America is in danger of sacrificing its founding principles to become more like Europe with its centralized welfare states and unwillingness to support the ideals of democracy and liberty throughout the world. This centralization--embodied in the EU as well as the individual European states' governments--has resulted in economic stagnation, institutional unemployment, the inability of electorates to effect any change through the ballot, and the erosion of civic morality in Britain as well as on the Continent. Socialism and unaccountable bureaucracies, while coming about through good intentions perhaps, do not succeed in providing their intended benefits. The welfare structure, instead of helping people out of poverty, traps them in it. Government provision of services people and communities can provide for themselves are of poor quality and breed a dependent, uncaring citizenry eventually unaccustomed to civic participation. Europe's political structure has created a governing class of bureaucrats and politicians unaccountable to and uninterested in the will of Europe's people. Like Hayek, from whom the book takes its title, Hannan sees the EU and other attempts at centralization as a return to feudalism of sorts whereby the people are governed without any recourse to correct errant leaders or policies.
There is much packed into this very short, well-written book. Hannan, like Tocqueville in the 19th century, has a keen grasp on American institutions and society. He continually returns to federalism as the source of America's liberty and prosperity. Indeed, there has probably not been an eminent American who has praised federalism so highly since James Madison. Hannan sees America as moving away from federalism, by which he means empowered states and local governments, toward Europeanization, by which he means increased governance by unaccountable federal bureaucracies and federal involvement in health care and the private sphere as well as the usurpation of prerogatives traditionally left to states and citizens. "Europeanization," he states, "is incompatible with the vision of the founders and the spirit of the republic." It is federalism that allows for true self-governance and cultural and economic flourishing. Hannan emphasizes that Americans do not realize how unique they are in that they elect nearly every local, state, and national public officeholder, and he points to elections, civic participation, and open primaries--also very unique to America--as bulwarks against the aggrandizement of the state at the expense of the individual.
Hannan, though British, unashamedly states that America is a city on a hill, quoting John Winthrop more than once. In fact he relishes America's exceptionalism as the fruit of British political thought and practice. He pleads to America not to relinquish its principles of liberty and self-government and travel further down the path of centralization or succumb to the pressures of fashionable anti-Americanism. Once self-government is relinquished, as it has been in Britain, it is not easily, if ever, recovered.
As Hannan argues, America is in fact exceptional. It is the only nation that is defined by its principles rather than by a race, ethnicity, or mere geography. Hannan warns that America is in danger of sacrificing its founding principles to become more like Europe with its centralized welfare states and unwillingness to support the ideals of democracy and liberty throughout the world. This centralization--embodied in the EU as well as the individual European states' governments--has resulted in economic stagnation, institutional unemployment, the inability of electorates to effect any change through the ballot, and the erosion of civic morality in Britain as well as on the Continent. Socialism and unaccountable bureaucracies, while coming about through good intentions perhaps, do not succeed in providing their intended benefits. The welfare structure, instead of helping people out of poverty, traps them in it. Government provision of services people and communities can provide for themselves are of poor quality and breed a dependent, uncaring citizenry eventually unaccustomed to civic participation. Europe's political structure has created a governing class of bureaucrats and politicians unaccountable to and uninterested in the will of Europe's people. Like Hayek, from whom the book takes its title, Hannan sees the EU and other attempts at centralization as a return to feudalism of sorts whereby the people are governed without any recourse to correct errant leaders or policies.
There is much packed into this very short, well-written book. Hannan, like Tocqueville in the 19th century, has a keen grasp on American institutions and society. He continually returns to federalism as the source of America's liberty and prosperity. Indeed, there has probably not been an eminent American who has praised federalism so highly since James Madison. Hannan sees America as moving away from federalism, by which he means empowered states and local governments, toward Europeanization, by which he means increased governance by unaccountable federal bureaucracies and federal involvement in health care and the private sphere as well as the usurpation of prerogatives traditionally left to states and citizens. "Europeanization," he states, "is incompatible with the vision of the founders and the spirit of the republic." It is federalism that allows for true self-governance and cultural and economic flourishing. Hannan emphasizes that Americans do not realize how unique they are in that they elect nearly every local, state, and national public officeholder, and he points to elections, civic participation, and open primaries--also very unique to America--as bulwarks against the aggrandizement of the state at the expense of the individual.
Hannan, though British, unashamedly states that America is a city on a hill, quoting John Winthrop more than once. In fact he relishes America's exceptionalism as the fruit of British political thought and practice. He pleads to America not to relinquish its principles of liberty and self-government and travel further down the path of centralization or succumb to the pressures of fashionable anti-Americanism. Once self-government is relinquished, as it has been in Britain, it is not easily, if ever, recovered.
January 4, 2016
I'm just not as into writing about books these days as I once was, so 'thank you' to another GoodReads reviewer, Frank Roberts, for penning my thoughts for me (except for the Ann Coulter comment; I've heard Daniel on the radio enough to know his style is closer to Krauthammer & Will):
"I approached this book almost expecting an Ann Coulter-style polemic, full of nothing but bashing of Obama and liberals in general. What I found instead was a very insightful and enjoyable exercise in comparative political science.
The author is a British member of the European parliament, and in this book he examines aspects of the American system of governance that set us apart from both Europe and Britain, including decentralization, elections for judges and local officials, open primaries and others. He convincingly demonstrates that America is different, and that these differences are intrinsic to the American political culture, a culture that is the exemplar and inspiration of those who love freedom around the world. He encourages and warns Americans not to adopt the European model, in healthcare, in immigration, in social policy, in fiscal policy, or in the empowering of unaccountable, unelected, centralized bureaucracies.
A powerful and inspiring read. Hannan also reminds the reader that to be an American is not to be the product of a particular place or lineage, but rather to be a participant in an idea. That idea is freedom, and those who hate freedom naturally hate America. Therefore, we shouldn't be too bothered by our critics abroad, and should remember that America has always set itself apart from Europe."
To Mr. Robert's comments, I will add, "The New Road to Serfdom" brought me close to tears a few times. It was so heartening to hear a European describe all that is bright and noble about this country, and even our often frustrating, imperfect government. For all the times that same government makes me want to scream, the US system is still the best the world has to offer- the most real freedom and real opportunity one can hope for.
I am so tired of her critics, both internal and external, tearing her down, ignoring the Founders,seeking to warp and change her, and trouncing the Constitution, whose words have as much meaning today as they did 235 years ago. They do this all in pursuit of some ill-begotten Utopian dream that will never exist in this fallen world. To actually hear how cumbersome and anti-democratic Europe, la belle du jour, is, and to see their system thoroughly compared and contrasted with ours, makes me a bit hopeful for the U.S., though it makes me sad, too, for all we have lost in the last 100 years.
I am grateful to Mr. Hannan for providing not only his critical, first hand knowledge of a system we, in the U.S., only hear of in laudatory tones, but also for sharing his own outsider's view on all that is praise-worthy in ours.
"I approached this book almost expecting an Ann Coulter-style polemic, full of nothing but bashing of Obama and liberals in general. What I found instead was a very insightful and enjoyable exercise in comparative political science.
The author is a British member of the European parliament, and in this book he examines aspects of the American system of governance that set us apart from both Europe and Britain, including decentralization, elections for judges and local officials, open primaries and others. He convincingly demonstrates that America is different, and that these differences are intrinsic to the American political culture, a culture that is the exemplar and inspiration of those who love freedom around the world. He encourages and warns Americans not to adopt the European model, in healthcare, in immigration, in social policy, in fiscal policy, or in the empowering of unaccountable, unelected, centralized bureaucracies.
A powerful and inspiring read. Hannan also reminds the reader that to be an American is not to be the product of a particular place or lineage, but rather to be a participant in an idea. That idea is freedom, and those who hate freedom naturally hate America. Therefore, we shouldn't be too bothered by our critics abroad, and should remember that America has always set itself apart from Europe."
To Mr. Robert's comments, I will add, "The New Road to Serfdom" brought me close to tears a few times. It was so heartening to hear a European describe all that is bright and noble about this country, and even our often frustrating, imperfect government. For all the times that same government makes me want to scream, the US system is still the best the world has to offer- the most real freedom and real opportunity one can hope for.
I am so tired of her critics, both internal and external, tearing her down, ignoring the Founders,seeking to warp and change her, and trouncing the Constitution, whose words have as much meaning today as they did 235 years ago. They do this all in pursuit of some ill-begotten Utopian dream that will never exist in this fallen world. To actually hear how cumbersome and anti-democratic Europe, la belle du jour, is, and to see their system thoroughly compared and contrasted with ours, makes me a bit hopeful for the U.S., though it makes me sad, too, for all we have lost in the last 100 years.
I am grateful to Mr. Hannan for providing not only his critical, first hand knowledge of a system we, in the U.S., only hear of in laudatory tones, but also for sharing his own outsider's view on all that is praise-worthy in ours.
January 4, 2011
I approached this book almost expecting an Ann Coulter-style polemic, full of nothing but bashing of Obama and liberals in general. What I found instead was a very insightful and enjoyable exercise in comparative political science.
The author is a British member of the European parliament, and in this book he examines aspects of the American system of governance that set us apart from both Europe and Britain, including decentralization, elections for judges and local officials, open primaries and others. He convincingly demonstrates that America is different, and that these differences are intrinsic to the American political culture, a culture that is the exemplar and inspiration of those who love freedom around the world. He encourages and warns Americans not to adopt the European model, in healthcare, in immigration, in social policy, in fiscal policy, or in the empowering of unaccountable, unelected, centralized bureaucracies.
A powerful and inspiring read. Hannan also reminds the reader that to be an American is not to be the product of a particular place or lineage, but rather to be a participant in an idea. That idea is freedom, and those who hate freedom naturally hate America. Therefore, we shouldn't be too bothered by our critics abroad, and should remember that America has always set itself apart from Europe.
The author is a British member of the European parliament, and in this book he examines aspects of the American system of governance that set us apart from both Europe and Britain, including decentralization, elections for judges and local officials, open primaries and others. He convincingly demonstrates that America is different, and that these differences are intrinsic to the American political culture, a culture that is the exemplar and inspiration of those who love freedom around the world. He encourages and warns Americans not to adopt the European model, in healthcare, in immigration, in social policy, in fiscal policy, or in the empowering of unaccountable, unelected, centralized bureaucracies.
A powerful and inspiring read. Hannan also reminds the reader that to be an American is not to be the product of a particular place or lineage, but rather to be a participant in an idea. That idea is freedom, and those who hate freedom naturally hate America. Therefore, we shouldn't be too bothered by our critics abroad, and should remember that America has always set itself apart from Europe.
January 23, 2011
Basically a warning written by Britishman Daniel Hannan to the American people about not abandoning our founding principles of freedom which will lead us into socialism.
Favorite Quote:
"The eyes of all people are upon you. And if they see you repudiate your past, abandon that which has brought you to greatness, become just another country, they, too, will have lost something.
So let me close with a heartfelt imprecation, from a Briton who loves his country to Americans who still believe in theirs. HOnor the genius of your founders. Respect the most sublime constitution devised by human intelligence. Keep faith with the design that has made you independent. Preserve the freedom of the nation to which, by good fortune and God's grace, you are privileged to belong." p 187
Favorite Quote:
"The eyes of all people are upon you. And if they see you repudiate your past, abandon that which has brought you to greatness, become just another country, they, too, will have lost something.
So let me close with a heartfelt imprecation, from a Briton who loves his country to Americans who still believe in theirs. HOnor the genius of your founders. Respect the most sublime constitution devised by human intelligence. Keep faith with the design that has made you independent. Preserve the freedom of the nation to which, by good fortune and God's grace, you are privileged to belong." p 187
April 29, 2011
Often, it is hard to hear someone's critique of a thing that you hold dear, and for other times, it is refreshing to be exposed to various ideas and concepts. I thoroughly enjoyed Mr Hannan's book; I truly had little knowledge about the European Union, and, prior to reading this book, I considered myself one who thought we (American's) had little appreciation for the European way of life.
However, after living in Europe for the past 2 years and reading this book, I am proud to say that I am an American and I do deserve the rights we have been freely given- I DO appreciate the European way of LIFE, just not the way the government is organized.
Mr. Hannan's words are moving, and I do believe this book needs to be read by all!
However, after living in Europe for the past 2 years and reading this book, I am proud to say that I am an American and I do deserve the rights we have been freely given- I DO appreciate the European way of LIFE, just not the way the government is organized.
Mr. Hannan's words are moving, and I do believe this book needs to be read by all!
February 1, 2011
Even though the subject matter was a downer (American political system turning into European-style socialism), Hannon does a beautiful job of reinforcing how and why the United States is so exceptional and why we should keep it that way. Having the book written from the perspective of a British member of the European Parliament gave it even more credibility.
Every American citizen, regardless of political party, should read this book- because it's every American's freedoms that get eaten up by the behemoth monster we call our federal government. We should all be warned.
Every American citizen, regardless of political party, should read this book- because it's every American's freedoms that get eaten up by the behemoth monster we call our federal government. We should all be warned.
April 4, 2011
I was a bit hesitant to read this book. After all, books by American politicians are a but underwhelming, to say the least. Fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised. Daniel Hannan, a British MP, has written a thoughtful and engaging book. Hannan compares the American political system with the European system and warns the U.S. not to pursue the European path. I have never really paid much attention to European politics, but as bad as I sometimes think American politics is, the European system does appear to be worse due to things such as closed primaries, voting for lists of candidates (making it impossible for senior politicians to be defeated-at least hypothetically Barney Frank could lose a primary), and surrendering national sovereignty via the European Union. Hannan rightly connects the latter with states surrendering sovereignty to the federal government. I have often wondered how many words the U.S. Constitution would be if it was written today. Hannan provides a hint of an answer when he points out that the EU Constitution contains 76,000 words, in contrast with the 7,200 words of the U.S. Constitution, and contains such "rights" as the right to strike, the right to free health care, and the right to affordable housing. Sadly, I do not thing this matters much because it does not seem like the U.S. Constitution does much to constrain our present government, besides doing something really blatant like banning free speech. I mean, it took a constitutional amendment to ban alcohol. Does anyone seriously think it would take another one to ban it again? The FDA would just declare alcohol a drug and regulate it, or Congress would just vote to ban it (like it does pot). Unsurprisingly, Hannan is opposed to government run health care. But, it is a nice surprise that he gives props to the Singapore health care system which is comprised of health savings accounts coupled with catastrophic insurance coverage. Singapore spends a fraction, in terms of GDP does, on health care and has better health outcomes. Too often, American politicians rail against "Obamacare" without providing an alternative, as if the status quo is sustainable. Hannan also warns of the passing of legislative powers from elected officials to elected bureaucrats. This is common in Britain and sadly common in America, where bills such as Dodd-Frank are passed with gaps and the gaps later filled in by the regulatory agencies. What legislator would pass a bill that has yet to be written? It is unbelievable, when you think of it.
Hannan's case is strong, but reading the book it becomes sadly clear that the U.S. is moving down the European path. Churchill once said that "You can always count on Americans to do the right thing - after they've tried everything else.” I think it should be updated to say "You can always count on Americans to do the European thing-after they've seen the European thing doesn't work." One European thing I would like the Americans to do is elect enough Daniel Hannans to Congress to get a veto-proof majority :o)
Hannan's case is strong, but reading the book it becomes sadly clear that the U.S. is moving down the European path. Churchill once said that "You can always count on Americans to do the right thing - after they've tried everything else.” I think it should be updated to say "You can always count on Americans to do the European thing-after they've seen the European thing doesn't work." One European thing I would like the Americans to do is elect enough Daniel Hannans to Congress to get a veto-proof majority :o)
November 10, 2014
Easy and enjoyable read. Knocked a star off for the grave lack of footnotes. That said, he regularly mentions the books he's bouncing off of and otherwise gives you the info you need to track down more info on his various claims. Since the Internet has proven so useful, I get less wound about books without footnotes than I used to.
One thing that intrigued me is that people from the Colonies went back to fight in the English Civil War; had not known that, although once he brought it up it made sense. Also surprised that people in Europe don't realize how many of the US rights and principles go back to UK documents; I agree with Hannan that, legally speaking, there's a deeper commonality there between the UK and the US than between the UK and the rest of Europe. OTOH, I would guess the UK has stronger cultural ties to Europe than to the US, and it makes sense the Europeans would see the cultural ties and miss the connection through law systems, while those legal ties are clear to me.
I am regularly irked when US leaders talk about signing on to some UN contract or another without consulting the people, and furious when they actually do it; sounds like the EU is "more of the same, just another name." Which makes sense, in light of the comments some of my European friends have made, just never thought it through before. At least in the US we have the protection of such outside contracts having to go through Congress.
One thing that intrigued me is that people from the Colonies went back to fight in the English Civil War; had not known that, although once he brought it up it made sense. Also surprised that people in Europe don't realize how many of the US rights and principles go back to UK documents; I agree with Hannan that, legally speaking, there's a deeper commonality there between the UK and the US than between the UK and the rest of Europe. OTOH, I would guess the UK has stronger cultural ties to Europe than to the US, and it makes sense the Europeans would see the cultural ties and miss the connection through law systems, while those legal ties are clear to me.
I am regularly irked when US leaders talk about signing on to some UN contract or another without consulting the people, and furious when they actually do it; sounds like the EU is "more of the same, just another name." Which makes sense, in light of the comments some of my European friends have made, just never thought it through before. At least in the US we have the protection of such outside contracts having to go through Congress.
December 30, 2010
Daniel Hannan is a British citizen and a member of the European Parliament. Although this body is supposedly a representative legislative body, it is too big and too unwieldy to be anything more than a debating society. Mr Hannan writes about the trans national non-governmental agencies that increasingly govern European society yet are not accountable to anyone. Having spent a great deal of time traveling in the US as a student and later as a politician he has an appreciation of our country and its people as well as of our constitution and democracy which he feels is threatened by the socialist impulse of the liberal elites. His book is a warning not to follow the European model which he believes will result in a loss of our representative democracy, and ultimately bankruptacy if we continue to spend what we don't have. Although this book is not a polemic, it is an eloquently argued plea from a concerned thoughtful man.
September 21, 2011
As I prepare to move to London, it's nice to know there is at least one British politician who I can respect on that side of the Atlantic. In this quick read, MP Daniel Hannan warns his American cousins to abandon our present path toward emulating the European model of social democracy. By contrasting the founding documents, the process by which they were implemented, and political and social consequences of the EU and the US systems, Hannan builds a strong case for why America needs to stand true to our founding principles and reject the EU model. As cynical as I am about American politics, and as broken as our system may be, I have come away from this book with a much better appreciation for the political process in the US.
September 25, 2017
Everything I have seen, heard, or read by Daniel Hannan has been right on for what is happening today with respect to changes in societies of America, Britain, and the European Union. This book is no exception. He also offers unique insights into the origins of our constitutional government. His main message is that we can see where we are headed if we look at what has already happened to countries that have joined the EU making their own political systems subservient to the EU where there is a lack of accountability. Britain is currently headed in that same direction and Mr. Hannan is presenting the information in this book as a warning to America. Great read for anyone interested in what our future could look like.
December 1, 2010
I have finally found my political match! Intellectual but not elitist, Principled but not rigidly ideological, passionate but civil. Thank you Daniel for all your insights about European policies and their effects. Hopefully our political leaders will read this and act. This is one of those few non-fiction works that will not be anachronistic because it explains problems and solutions from a conservative philosophy and doesn't just throw out hackneyed talking points and myopic rhetoric. My only complaint is that it isn't long enough!
December 31, 2010
I really enjoyed this book from beginning to end. I think enar the end the author gets a little on his high horse about Britain and is also a bit more laudatory of the Republican Party than I would be - though he does hit on the bad things they did in the 2000s. Overall a great book establishing the foundations of American politics and the ideas of individual liberty, limited government and representative deomcracy and how that differs greatly from the system/values/beliefs of the bureaucrats that lead the EU.
January 20, 2011
I enjoy the articles that I have read that have been written by this author and member of the EU Parliament and was excited when I had seen that he had written this book. It is amazing to me to see some of the insight in books that I have read by members of the press and government from oversees authors. This book is as good as Welcome to Obamaland: I Have Seen Your Future and It Doesn't Work.
January 24, 2011
I am an unabashed fan of Daniel Hannan. Ever since the moment when I saw him berate PM Gordon Brown, I knew I liked his politics. In this book, he writes a letter of warning to America to avoid the path to Europeanization that we are currently walking. The book is easy to read, aside from a few anglicisms and archaic words, but it punches hard on a number of key current event issues. I highly recommend it!
November 19, 2010
Daniel Hannan offers his British gentlemanly and unique yet widely-shared perspective on how the only inevitable outcome with economic tyranny is that we are all once again serfs. History repeating the lessons never learned from Austrian-born economist and philosopher Friedrich von Hayeky's "Road to Serfdom own masterpiece written in 1943.
February 10, 2011
Leave it to a Briton to remind Americans of the uniqueness and, dare I say it, of our system of government. He demonstrates a great grasp of our founding documents, rooted as they are in the British legal tradition. He compares it with what Europe has become, a demoralized, stagnant society under the tyranny of bureaucrats. His message to us: Don't become another Europe.
November 27, 2010
I give this book the highest possible rating. The author briefly, directly, clearly explains some of the dangers America faces if it follows Europe down the path of the welfare state and large centralized undemocratic government.
January 8, 2011
Outstanding!!! An amazing Book, and highly recommended for anyone who has ever wished that our great country should strive to be more like, or completely replicate the "European Welfare Union".
November 19, 2011
Amazing insight from a prophet outside the inner circle of United States political corruption. A hard smack in the face to politicians in general and a dire warning for America.
March 30, 2012
... not in his party and views, that's for sure.
April 21, 2012
I don't think he read the original Road to Serfdom.
July 22, 2020
Written during the Obama administration, British European Parliament member Daniel Hannan offers an insightful and eloquent perspective into the path the European Union has taken (and in many senses, with Britain along with it) and the desire by many to push the United States in the same direction. Since America is an ideal along with a country, Hannan urges America to stand by its founding principles and not to follow the path taken by the EU that include the loss of national sovereignty, the rise of the bureaucratic state, and the sliding fall towards socialism.
Hannan implores Americans: "Honor the genius of your Founders. Keep faith with the design that has made you independent. Preserve the freedom of the nation which by fortune and God's grace you are privileged to belong" (Ch. 8).
A few gems:
- Within hours after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, America had sent an aircraft carrier with 19 helicopters, hospital ships, 3,500 troops, and hundreds of medical personnel, and had reestablished a functioning airport. An angry French minister called this, "establish[ing] an occupation." What had the EU done? The EU had held a press conference, expressed its condolences, and "had gone back to congratulating itself on its moral superiority over the stingy Yanks." (Intro.)
- "Liberty in religious affairs is the securest basis for liberty in civil affairs." (Ch. 1)
- Allegiance to the America means allegiance to its foundational texts and the principles inherent therein. It means loyalty to the republican ideal, which is the principle of a virtuous, independent, and freestanding citizenry. "Those who reject these ideals, who eschew the principles on which the United States was founded can fairly be described as 'un-American.'" (Ch. 1)
- In Europe, as long as there was somewhere to flee to, the power of the autocrat was checked. As long as there were competing states, no dictatorship would be secure. (Ch. 2)
- "The EU is a depressing example of what the US might turn into: a federation that is prepared to sacrifice prosperity for the sake of uniformity." "External competition is perhaps the major constraint upon a dirigiste government" because capital and entrepreneurs and firms eventually leave for more favorable conditions. (Ch. 3)
- The bits of the European model that are most visibly failing are the bits that (some) Americans want to copy: a larger government role in healthcare and social security, state ownership of key enterprises from banks to the auto industry, regulation of private salaries, higher state spending, and political centralization. (Ch. 5)
- Pres. Clinton devolved responsibility by shifting social security from the federal government to the states and gave local authorities incentives to reduce their caseloads. With freedom to experiment, the states seized on these initiatives with marvelous results. See, e.g. Wisconsin, which was a living & thriving example of success to those who opposed the devolution program. (Ch. 5)
- "Sadly, in Europe, the poor have generally been left to the Left, with consequences that, while inconvenient to the taxpayer, are disastrous to the destitute." 2nd & 3rd generational welfare claimants are growing up without any connection to the world of work. (Ch. 5)
- "Europeanization (of America) is incompatible with the vision of the Founders and the spirit of the Republic." "Americans are embracing all the things that their ancestors were so keen to get away from--high taxes; un-elected lawmakers' (bureaucrats) pettifogging rules." (Ch. 5)
- The "cap-and-trade" legislation during the Obama administration is one example of the Europeanization of the US because it will lead to more regulation and slower growth, and in the fact that American lawmakers (like their Euro counterparts) are engaging in "declamatory lawmaking." (Ch. 6)
- People treat their own resources differently than they treat other people's (in politics and in humanity). (Ch. 6)
- The site where Magna Carta was signed at Runnymede went unmarked until 1957, when a memorial was erected by the American Bar Assoc. (Ch. 8)
- The genius of America, Jefferson believed, lies in its system of government, and any country that so orders its affairs along republican principles could be as happy and prosperous as the United States. Pres. Obama made this same point on the night of his election speech in Chicago. (Ch. 8)
- The recent divergence between the UK and the US has come about as a result of a general shift in power in the UK, from Parliament to "Quangos" (quasi NGOs), from local councils to central bureaucracies, and "most damagingly," from Westminster to the EU. (Ch. 8)
Hannan implores Americans: "Honor the genius of your Founders. Keep faith with the design that has made you independent. Preserve the freedom of the nation which by fortune and God's grace you are privileged to belong" (Ch. 8).
A few gems:
- Within hours after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, America had sent an aircraft carrier with 19 helicopters, hospital ships, 3,500 troops, and hundreds of medical personnel, and had reestablished a functioning airport. An angry French minister called this, "establish[ing] an occupation." What had the EU done? The EU had held a press conference, expressed its condolences, and "had gone back to congratulating itself on its moral superiority over the stingy Yanks." (Intro.)
- "Liberty in religious affairs is the securest basis for liberty in civil affairs." (Ch. 1)
- Allegiance to the America means allegiance to its foundational texts and the principles inherent therein. It means loyalty to the republican ideal, which is the principle of a virtuous, independent, and freestanding citizenry. "Those who reject these ideals, who eschew the principles on which the United States was founded can fairly be described as 'un-American.'" (Ch. 1)
- In Europe, as long as there was somewhere to flee to, the power of the autocrat was checked. As long as there were competing states, no dictatorship would be secure. (Ch. 2)
- "The EU is a depressing example of what the US might turn into: a federation that is prepared to sacrifice prosperity for the sake of uniformity." "External competition is perhaps the major constraint upon a dirigiste government" because capital and entrepreneurs and firms eventually leave for more favorable conditions. (Ch. 3)
- The bits of the European model that are most visibly failing are the bits that (some) Americans want to copy: a larger government role in healthcare and social security, state ownership of key enterprises from banks to the auto industry, regulation of private salaries, higher state spending, and political centralization. (Ch. 5)
- Pres. Clinton devolved responsibility by shifting social security from the federal government to the states and gave local authorities incentives to reduce their caseloads. With freedom to experiment, the states seized on these initiatives with marvelous results. See, e.g. Wisconsin, which was a living & thriving example of success to those who opposed the devolution program. (Ch. 5)
- "Sadly, in Europe, the poor have generally been left to the Left, with consequences that, while inconvenient to the taxpayer, are disastrous to the destitute." 2nd & 3rd generational welfare claimants are growing up without any connection to the world of work. (Ch. 5)
- "Europeanization (of America) is incompatible with the vision of the Founders and the spirit of the Republic." "Americans are embracing all the things that their ancestors were so keen to get away from--high taxes; un-elected lawmakers' (bureaucrats) pettifogging rules." (Ch. 5)
- The "cap-and-trade" legislation during the Obama administration is one example of the Europeanization of the US because it will lead to more regulation and slower growth, and in the fact that American lawmakers (like their Euro counterparts) are engaging in "declamatory lawmaking." (Ch. 6)
- People treat their own resources differently than they treat other people's (in politics and in humanity). (Ch. 6)
- The site where Magna Carta was signed at Runnymede went unmarked until 1957, when a memorial was erected by the American Bar Assoc. (Ch. 8)
- The genius of America, Jefferson believed, lies in its system of government, and any country that so orders its affairs along republican principles could be as happy and prosperous as the United States. Pres. Obama made this same point on the night of his election speech in Chicago. (Ch. 8)
- The recent divergence between the UK and the US has come about as a result of a general shift in power in the UK, from Parliament to "Quangos" (quasi NGOs), from local councils to central bureaucracies, and "most damagingly," from Westminster to the EU. (Ch. 8)
February 10, 2024
This one is not as amazing as "How We Invented Freedom," but still, I appreciate its views and interpretation of America.
From the start, the author declared America's uniqueness: their nationality was chosen by themselves or their ancestors. Allegiance to America is not confined to a concrete country but to its foundational texts and principles: the belief in the free market, independence, and liberty. What is more, as observed by the author, the Americans have faith in their system. This point is really striking to me. In my country, many people also believe in our system(though some find it flawed and others detest it altogether); they do so only because of patriotism. We love our country not for its ideas and systems(as there have been numerous over history) but for the very fact that it is our homeland. Drawn from my experience, many people around me who appreciate America are simply appreciating its liberal tradition.
In terms of EU, the author lamented, if not attacked directly, its defection to the richness of European traditions: diversity, pluralism, and variety. The lack of central power, which in turn encourages adventure, exploration, and political freedom, is the very essence of why Europe has enjoyed hegemony for so long a time. However, these ideas flourish better in the New World than in its home. This reminds me of the words of Berlin: "In the United States, perhaps, for obvious economic reasons, the nineteenth century survives more powerfully than anywhere else." In a nutshell, Hannan believed that the EU set a depressing example of sacrificing prosperity for uniformity--- to America. As illustrated in the last century's history, America was not immune to the centralizing tendency and the expansion of the state.
The flaws of this book lie in its lack of credentials when it comes to the present policy, as the data do not have reliable sources. Some expressions in this field sound too subjective---though it is inevitable when discussing the present.
From the start, the author declared America's uniqueness: their nationality was chosen by themselves or their ancestors. Allegiance to America is not confined to a concrete country but to its foundational texts and principles: the belief in the free market, independence, and liberty. What is more, as observed by the author, the Americans have faith in their system. This point is really striking to me. In my country, many people also believe in our system(though some find it flawed and others detest it altogether); they do so only because of patriotism. We love our country not for its ideas and systems(as there have been numerous over history) but for the very fact that it is our homeland. Drawn from my experience, many people around me who appreciate America are simply appreciating its liberal tradition.
In terms of EU, the author lamented, if not attacked directly, its defection to the richness of European traditions: diversity, pluralism, and variety. The lack of central power, which in turn encourages adventure, exploration, and political freedom, is the very essence of why Europe has enjoyed hegemony for so long a time. However, these ideas flourish better in the New World than in its home. This reminds me of the words of Berlin: "In the United States, perhaps, for obvious economic reasons, the nineteenth century survives more powerfully than anywhere else." In a nutshell, Hannan believed that the EU set a depressing example of sacrificing prosperity for uniformity--- to America. As illustrated in the last century's history, America was not immune to the centralizing tendency and the expansion of the state.
The flaws of this book lie in its lack of credentials when it comes to the present policy, as the data do not have reliable sources. Some expressions in this field sound too subjective---though it is inevitable when discussing the present.
March 22, 2023
“American self-belief is like a force of nature, awesome and inexorable. It turned a dream of liberty into a functioning nation, and placed that nation's flag on the moon. It drew settlers across the seas in the tens of millions, and liberated hundreds of millions more from the evils of fascism and communism.”
“The ideals… incorporated into the founding texts of the republic—freedom, self-reliance, limited government, the dispersal of power—are being forgotten. The characteristics that once set America apart are being eliminated. The United States is becoming just
another country.”
“When the U.S. Constitution enshrined the principles of decentralization and representative government, it was simply reiterating the long-standing customs of most Americans. To put it another way, the New World attracted those who sought freedom and independence. The conditions of the early settlements were conducive to these same values. So it is hardly surprising that these ideals should in time have been codified in the U.S. Constitution.”
“The ideals… incorporated into the founding texts of the republic—freedom, self-reliance, limited government, the dispersal of power—are being forgotten. The characteristics that once set America apart are being eliminated. The United States is becoming just
another country.”
“When the U.S. Constitution enshrined the principles of decentralization and representative government, it was simply reiterating the long-standing customs of most Americans. To put it another way, the New World attracted those who sought freedom and independence. The conditions of the early settlements were conducive to these same values. So it is hardly surprising that these ideals should in time have been codified in the U.S. Constitution.”
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