A well written amazon.com book review.

[paul_valaru]

link

 

[Professur]

Beck uses this book to openly criticize progressive taxation, public education, social security, and "the progressive agenda." But readers should know something - Thomas Paine was one of the earliest advocates of progressive taxation, even drawing up tables and rates.

He was also the first proponent of the estate tax. And in Agrarian Justice he proposed a democratic ideal to combat poverty and income inequality by taxing the wealthy to give jobs and "grants" to young people. He also proposed using this system to provide government-sponsored pensions for the elderly. Historians cite Paine's Agrarian Justice as the earliest call for a national old-age pension - ie. Social Security. He wanted to tax the rich and give money to the poor.

He joined Thomas Jefferson in strongly advocating universal tax-supported public education, believing it was necessary to promote an educated electorate and was a necessary way to combat poverty. Paine also sought a federally guaranteed minimum wage, and long before Woodrow Wilson, Paine urged the establishment of, and US participation in, global organizations to help solve international problems and avoid wars.

The fact that the US constitution pretty well forbids all of that notwithstanding.

 

[paul_valaru]

The fact that the US constitution pretty well forbids all of that notwithstanding.

The point was beck claims he was inspired by paine to write the book..

I think this is gonna have to move to the real world.

 

[Professur]

The point was beck claims he was inspired by paine to write the book..

I think this is gonna have to move to the real world.

He may well have been inspired by Paine. Just not positively inspired. Not having read the book, or much about Paine, I leave discussing the validity of that point to those who have.

 

[Gonz]

link

Have you read the book?

 

[paul_valaru]

Have you read the book?

that would involve buying it.

I will not give Mr. Beck any of my money.

 

[Gonz]

Then, are you sure the review is accurate?

Oh, I did buy this one. I was curious what he had to say in relation to the original

 

[Professur]

that would involve buying it.

I will not give Mr. Beck any of my money.

Public libraries are a wonderful thing.

 

[paul_valaru]

Then, are you sure the review is accurate?

I never said accurate, I said well written.

From some other sources I read it does sounds accurate though.

 

[Gonz]

I never said accurate, I said well written.

From some other sources I read it does sounds accurate though.

Given the current political cycle, and Mr Becks ideology, it's a fair bet there will be few unbiased reviews.

 

[paul_valaru]

Given the current political cycle, and Mr Becks ideology, it's a fair bet there will be few unbiased reviews.

unbiased review of a book written by a political pundit?

there won't even be one.

 

[Professur]

unbiased review of a book written by a political pundit?

there won't even be one.

Good to see that recognized by both sides.

 

[paul_valaru]

Good to see that recognized by both sides.

I still think it was well written.

clear statements, with some sort of backup to claims made.

we could use some of that here.

 

[catocom]

the point...
there isn't much "Common Sense" left.

 

[paul_valaru]

the point...
there isn't much "Common Sense" left.

there is plenty of common sense left, just people let their political positions blind them to it.

on both sides equally.

 

[catocom]

yeah, good luck with that

 

[BeardofPants]

Common sense from whose point of view?

 

[Gonz]

MINE! and that's final.

 

[catocom]

Common sense from whose point of view?

exactly
chic convinced me of it

 

[BeardofPants]

Sorry, didn't actually realise you were making the same point; makes mine redundant, LOL.