Today, Americans are united. United in the belief that our political system is broken, that politicians are corrupt, and that neither major political party has the answers. Americans don't want to be governed from the left, the right, or the center. We want to govern ourselves. "This book is dead-on in both its theory and timing. It poses a worthy and moral challenge to politicians and practitioners of politics to stand up for the people and their right to self-govern." - Joe Trippi, Political Strategist/former campaign manager for Howard Dean "...In Search of Self-Governance promises to be the type of provocative and compelling tome for the decade to come that The Third Wave and The Tipping Point were in decades past." - Carter Clews, Liberty Features Syndicate "In this brilliant and thoughtful essay (Rasmussen) unmasks the new fault line of our democracy: Mainstream America rising to reassert the supremacy of their sacred right of self governance over a failed Political Class grimly determined to preserve the primacy of their prerogatives of power. With calm reason Rasmussen lays out the contours of the struggle upon which may hang the ultimate fate of our American Experiment." - Pat Caddell, Political Strategist/pollster for President Jimmy Carter "...Rasmussen's book is useful and important in that it casts a light on what is happening in the private side of the public sphere where, outside of politics, real and usually constructive change is taking place. He broadens our perspective and reminds us that most of the great good in this world was not achieved on the floor of Congress, but in the hearts, minds, and actions of the individuals who make up America." - Dick Morris
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User Reviews about In Search of Self-Governance
The angst and anger for which the Tea Party movement is only the tip of the iceberg is well reflected in Scott Rasmussen's analysis of what ails the American republic today. America is past the point of just talking about the corruption infesting government, industry, professions, and the academy; now it is virtually screaming about it. This book should be in the hands of millions who are hoisting posters today, as much in defiance of corruption as in resignation to it.
Normally, one looks to Scott Rasmussen to take the political pulse of America, but with In Search of Self-Governance Scott exposes not just the pulse of our anxious republic, but her very heart.
David M. Zuniga, P.E.
Founder & CEO, AmericaAgain!
Author, This Bloodless Liberty
-- Capturing the very heart of America
This book can be read in a day. I love how easy it is to read and digest. Short chapters and clear concise writing make it a dream book.
I very much agree with everything he said about current politicians forgetting that it is we who are in charge. They believe they are smarter than us and can therefore run our lives better than we can. But Americans have always believed we do better when we run our own lives. Afterall, I may not be as smart as Obama and others on the left, but I certainly qualify as a genius when it comes to how well I can make decisions that affect me! No one in Washington could ever run my life better than I can! I don't care how annointed they feel they are to guide the helpless masses. I'm a grown-up and America was founded as a nation of grown-ups. We need to show the politicians we hired to keep the country going that we are perfectly capable of governing ourselves.
I almost wish he would do an update to reflect the sentiments coming out of the Tea Parties and their supporters. He seems to believe a group like that has their finger on the pulse of this nation.
I would also love it if he would name names, but he is much too civil for that. I would at least love to know who the current leaders are that we can support. Who is standing up for us right now and ready to lead us back to the values of small, limited government we are looking for? -- Easy read, brilliant insight
I was kind of surprised that a book written by Scott Rasmussen was so light in backup material. Perhaps I wrongly suspected that the book would have used some statistics gathered in the author's experience that supported the claim of self-governance. But all in all, the book seemed to be a kind of "pep" talk.
All in all I doubt anyone (conservative or liberal) could find too much to complain about in the book. Perhaps this was what gave me the impression of "softness." I think I, like many current readers, half-way expected a more compelling argument.
The book's theme seems to be that Americans are basically self-governing; that our Constitution recognizes and supports this self-governance. What is missing is a compelling argument about how we got into the predicament we are in (loss of self-governance). That would be enlightening - and perhaps controversial.
The book's plea is that the common American needs to pick up the gauntlet and enter the political arena, even if it's not in our nature. I found this plea to be the weakest part of the book. Though the reasoning and need are clearly spelled out, there was not enough in this little book to motivate a cynical, not involved, contributor to the current state. Had I been motivated, there were insufficient tools or means presented that would allow a "common" person to rise above the tyranny that already exists.
I'm not saying that this book was not helpful in defining the need to return to our "roots" of self-governance and public service by true citizens, but it is not enough. We need a book that tells us how to do it; how to overcome the "professional" politicians, the "professional" lobbyist; the money machines that fund our political races. -- Good, but kind of soft
