-The Cadence Group sent me a free copy of America's Suicide, if I would review it on my blog.
-I confess that I generally do not read books when I suspect I will disagree with the premise. I decided to make an exception with this book, to sharpen my reasoning skills.
-I was surprised to find that I agreed with more of Michael H. Davison's points than I thought I would.
-I have a lot of quotes I would like to include in this review, but I'll have to limit myself, because there were a lot that resonated. I'll include them throughout this review.
Liberalism cites compassion and fairness to justify its policies. In practice this has meant taking from one group and giving to another minus handling charges; it neither cultivates compassion in the "giver" nor gratitude in the receiver.--pgs. 41-42The Parts of the book that I liked and/or agreed with:
1) The book as a whole helped me to think about and evaluate my personal belief system. It woke me up and enabled me to see some of the decay I had allowed in my thinking. The past couple of years have been extremely difficult for me. I went through a divorce and was catapulted from being a homeschooling Mom to having to provide for myself and my kids all on my own after being out of the work force for 20 years. I realized that in some ways I had adopted a victim mentality that society somehow owed me, because things were difficult.
With confidence in one's own effectiveness, an individual can persevere through life's trials and setbacks with courage and resourcefulness. The senses of security and self value that form the foundation on which that confidence later rests are laid down in the first few years of life in a loving and nurturing home. If adverse circumstances close that crucial window of time, but not impossible individual undertaking. Government cannot compensate for that loss but in practice has only succeeded in furnishing rationalizations for those who shun the effort.--pgs. 102-103-I realized that my current job as a waitress has shown me the realities of life. As a waitress you don't have the luxury of calling in sick. You could be on your death bed, but you still have to find a way to come in or find someone to take your shift. You can't leave before your tables are clean and your side work is done, because if you don't do it, someone else has to. This is exactly what "real world" living is all about. If you don't do your job (whatever that may be), someone else has to pick up the slack.
Socialists cannot easily evade the reality that the three most virulent cultures to have ever infected the Earth, Soviet Russia, Communist China and Nazi Germany, rose and flourished under socialist banners. More blood splashed horror and grief has been wrought, torture inflicted and terror perpetrated in the name of socialism than could have been by ten thousand Genghis Khans at their extremities of sadism. Chinese currency still bears the portrait of Mao, among the worst butchers of history and a committed advocate of socialism.--pg. 722) The book gave me a clearer view of socialism. Davison is able to articulate what should be said when explaining why socialism is so destructive.
The Parts of the book I didn't like and/or disagreed with:
1) Davison admits that he doesn't have any "deeply reassuring and effective political solutions to offer". He does give some suggestions on what might make things better, but I found them lacking. This is my exact problem with people like Davison, examples being men like Ron Paul and Michael Savage. They are always ready to be pessimistic and point out how horrible Republicans and Democrats are, but don't have a good alternative.
-The only real solution he gives is that the world would be better off if we all had more knowledge. He gives a list entitled, "Principles of The Rational and Responsible American Party." The problem is he advocates getting back to the principles of our Founding Fathers but wants to divorce our country from any remnant of faith in God, which is the foundation that the Founding Fathers built our country on, which leads me to my next point.
2) Davison wants to create a perfect country by completely eliminating all religions. He touts wisdom, honesty and courage, but where would we get the morality to exhibit these qualities without a belief in God? He seems to have a lot of disdain for any belief system, and claims that religion causes as much destruction as socialism. While I will admit that a lot of horrors have been committed in the name of religion, it isn't God's fault that some people twist and distort His message.
-He says that "religion will sink into irrelevance only when we find a better alternative for facing the pain and brevity of life." Again my question is, what is the alternative?? As I pointed out earlier, if you are going to trash something, you need to have a solution or an alternative.
My conclusion:
-I think this book is well worth reading, if nothing else to enable you to think and evaluate what you believe and why.
