Throughout the book, Hartmann supports his assertions with a blizzard of factoids, held together by a quick-moving narrative, spiced with timely historical quotations from Thomas Jefferson, Tom Paine, and various other worthy thinkers. I found this method of presentation to be exciting and invigorating, but not totally satisfying. The top Neo-Conservative commentators use this very same method, but with different factoids and quotations to support their very different conclusions.
Even so, Hartmann's book covers a lot of territory in an interesting and compelling manner. I hope that other writers will build on his work and provide additional depth and legitimacy to the important points he has clearly identified in this book.
Hartmann ends his book with an urgent call to action: "We are fighting a war in America for the very heart and soul of our country. But it's a war we can do something about. Don't let yourself be screwed. Speak up, fight back, and never, never yield."
MP3 Reading At http://www.loveallpeople.org/legitimateauthority.mp3
(Public Domain)
Every American receives a legitimate inheritance, handed down by those who lived and died here before us; and that inheritance is our Government, as set forth by our Constitution. This Constitution gives to each American the exact same rights and protections it gives to every other American, including an equal share in the power of Government.
The American People of an earlier time created this Government, and they clearly announced its purposes and objectives . . .
"We the People of the United States, in Order
to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure
domestic Tranquility, provide for the common
defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure
the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our
Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution
for the United States of America."
- Preamble to the United States Constitution
And we, the American People today, are the "Posterity" mentioned above by the Founders. We have now inherited the authority and responsibility to maintain this Government according to the specifications established by the Constitution. This authority does not belong to any King or any Upper Class, or Nobility, or Corporations, or Religious Authorities, or Rich People, or Well-Educated People, or Elected Politicians or any other special person or group.
The American People are the sovereign power. We are self-governing. Acting through our Government, under the Constitution, we can make or modify any or all of the rules by which our economy and our country operate. We make the laws; and we can unmake them. We create the corporations; and we can un-create them. We have allowed some people to accumulate disproportionate wealth and power; and we can disallow it. We even have the power to change the Constitution, following the procedures set forth in the Constitution for its own amendment. Our Government is a Democracy; it is ours. And it belongs equally to all of us.
I hope and pray that We The People will be strong enough, and smart enough, and diligent enough to take back this wonderful gift we have inherited, and not let it be soiled and corrupted any further by this misguided band of Neo-Conservatives who think it now belongs to them alone.
Blessings to you. May God help us all.
Rev. Bill McGinnis
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