Democracy on the Edge, A Discussion of Political Topics in America



 

PRESS RELEASE

 

If you’re interested in politics you will want to buy this book. “Democracy on the Edge” is named the “Best Political Book” in 2016 by Pacific Book Review and is also a FINALIST on the 2016 Publisher Weekly “Indie Book Award” for Current Events/Social Change.

“Democracy on the Edge” provides the background and facts behind the issues that will decide the next presidential election, all in one book.

• The Financial Crisis- What really caused the crisis?  The “Dodd-Frank Act” was enacted to prevent another financial crisis.  What does the act do?
• Campaign Finance- What was involved in the Supreme Court’s decision of “Citizens United” case?  How do Super PACs operate and affect American elections?  Who are these  people contributing millions to elections?
• Debt and the Economy- “Income Inequality”, how much do the rich really own?  Republican “supply side economics” versus the Democrat “Keynesian economics” explained in really simple language?  Is it working, the facts?
• Healthcare- Why some of us are paying for other peoples care?  What is the effect of not having a national heath care system?  A primer on how “Obamacare” works.
• Gun Control- The second amendment guarantees the right to won firearms, but what are the limitations?  How does America’s gun violence rank among other nations of the world?  Some reasonable ideas to reduce gun violence.
• Tea Party- Who are they? What do they stand for?  How are their ideas contradictory?
• American Business- The history of how some American businesses operate.  Are  Government regulations really necessary?
• Global Warming- Is it real?  What are the effects of global warming?  Is it already too late?

Each issue is based on reliable and verifiable facts not personal opinion and the issues are explained in simple, easy-to-understand terms.  But the book is not just statistics and facts; the discussions are punctuated with personal anecdotes and humorous quips that make the book entertaining to read.

“Democracy on the Edge,” is available at www.amrheinsbooks.com, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com and at your local book store.

What reviewers say about “Democracy on the Edge”:

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review, April, 2016
…. If you are fed up with lies and half-truths and want real answers, Terry AmRhein obliges in the pages of "Democracy on the Edge: A Discussion of Political Issues in America"….

Charity Roswell-Stanbury, Creator of On My Kindle, April 03, 2016

…. Having read and reviewed a book earlier in my career in which the author misrepresented his biased and unsupported views as fact, I appreciate the opportunity to feature an author who did his homework.

By Paula, March, 2016,

Wow!  Who Knew! … Before reading this excellent book, I must admit I was very naive. I never knew about the PACs and Superpacs massive amount of capital distorting the political process …. This book hits you right between the eyes with its directness and accuracy….


Jim D’s Review, July 2015,
This book was well written and a very informative and interesting read. Although I did not agree with all the authors' views and opinions, he did provide evidence to support them and provided much food for thought. He also injected some personal humor which lightened the reading of what I usually consider somewhat dry material.


By BWayne on August 11, 2015
If you want a good overview of some major issues confronting the U.S. this book is for you.... his writing reflects not only the results of a commendable research effort but also an effort to distill complex issues into more easily understood terms for those who may lack technical expertise in many areas.

 

“Democracy on the Edge,” is available at www.amrheinsbooks.com, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com and at your local book store.

Tennessee Adopts the Bible as the State Book

By Terry A. AmRhein

Author of “Democracy on the Edge, A Discussion of Political Issues in America”

Available at www.amrheinsbooks.com, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and you local book store

 

The State of Tennessee has voted to make the Bible the Official State Book?  Members of the state congress suggest that having a state book is not different then having any other state symbol, an official beverage, milk; an official wild animal, the raccoon; an official fruit, the tomato; and, for Christ’s sake, an official state rifle, the M82 sniper rifle.  Comparing the holy bible with a sniper rifle really makes me want to scratch my head.

            In reality, Tennessee’s vote is only a very thinly veiled attempt to establish Christianity as a “preferred religion”, and to place other religions on an inferior basis.  If this is not true, then why pick the Bible?  Why not the Torah or Koran?  Or for that matter, why not “Fifty Shades of Grey”, it’s more interesting than reading the Bible, easier to understand and very educational.  The religious major in Tennessee must feel completely comfortable in establishing a preferred religion regardless of the fact that this country of ours was established, in part, because people wanted to worship as they damn well please, not as others told them.  Tennesseans and other states too, must have forgotten about this freedom of religion thing.

            The actions of Tennessee’s legislature, though, goes beyond violating the United States Constitution (as well as the State of Tennessee’s constitution), it violates one of the fundamental rules of Christianity, The Golden Rule.  Those favoring adoption of the Bible as the state book violate not only the Constitution but also Christianity.  It’s really frustrating when what you want to do contradicts what you believe in, isn’t it?

            The uncompromising belief in religious freedom is particularly pungent now in the face of the masses of people who are fleeing the on-slaught ISIS and those who want to build fences to keep people out.  People who are facing religious persecution now are not welcomed by those who came to America after facing similar persecution years ago.  It seems that as time goes on, Americans are not becoming more tolerant and more respectful of others but are becoming more narrow-minded and less tolerant.  We seem to have entirely forgotten that Christianity started with two refugees seeking asylum in a small hamlet about 6 miles south of Jerusalem called Bethlehem.  As for now, Tennessee’s governor, Bill Haslam, has vetoed the legislation and the Tennessee congress has sworn to over-rule him.

 

Terry A. AmRhein

Democracy on the Edge, A Discussion of Political Issues in America

What Republicans Offer the American People?

By Terry AmRhein

Author of Democracy on the Edge

Available at www.amrheinsbooks.com

 

What is the Republican Party offering the American People?  What is the Republican plan for revising Campaign Financing that allows large businesses to contribute literally unlimited funds to advertisements for their favorite candidate?  With so much money and power concentrated in the hands of the few, the voice of people gets drowned out.

 

What is the Republican plan for rebalancing the tremendous wealth inequality that exists in this country?  A situation where the wealthiest 20% of the population own about 90% of the nation’s wealth.   Is their plan to reinforce “trickle-down economics” of Reagan’s era, a plan that exacerbated the wealth inequality in the first place?    Is their plan to provide the richest with more tax breaks and more favorable government legislation, such as the repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act (that then allowed investment banks to use people’s saving accounts for purchase of riskier corporate securities) or the weakening of the Security and Exchange Commission that overviews the securities market?   Is their plan to increase exemptions for estate taxes which is already almost $5.5 million?

 

What about Social Security and Obamacare?  Absolutely the Republicans will repeal Obamacare and remove health insurance for the 14 million people who got health care since start of the plan.  And what will these 14 million people be left with?  The Republicans have no plan. 

 

As for Social Security, the Republicans will privatize the plan.  Social Security has been in existence since Franklin D. Roosevelt’s time.  It has worked well and is financially solvent until the 2020s.  After 2021, cost will exceed income.  But with a few changes, increasing the retirement age for example, the plan could remain solvent for years.  Republicans want to privatize it saying that private business could do better.  Really!  The administrative costs for Social Security is 0.8% (less than 1%) and has been for decades.  Republicans know this, but their priority is making money for finance industry.  

 

It is understandable that people are tired of a dysfunctional congress, which has done very little since Obama’s first two years as president.  That is a shame!  But people are reacting emotionally, not logically.  Who has caused the gridlock?  Who caused the government shutdown in 2011 and 2013?  Who has caused the failure of any legislation on global warming or immigration, a bill that was ready for a vote in the House until Leader Banner pulled out?  Who now is refusing to vote on a Supreme Court replacement despite of the Constitutional requirements?  The answer is Republicans.  And those that vote for Republicans, are voting for exactly the same people who caused the dysfunction, they are voting against their own self.  No wonder the Republican debates are so childish.

 

Democracy on the Edge, A discussion of Political Issues in America

Available at www.AmrheinsBooks.com

Let’s Make America Great Again

By Terry AmRhein,

Author of Democracy on the Edge

available at www.amrheinsbooks.com

 

 

Let’s make America great again is Donald Trump’s hallmark quote.  What the hell is he talking about!  America’s unemployment rate is presently 4.9%.  That is phenomenal.  The unemployment rate in good times is generally considered to be 5.5%.  We’re at 4.9%! 

            There is an estimated 14 million people who have health care today, who didn’t have it in 2010 when Obamacare was passed.  That’s got to be a great thing for our country, even if you don’t like Obamacare.  Today anyone who is under 26 years old can stay on their parent’s healthcare plan thus providing younger individuals without jobs the opportunity to continue having health care.  Today, no one can be refused health insurance because they have a pre-existing disease.  This also has got to be a great thing.  Having health care reduces deaths of people with chronic diseases that could be helped if they have medical care.  In 2009, the American Journal of Public Health estimated that 44,800 die each year because of lack of heath care.  This reduction in deaths must be a great thing.  Also, although most people don’t know it, but people with heath care a paying over $1000 per year to provide emergency room services to those without heath care, according to News Week magazine.  All of these must be great things.

            Now look at the economy. In 2014, the GDP of the US was 17,419 trillion, the highest ever!  GDP per capita was $46,405.26, the highest ever!  (These figures from the World Bank.)  The GDP of China, $10.355 trillion. America’s GDP is second to the European Common Market at $18.514 trillion with China coming in fourth. America’s economic growth must be a great thing.    

            Our military is the strongest in the world.  Based on money spent, we are projected to spend $598.5 billion dollars in 2015.  This represents 37% of the total military spending throughout the entire world.  We spend more money that the next 9 highest nations combined.  This includes China, Japan, Germany, Great Britain, France, Saudi Arabia, India, South Korea and Russia.  And don’t just think that all that money is wasted buying $10,000 toilets.  The weaponry we possess is awesome.  No one else can match us.  But spending a lot of money is not necessary the deciding factor in world conflicts.  Knowing what weapons are needed in a given situation and being able to apply those weapons is also an important factor.  Removing Osama Bin Laden proves we have the capacity and the know-how. 

 

            Putting troops on the ground however, is a path that will lead to disaster.  Haven’t we learned anything from Iraq and Afghanistan?  Once you get into a Mideast war, you can’t extract yourself.  A better approach is to take the long term approach.  Form a coalition of nations, European and Mid-eastern and, over time, destroy ISIS’s support.  To paraphrase Mao Zedong, a person who knew a little about terrorism, “terrorists are like fish, remove the water and the fish will die.”  Shouting “let’s make America Great again” might arouse Trump’s manhood and may sound good in television sound bites but it definitely won’t lead to greatness.      

Do Hillary Clinton’s Emails Matter?

 

By Terry AmRhein

 

For almost a year now, Hillary Clinton’s emails have been front page news throughout the nation, in every news paper and on every news show.  Here are the facts in a “nut-shell.” 

            Clinton used her private email account to send emails to hundreds of government officials.  In 90% of the cases, she used the receiver’s “.gov” account.  In doing this, the emails are automatically saved in a government server and are available for government review.  At the time she was using her private account, it was not illegal, and people before her had been doing it for years.  In December of 2015, Clinton turned over 55,000 pages of emails from her private email account.  Clinton claims that she never sent an email that was marked as classified.  Upon investigation, the congressional committee investigating the email fiasco confirmed that the emails were not marked as being classified when they were sent.  However, some of the emails were reclassified after they were sent as containing sensitive information.  In fact, seven of Clinton’s emails strings have been reclassified as “Top Secret” but they were classified later after Clinton sent them. 

            What all this shows is that Clinton made a big mistake in using her private email account.  She let her guard down and left a gaping hole, wide open for criticism.  She has admitted this mistake many times during her campaign.  What this mistake does NOT show, is that Clinton violated the law.  It also does NOT show that she purposely disclosed classified information or willingly and with disregard harmed Americans or America’s classified operations.  And while some will try to charge that Clinton did willfully harm America, there is no facts supporting this claim.  

Author of “Democracy on the Edge”

Available at www.amrheinsbooks.com

Trump’s Immigration Plan is a Big Mistake

Use Immigrants to Fight ISIS

 

Donald Trump’s plan to completely close the door to immigrant from the Middle East is a big mistake for several reasons.  This short article will explain why.  First, America was founded by immigrants.  Unless you’re Native American, we are all immigrants.  Trump’s mother was born in Scotland and his father’s parents (i.e. Trump’s grand parents) were born in Germany.  America is a nation created by immigrants and our diversity has been one of the reasons that America has led the world in technology and creativity.  Immigrants are one of our strengths.

            Secondly, many of the immigrants coming to this country, came because they were fleeing religious persecution.  How is justice served if we close our doors to those seeking asylum from war torn countries, based on their religious beliefs?  We would be breaking one of America’s most sacred oaths, “religious freedom”.

            Next, propaganda expounded by Islamic terrorists teaches how western civilization detests the Moslem religion.  Forbidding Moslem immigrants into the U. S. would play directly into the hands of these fundamentalists, reinforce their statements.

            Finally there is an opportunity here for the U. S. to recruit Middle East immigrants to help fight against terrorism.  Who is more motivated to rid their home country of terrorist than those who have lost their loved ones, lost their homes to terrorist thugs?  A properly trained and armed immigrant force could make excellent recruits to fight for their own home and family.  After all, the immigrants speak the language, know the culture and beliefs of their terrorist enemy.  The U. S. should develop a program, along with other coalition nations, to recruit and develop a native fighting force and fight fire with fire.          

            There is a natural desire to fortify our safety by limiting immigrants that can do us harm.  Even though our intelligence agencies are working hard to identify every terrorist that may sneak in with the thousands of other innocent people, there is no guarantee that every terrorist will be found.  On the other hand, our actions may actually do us more harm than good by providing addition propaganda to terrorist recruiters.  In addition, we are a nation founded on principles.  We cannot just shove aside those principles whenever it suits us.  If we do, then we stand for nothing.

 

by Terry AmRhein

Author of Democracy on the Edge

available at www.amrheinsbooks.com



   

 

If you had three wishes.

 

In the spirit of peace and good will toward all men, my wife asked me last night what would I wish for if I had three wishes, then she immediately applied the rule, “you cannot ask for three more wishes”, which took the words right out of my month.

            I had to think about it for awhile.  What would I wish for, that’s not an easy question to answer.  After contemplating for a little while, I responded

            - I’d wish that I would die before everyone that I loved (My brother died before my         mother.  That must have been terrible for her).

            - I’d wish that I lived a long happy and healthy live (which means that my loved one         would also live a long life because of my first wish) and

            - I’d wish that when the time comes, that I would go fast and not linger around in misery             spending all my heir’s inheritance.

After I divulged these rather morbid wishes, my wife reviled what her three wishes would be

            - That the Islamic State, ISIS, would be quickly and thoroughly destroyed.

            - That the world would find a solution to global warming and

            - That the finally we would reach world peace. 

(Had to smile at this last wish because it remained me of Steve Martin’s comedy routine in which he lists his three wishes that starts out with “world peace” but after reconsideration, finally winds up with him being a billionaire and world peace ending up in tenth place.)

 

There are stark contrasts between the wishes.  Obviously my impending disaster weighs on my mind and my great love for those who are close to me.  My wish list is self centered, my wishes revolve around me and what would make me happy.  And of course, Cindy and my children and grand children would be the benefactors of these wishes.

 

Cindy’s list is much more worldly and more gracious and generous toward all those inhabiting this forlorn planet.  But her wish list is also much more difficult to obtain, perhaps impossible. 

The conclusion I reach is that my wishes are more self-centered, but more realistically accomplished.  My wife’s are more charitable toward everyone, more generous and more worldly but incredibly difficult to accomplish.  Maybe that’s the way it is suppose to be.

 

Maybe you should ask those closes to you what they would wish for.  You might get interesting results.

 

Terry Amrhein

Author of Democracy on the Edge

Available at www.AmrheinsBooks.com