Synopses & Reviews
As the practice of democracy becomes a lost art, Americans are increasingly desperate for a restored nation. Many have a general sense that the system is in disorder — if not on the road to functional collapse. But though it is easy to identify our political problems, the solutions are not always as clear.
In Give Me Liberty: A Handbook for American Revolutionaries, bestselling author Naomi Wolf illustrates the breathtaking changes that can take place when ordinary citizens engage in the democratic system the way the founders intended and tells how to use that system, right now, to change your life, your community, and ultimately, the nation.
Review
"Give Me Liberty is a splendid introduction to the historical meaning of American citizenship -- and the challenge of sustaining its promise in a new century." -- Bruce Ackerman, Sterling Professor of Law and Political Science, Yale University
Review
"[A] primer on how to become a citizen activist" -- Suki Casanave, The Washington Post
Review
"A passionate, practical guidebook to reclaiming and reinvigorating participatory democracy." -- Dennis J. Seese, Library Journal
Synopsis
From an icon in the contemporary feminist movement and a well-respected political commentator comes this clear, accessible handbook about how to understand and use democracy.
Synopsis
In Give Me Liberty: A Handbook for American Revolutionaries, bestselling author Naomi Wolf illustrates the changes that can take place when ordinary citizens engage in the democratic system the way the founders intended and tells how to use that system, right now, to change your life, your community, and ultimately, the nation. As the practice of democracy becomes a lost art, Americans are increasingly desperate for a restored nation. Many have a general sense that the "system" is in disorder--if not on the road to functional collapse. But though it is easy to identify our political problems, the solutions are not always as clear. In Give Me Liberty: A Handbook for American Revolutionaries, bestselling author Naomi Wolf illustrates the breathtaking changes that can take place when ordinary citizens engage in the democratic system the way the founders intended and tells how to use that system, right now, to change your life, your community, and ultimately, the nation.
About the Author
Naomi Wolf made a sensation with her landmark international bestseller The Beauty Myth in 1991. The author of four books, she is also the co-founder and president of the Woodhull Institute for Ethical Leadership. She lives in New York City.
Table of Contents
Contents
PART I: What is "America" ? Not a Country, a State of Mind
Introduction 3 Freedom Is Intended as a Challenge 13
Fake Patriotism 23
Fake Democracy 33
PART II : Core Values
Principle One: We Are Required to Speak Freely 91 Principle Two: We Have a Duty to Rebel Continually Against Injustice and Oppression 105
Principle Three: Ordinary People Are Supposed to Run Things 125
Principle Four: Americans Cherish the Rule of Law 141
Principle Five: America Establishes No God 157
Principle Six: Americans Deliberate with Their Neighbors; We Disagree Without Violence 173
Principle Seven: Liberty is Universal: America Cannot Maintain an Oppressive Empire 189
A New American Revolution 209
PART III : America: The User's Guide
I. Driving Change 215
"Democracy Commandos" [Curtis Ellis] 215
Additional Resources 218
II. Speech 219
How to Petition 219
Additional Resources 220
How to Play Hardball Once You Have Petitioned 220
Become the Media Yourself 221
How to Write a Press Release [Lisa Witter] 222
Create the Debate Yourself 226
Help Frame the News Coverage 228
How to Leak to an Investigative Reporter 229
How to Pitch a Feature Piece 231
Radio 232
TV 233
Additional Resources 235
Produce New Media 235
How to Create a Blog [Elizabeth Curtis] 236
Additional Resources 240
How to Create a Web Video [Will Coghlan] 241
Additional Resources 243
III. Protest 245
How to Drive a Boycott 245
Additional Resources 246
How to Take to the Streets [Marjorie Cohn] 247
Staging a Protest 251
Additional Resources 252
How to be Safe as You Protest 252
Arrest 253
The Permit System [Heidi Boghosian] 256
How to Speak in Any Public Context 260
IV. Deliberate, Community-Build,and Organize 265
How to Start a Political Movement 265
Direct-Action Activism [Trevor "Oyate"] 265
Starting Your Own Political Movement [Raymond D. Powell] 267
Organize a Town Hall Meeting 271
How to Run a Meeting [Wende Jager-Hyman] 273
Deliberate with Your Neighbors [Mary Jacksteit] 277
Additional Resources 281
Become the Leaders of America 283
How to Start a Nonprofit Organization 283
Additional Resources 285
How to Fund-raise [Stephanie Berger] 286
Additional Resources 291
V. Rule of Law: Create or Change Laws Yourself 293
Initiatives and Referenda 293
Additional Resources 295
Make Every Vote Count [Mark Crispin Miller] 296
Additional Resources 299
Organize a National Hearing [Annette Warren Dickerson] 300
Expose Government Secrecy: A Guide to Getting Government Files [Lauren Melodia] 303
Additional Resources 312
VI . Dismantle an Oppressive Empire: Remake U.S. Foreign Policy 313
How to Promote Democracy Overseas through Investment [Diane Keefe] 313
Additional Resources 315
VI . Understand How Your System Works 317
Overview [Curtis Ellis] 317
What is the Electoral College? [Wende Jager-Hyman] 321
User's Guide to the Constitution and Bill of Rights
[Steven C. Bennett] 326
Additional Resources 343
VI . Wish List for the Fu ture 344
Direct Democracy 344
Voting [Curtis Ellis] 344
A Twelve-Step Program to Save U.S. Democracy [Mark Crispin Miller] 345
Additional Wish List Items 347
Notes 351
Bibliography 371
Acknowledgments 375
About the Author 377