Ralph Brauer defines Liberal America as a place where "government exists to keep the playing field level." The success of the American experiment depends on how well we maintain this equity and its four cornerstones: economic justice, educational equity, voting rights, and media fairness. Arguing that "the patient is in intensive care," Brauer identifies three reasons for the decline of the level playing field: 1) a Republican counterrevolution dedicated to rolling back the values of the New Deal, 2) an inability of both parties to answer questions raised by decades of Civil Rights revolutions, and 3) the transformation of suburban America from a place of opportunity created by government programs to a battleground. These three ideas form the basis for the book's three sections. Part One follows the development of the Counterrevolutionary Coalition, beginning with the Southern Strategy and ending with a chapter on America's politicized media. Part Two focuses on questions that have been raised by people of color and by women, and treats the Democratic Party's failure to answer those questions as illustrated by events like the Nader-LaDuke campaign and the 1964 Atlantic City convention. Part Three details the impact of suburban America on the cornerstones. The Strange Death of Liberal America is not only a political and intellectual history, but also a social and cultural chronicle, touching on music, television, movies, and sports. Brauer's book is underscored by a historical discussion that begins with the New Deal and works its way to the present, ending with Global Warming and the Iraq War.

Liberal America, in the formulation of Brauer (executive director of the Transforming Schools Consortium, "a national group of school districts dedicated to public education"), consisted of a commitment to the idea that government exists to keep the playing field level in the areas of economic and social justice, educational equity, voting rights, and media fairness. He believes that this commitment has declined in recent years and identifies the reason for the decline as a combination of a Republic counterrevolution dedicated to rolling back the ideals of the New Deal, the inability of Republicans or Democrats to answer questions raised by the civil rights and feminist movements, and the shift of suburban America from a place of opportunity to a battleground of economic and cultural conflict.
Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Liberal America, in the formulation of Brauer (executive director of the Transforming Schools Consortium, "a national group of school districts dedicated to public education"), consisted of a commitment to the idea that government exists to keep the playing field level in the areas of economic and social justice, educational equity, voting rights, and media fairness. He believes that this commitment has declined in recent years and identifies the reason for the decline as a combination of a Republic counterrevolution dedicated to rolling back the ideals of the New Deal, the inability of Republicans or Democrats to answer questions raised by the civil rights and feminist movements, and the shift of suburban America from a place of opportunity to a battleground of economic and cultural conflict. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Liberal America, in the formulation of Brauer, consisted of a commitment to the idea that government exists to keep the playing field level in the areas of economic and social justice, educational equity, voting rights, and media fairness. He believes that this commitment has declined in recent years and identifies the reason for the decline as a combination of a Republic counterrevolution dedicated to rolling back the ideals of the New Deal, the inability of Republicans or Democrats to answer questions raised by the civil rights and feminist movements, and the shift of suburban America from a place of opportunity to a battleground of economic and cultural conflict.Reference and Research Book News

"The corporate and political powers have led us astray, into an alien sphere of plutocracy and autocracy. For our country to find its way home back to our democratic ideals we must have pathblazers. Ralph Brauer's book gives us a map for returning to America's founding values of fairness, justice, and opportunity for all." - Jim Hightower National Radio Commentator Writer, Public Speaker Bestselling author of Thieves in High Places

Seeking to understand contemporary U.S. political culture and the political divisions within the country, Brauer offers an analysis with a liberal slant.Library Journal

The Strange Death of Liberal America is an important book, both as cultural artifact and impassioned historical paean. It's an enlightening and highly-recommended read for lefties and historians alike.Progressive Historians

Explores the decline of liberal America by asking what has become of its four cornerstones: economic justice, educational equity, voting rights, and media fairness.

RALPH BRAUER is Executive Director of the Transforming Schools Consortium, a national group of school districts dedicated to public education, one of the liberal "four cornerstones" that make up the meat of his analysis in this book. He has also worked as a consultant, designing leadership programs for legislators, and with the American Association of Higher Education, among other organizations. An award-winning writer, he has seen his work published in the New York Times Magazine, the Nation, Newsweek, and other periodicals.

Preface

Introduction

The Counterrevolution

Economic Justice: Strom

Educational Equity: Devil's Bargains

Voting Rights: Bush v. Gore

Media Fairness: A Magical Mystery Tour

Civil Rights Revolutions Raise Questions

Economic Justice: Corked Bats

Educational Equity: Green with Envy

Voting Rights: Mrs. Hamer's Question

Media Fairness: The Two Faces of Martha Stewart

The Suburban Uprising

Economic Justice: Home Depot

Educational Equity: The Last Battle

Voting Rights: Red and Blue Lemmings

Media Fairness: The SUV and the Monolith

Conclusion: Shifting Winds

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