The Battle Blog
Hewitt on what the 70 percent believe
In a Washington Examiner column, Hugh Hewitt takes the concept of the 70-30 Nation outlined in The Battle and builds on it:
The 70 percent is appalled by the placebo economics practiced by the president and the Congress over the past two years, shocked by its profligacy with the wealth of the republic, and sickened by the looting of the next generation’s opportunities.
The 70 percent did not want Obamacare, but it has been thrust upon them.
The 70 percent did not want federal judges to declare “game over” in the complex discussion of what marriage is and means.
The 70 percent want a fence on the border that works, and do not want their concern over unregulated immigration dismissed as nativisim.
The 70 percent are not ashamed of their belief in God, deeply resent being labeled bigots because they view ground zero as land that ought not to be exploited for “messaging” of any sort by any group, and are enraged by the scorn which they encounter everywhere in media except Fox News and talk radio.
The 70 percent believe that the federal government is remote and clueless, and that the Constitution’s principles of enumerated and limited powers and the sovereignty of the states are vibrant, important core values to the republic.
The 70 percent think Iran is in the grip of an evil, theocratic fascism, and that Israel is our true friend and ally deserving of our full-throated support.
The Instapundit interviews Arthur Brooks
Glenn Reynolds of Instapundit talks to Arthur about the culture war facing America over free enterprise and entrepreneurship, and the current split between the 70 percent of Americans who believe in free enterprise and the 30 percent who believe in a more redistributive statist system. Arthur talks about the concept that earned success is the key to happiness and discusses the role of the tea party movement in the culture war. He also offers a three-step plan for those who care about free enterprise.
There are three steps to winning back free enterprise in this country. The first is to make the moral case. It’s not good enough to make the case that free enterprise makes a lot of money. What we have to remember is it’s not about the money–it’s about the flourishing. . . . We have the evidence that shows that the free enterprise system is the system that makes most Americans happiest about their lives because they’re best able to earn their success. . . . Number two is we have to talk about all of the damage that the current policies against free enterprise are doing, and furthermore, how they’re not working for their stated purpose. . . . The stimulus isn’t stimulating, and so forth. The third is we need to have better ideas, and this is really the call to action.
Listen to the entire interview on Instapundit.
For Free People and Free Markets
John R. Coyne Jr. of the Washington Times reviews The Battle and asks the central question that the book seeks to answer: “why does the statist 30 percent–a distinct minority–seem to be in control of the other 70 percent [who choose free enterprise]–a clear majority?” In a succinct summary of the book’s themes, Coyne writes that Arthur “[makes] ‘the moral case for free people and free markets’ with strength and elegance.”
Read the entire review in the Washington Times.
A positive review of a book on pessimism
Participating in a feature of Booktv on C-SPAN 2, Arthur talks about what he is reading this summer. He says, “I highly favor books that tell me everything I thought about something is wrong,” and therefore recommends a soon-to-be-published book by AEI’s Roger Scruton on the positive aspects of pessimism. Watch the short clip on Booktv (button on right) for more on what Arthur is reading.
About Arthur
An outline of The Battle
What Others Are Saying
“This is the playbook for the resurgence of the free enterprise movement.”
–Richard B. Cheney, former vice president of the United States“What makes The Battle so important is its unique combination of intellectual clarity and the best succinct analysis of the values of the American people I have ever read. . . . Arthur C. Brooks has written a book which will take its place with Charles Murray’s Losing Ground as one of the pivotal books around which American history turned.”
–Newt Gingrich, former speaker of the House of Representatives“The book is a perfect Father’s Day present and a great gift for any college grad or newly minted JD, MBA or MD who needs to understand the country’s situation today.”
–Hugh Hewitt“Perhaps Brooks’s greatest skill is articulating the moral case for the free market. He doesn’t just offer generic platitudes but understands deeper principles of human flourishing.”
–Ray Northstine, associate editor at the Acton Institute
