The Ten Things You Can't Say in America

A pretty good work, though dated by now (2019). When I originally read it, it was more crisp. The most important chapter, I think, is the one that shows that American's healthcare system is really the best in the world, and suffers from too much government, not too little. It shows that the healthcare system pre-Obamacare was not as bad as people believed.

Larry Elder's first book details the major issues he discusses in his articles and on his show. While his outlook is interesting, he has a tendency to oversimplify. For instance, he really feels that white racism towards black people is basically a minor issue; except for issues of condescension. I think that's true to a degree, but Elder sees policy issues as condescension. In other words, if you are in favor of affirmative action and against "welfare to work" programs, that means you don't think black people are equal to everyone else. Elder ignores real institutional racism in this analysis.

That said, the book is fairly fact based and less inflammatory than many political books written nowadays. It's interesting to see how Elder's show more version of libertarianism is expressed. show less

Larry Elder should be studied in high school and college. he makes a lot of sense and the fact that he makes the black community look inward to solve their problems is refreshing.

Larry Elder tells truths this nation's public figures are afraid to address. Elder says what no one else will: Blacks are more racist than whites; White condescension is more damaging than white racism; There is no health-care crisis;The War on Drugs is the new Vietnam...and we're losing; and more.

Written by an unabashed Libertarian, this book talks about things that it's not politically correct to say (at least in public). I'll list each one.

Blacks Are More Racist than Whites - The subtlties of black racism. Very interesting. Also statistics to back it up.

The Media Bias -- It's Real, It's Widespread, It's Destructive - I read the first part of this one. He shows how the media doesn't intentionally exhibit biased reporting. It's just the way reporters and journalists interact and exchange information. Also, how certain ideologies are taken for granted as factual.

There Is No Health Care "Crisis" - Another fascinating look into the medical industry. Why we don't have enough doctors, why they see themselves as above other show more businesses, and why the medical profession along with the Government has kept it that way.
Republicans Versus Democrats -- Maybe a Dime's Worth of Difference - It made me think. Granted he's a Libertarian, so a lot of his criticism was geared toward an extreme way of fixing the country's political problems. But he raised some good points. I'll read this chapter more thoroughly when I buy the book.

Gun Control Advocates -- Good Guys with Blood on Their Hands - Quotes "More Guns, Less Crime" a lot. This was an abbreviated version of that book. Still, it was good.

These chapters I didn't read. I'll read them (and the previous ones again) after I buy the book.
The War Against Drugs Is Vietnam II: We're Losing This One, Too
White Condescension Is as Bad as Black Racism
The Glass Ceiling -- Full of Holes
America's Greatest Problem: Not Crime, Racism, or Bad Schools -- It's Illegitimacy
America's Welfare State: The Tyranny of the Status Quo show less

Reality check from a black writer. Unfortunately, the same list is still current in 2008. And in 2015. And in 2021.

United States > Social conditions > 1980-/United States > Social policy > 1993-/Political correctness > United States/Social problems > United States