Glenn Beck's Common Sense: The Case Against an Out-of-Control Government, Inspired by Thomas Paine
ISBN:9781439168578 read summary

Glenn Beck struggles to make more sense than monkeys on typewriters. Save your money and don't buy this drivel.

I have learned so much from this book and Arguing with Idiots. I don't think I ever learned so much about the founding from all of my school years added together. Anyone who questions GB should read this book. You may not agree, but by golly he loves this country. That's how it made me feel, Inspired with a sense of urgency.

"Written" by Glenn Beck. What else does someone with functioning synapses need to know? Don't waste your money.

Mr. Beck's small book, slightly longer than Mr. Paine's Pamphlet, which is included, are both very fast reads. Thomas Paine's pamphlet published in 1776, Common Sense challenged the authority of the British government and the royal monarchy. The plain language that Paine used spoke to the common people of America and was the first work to openly ask for independence from Great Britain. Mr. Beck uses the plain and simplistic language of today so that all who read his work should understand his points, which was the same goal Mr. Paine had.

Whereas Thomas Paine was placing into words the inspiration that would aid the nation in its revolt for independence much of what he wrote had been discussed and known by the people of his time for a long while. The same is true of Mr. Becks booklet, everything he writes about are known or felt by most citizens. They both emphasis in their own way and relative to the times in which they live the responsibility, accountability, and liability of government and how they are to be answerable to the people.

Mr, Beck has many valid points and hopefully this small work will start an open dialogue on the state of the U.S. Federal Government and its perpetual state of expansion. How far has the Republic fallen from its original founding and the Natural Rites of the people. The author does not use his platform to defend his political party but rather warns as the founding father did that a two party system is not good for a healthy Republic.

The author points out that both prevalent political parties have contributed to the problems we face today as a nation. The main focus of the book is that all the branches of the U.S. government are acting in their self interest. The politicians are not concerned with the well being of the country or their constitutes whom they are suppose to represent. But only interested their reelection, power and progressive agenda. Which of course he relates to their the out-of-control spending currently taking in place in Washington now that started over sixty years ago. This is not tied to any one political party, both major parties are equally to blame.

This is not new knowledge and why I feel he used the Common Sense addition to his title for no person or government can survive through excessive spending far beyond their means. But it is not just the out-of-control spending, the author very plainly lays out the case against the continually increasing size of government resulting in the erosion of individual liberties. Liberties that were won with blood.

To rectify this Mr. Beck advocates a non-violent revolution to hold our elected representative accountable and make the government act in interest of the American people and not their own. He suggest this revolution use the hard won rights of our Republic through Free Speech, the electoral process and vote out all who work for there self-interest instead of the people they were elected/hired to represent. He only ask that you do your homework and vote for the person that tells the truth and then is closes to how you wish the country governed. The U.S. Politicians of today have shown they have no interest at all to listen to their constituents.

All Americans must remember the words of James Madison, "..the House of Representatives can make no law which will not have its full operation on themselves and their friends, as well as on the great mass of the society...If this spirit shall ever be so far debased as to tolerate a law not obligatory on the legislature, as well as on the people, the people will be prepared to tolerate anything but liberty." It seems that all in America has forgotten this and Mr. Beck in his own way is trying to remind the people. And the same issue of The Federalist #57 Mr. Madison wrote, "Who are to be the electors of the federal representatives? Not the rich, more than the poor; not the learned, more than the ignorant; not the haughty heirs of distinguished names, more than the humble sons of obscurity and unpropitious fortune. The electors are to be the great body of the people of the United States. They are to be the same who exercise the right in every State of electing the corresponding branch of the legislature of the State."

Try this: go to You Tube and type "India Driving" in the search box. The first result should be a 2:13 video posted by someone named Higgums that shows a busy traffic intersection in India. There are cars going every which way, with no traffic controls or signs, yet everything flows smoothly. There's no accidents, no tie-ups, traffic just manages to move. It's quite an amusing video and really, it is worth 2 minutes of your time to view it.

Now.. take that same intersection and put it in the United States. Instantly the government would take over. Outraged cries for traffic control would be made. An environmental impact study would be made. After about a year, a signal would be erected and signs placed all over the place. Ah yes, our wonderful government steps in to save the day. And traffic would be backed up for miles.

That's the point of Glenn Beck's book. If you view the video I mentioned above and recoil in horror at the traffic, thinking, "oh my, we need to do something about it before a duck gets run over," and "these third world people are so backwards. We truly need to help them!" Then this book is definitely not for you. If you view the video with amusement and marvel at how traffic is able to flow so smoothly despite the intricacies and complications presented by cars and bikes coming from all angles, then this book is for you. Well actually, if you are from the first group maybe this book really is for you because you need it to pound some sense into your head.

That said, most likely my review will now suffer a string of "unhelpful" votes from the liberal bots who mindlessly burrow through reviews of books by people like Glenn Beck, dinging all five-star ones with "not helpful" votes.