As If We Were Grownups: A Collection of "Suicidal" Political Speeches That Aren't
by Jeff GoldenAVAILABILITY: Usually ships within 2-5 days
Publication Date: 2004
Publisher: RiverWood Books
Binding: Paperback
Topics: Democracy: Theory & Practice, United States
Condition: Special Sale
Description: Tired of politics as usual? This vision of what politics can be in America poses a crucial question: What if our political leaders started talking to us as if we were grownups? Golden models a realistic new candor that could break through the downward spiral that has us expecting less and less of our political leaders while they're thinking less and less of us.
Jeff Golden has woven together his work in state, local and national politics, mediation and public broadcasting for 25 years. He is the founding president of the Oregon Guides Association, a former Jackson County, Oregon, Commissioner, Oregon's first nominee for the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage award, and the author of 'Forest Blood', the pre-eminent novel of the Northwest timber wars.
Jeff spends far too much time on concrete. He lives in Ashland, Oregon, where his provocatively independent public radio talk show, The Jefferson Exchange (www.jeffexchange.org), originates every weekday. He spends time there with his children, Daniel and Sarah, in between their globetrotting adventures.
Review(s): "Are you almost ready to throw up your hands and give up on politics and citizenship? Before you do, please read this book. It will change your idea about what's possible in America, and very likely stir you to action to make it happen - as if if you were a grownup, taking charge of your own future." - Thom Hartmann, author of 'We The People', 'A Return to Democracy', and 'The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight'
"Democracy, as is often said, is a participatory sport - but not a 'game,' no matter what the cynics tell us. It doesn't work unless we're all thinking about the consequences of the actions our elected representatives take. They're the hired help, which means we have a very direct role to play in who they are and what they do. And to play that role in a way that's best for the American republic, not to mention best for our children and their children, we need to be informed.
'As If We Were Grownups,' Jeff Golden's collection of 'suicidal' speeches is a solid contribution to the education of voters, leaders, and opinion-makers. Its provocative arguments and persuasive yet respectful tone will add measurably to the thinking person's ability to sort throuugh some tof the most important issues of our day - and then help chose the hired help." - Brad Knickerbocker, Senior Staff Writer, The Christian Science Monitor