Governments

This fairly short (72 pages) pamphlet is a gold mine of information and analysis of the struggle unfolding in the Middle East. It gives lots of historical detail that cuts through the lies used by the U.S. government (and governments of Great Britain, France etc.) about their military and colonial interventions into the region. I especially appreciated the information on the century-long struggle of the Palestinians-- with its ebbs and flows-- for national independence and to regain the land stolen from them by the Zionist state. It will help you see behind the diplomatic maneuvers and the [lies] of Washington's "peace plans" to the key issues involved, especially the centrality of the fight today for a democratic, secular Palestine. It also helped me see how we're part of one world, and the fight against oppression in the Middle East has big stakes for working people everywhere.

Pathfinder Press publishes several other titles that go into deeper detail on the historical and theoretical questions raised here, including Abram Leon's On the Jewish Question, and the discussion on national and colonial oppression taken up in Workers of the World and Oppressed Peoples, Unite!, and To See the Dawn, Baku--1920, First Congress of the Peoples of the East.

What are the Palestinians fighting for? Why was Israel established? Why do Palestinians think the United States is not on their side? Why is there so much fighting going on in the Middle East? How can the Palestinians win? Who are the real terrorists? If you have ever asked yourself these questions and want some real answers, this pamphlet is a great place to start. It gives a very helpful history of the struggle of the Arab and Palestinian peoples for liberation over the last century. That includes a history of the first Intifada against the Israeli occupation, starting in 1987. And it makes it very clear that the fighting going on today is not because of "ancient hatreds" that people are born with. It shows how the major imperialist countries, including the UK, France and the United States, have blood on their hands and are responsible for much of the misery that the Arab peoples have lived with for the last century. It also shows that the Palestinian people are capable of organizing a political movement that can point the way forward to a democratic, secular Palestine. This is an inspiring piece of work.

Zionism and the Israeli state have always been at the service of Empires ( first the British one and then the Yanki one ) ; until 1979 it was part of a twin set of gigantic military platforms for the Yanki empire,along with Iran.Its alliance with the real 'axis of evil' in Washington D.C. and the brutal repression used by Israel to try to humiliate the Palestinians as a people is making Israel a death trap for the Jewish people , This history, as well as that of the historic program of the orginal fighters ( so-called 'terrorists' unlike Sharon ) for Palestinian liberation against Zionism AND anti-Semitism; the butchery led by Sharon that was the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982; the rise of the first intifada ( uprising ) in the West Bank and Gaza in 1987;all these themes are explored in this powerfull pamphlet.The most basic information about the nature of the Zionist state and the Palestinians' refusal to stop fighting for their land, and the inspiring place of that fight in the world struggle against the Yanqui Empire --it's all here.For the evolution of the PLO leadership after 1987 and the history of the Palestinians' fight through the end of the 90s "Opening Guns Of World War III " and " Captialism's World Disorder " , both by Jack Barnes, are equally indispensible. For "deep background" get " Israel And The Arab Revolution " by Gus Horowitz.

This title was recommended to me by a friend who is a PRP (Professional Registered Parliamentarian). I've read a number of books on RONR (Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised), but this is the first one that applies specifically to churches. Too many congregations dictate that RONR are their authority on conducting business meetings, but have little or no understanding of what RONR actually say and mean. Having served as a pastor for over twenty years, I have witnessed (and contributed to) church business meetings being sloppily conducted because of a lack of familiarity with RONR. McCarthy here provides some very helpful pointers for all church leaders in general, and for church moderators in particular.

I recommend this book highly to church leaders and moderators, along with two other "must-have" titles. McCarthy should be read as a follow-up to "Robert's Rules of Order in Plain English" by Doris P. Zimmerman. Zimmerman's work provides the best summary of RONR I have read to date. McCarthy can then be used to build upon that summary with a specific application to churches. Of course the latest edition of RONR itself should always be on hand as the third "must have" title, since it is the actual and final authority.

No church interested in conducting itself "in a fitting and orderly way" (1 Cor. 14:40) should be without this. Its 1987 date, however, makes one wonder if it's time for a second edition.

My father did an awesome job with the book Iam his son Ian McCart

I was given the amazing opportunity to spend time with Virginia Fry while living in Vermont this past winter. My 14 year old sister had recently passed away after her stuggle against cancer. I was completely lost, and met with Virginia several times. She is one of the most amazing people that I've ever been priviledged enough to have come into my life. This book enveloped every part of her ideas and extremely heartfelt suggestions to get you through the most horrible times. She is such an amazing person and this book reflects that to the fullest extent.

My name is Amy Petrucelli and chapter 5 is about me, my sister Betsy and our brother Frankie.
The very first time I read Ginny's story and at that time it was a draft, it brought tears to my my eyes and my late mothers. If it were not for Ginny and Hospice to help us as children to cope with death and dying, I do not think I would be here today. This book is more than helpful and insightful, at least for me. I encourage any person(s) having known a child or know one who is going through death and dying to read this book and share it with that child and help them to work through their loss, questions and fears, Lord knows the author Virginia Fry did that for me.

I really enjoyed this book. I bought it a few years after my mother died, and it helped me a great deal with what I was feeling, thinking, and seeing. It also helped me deal with the day-to-day struggles that I encountered. Thank you so much for writing this book.

This writing by Pozner provides an honest look into his life personally and his perceptions of the U.S., world, and the Soviet Union, as a Soviet citizen. He was not the average Soviet citizen however. He was one of the fortunate few who were allowed to leave his country and spend time abroad. He was afforded the rare glimpse of American life and culture during his time there in the 1930s. This obviously is a part of him, as is his other numerous experiences. In addition, he also candidly shared his personal life with us. (When he saw his old-flame coming the opposite way on an escalator, for example). Pozner is down-to-Earth and it's easy for a reader to like and to relate to him.

I read this book when it first came out and went over it again recently, 14 years later, finding it in an old box of mine. His writings prove that he had good instincts on where his nation and culture, and the world was heading at the time he wrote "Parting with Illusion." He has the oration and writing ability to explain his viewpoints as well as the perceptions of many Russians when he wrote this book in 1989. He discussed Stalin and his legacy, and the graft and corruption that crept into the USSR, becoming commonplace by the 1960s.

Now, 14 years later, I wonder: where is Vladimir Pozner? I haven't heard or seen him since the late 1980s or perhaps early 90s.

At the time, he was articulate, and an astute observer of current affairs. Possessing a gifted knack for passing his observations on.

Today, in 2003, where is he now?

A truly excepional book and my all time favorite... An incredibly personal account of an extraordinary life of a true citizen of the world ... along with an insightful look into the drama of modern Russian history.
Pozner talks about his childhood, his parents, first glass of vodka and his first love, his marriages, career, spiritual and political struggles...
Plus a personal account of WWII, Stalin's purges, the Thaw, the Iron Curtain and Perestroika.

This book was a present to me when I was a senior in college and what a gift it was! The Russians often painted as the cold number one enemy came to be just as human as anyone. The author's struggle between being a journalist in a communist country certainly makes me, a journalist in a world that protects free speech, feel very humbled and fortunate.

It's humanity's greatest test when one is forced to question your own country's integrity. Yet the author has succeeded in standing by his principles. Extremely educational (and easy reading for students) for those who are not familiar with Russian history and diplomacy. It's been years since I read it and I look forward to picking it up again.

The author has identified long periods of time spanning several generations where the ideologies of the Whigs-Republicans and the Democrats have been generally consistent before transitioning to new philosophies. The book rests on the statements and views of party elites, though mostly presidential candidates, during presidential campaigns as being definitive of those parties' ideologies.

The periods identified for the Whigs and Republicans are the National Epoch (1828-1924) and the Neo-Liberal Epoch (1928-1992). For the Democrats the periods are the Jeffersonian Epoch (1828-1892), the Populist Epoch (1896-1948), and the Universalist Epoch (1952-1992). It may be surprising to learn that Bryan and not FDR started an epoch or that Hoover was the first neo-liberalist and not Goldwater or Reagan.

The author explores the nuances of the views of the parties on such matters as liberty, democracy, equality, virtue, the market, labor, etc. For example, both parties could make the claim of being pro labor. But for 19th century Republicans labor was not much different than modern-day entrepreneurship. The rise of organized labor, or unionism, was an unwelcome development. Democrats generally viewed labor as work done by the common man and did not include economic elites.

The author clearly shows that some aspects of party ideologies underwent near reversal across political epochs. By far the most interesting reversal of views is the attitude of the parties concerning the state and by extension the national government. The Whigs and Republicans of the 19th century were far more state-oriented than are the Reaganites. Republicans supported state intervention in the economy in building public works, maintaining high tariffs, and in generally advancing the cause of Americanism. The 19th century Democrats on the other hand were highly suspicious of state power. The Jacksonian assault on the National Bank is the foremost example of acting on that suspicion. Yet beginning with the Populist Epoch, Democrats sought to use the state to counter the increasing power of industrial entities.

The nineteenth century Republicans favored the growth of large economic entities, however the rhetoric of latter day Republicans seems to favor the rights of small businessmen and is opposed to anti-competitive formations and state regulation of the economy. Here the author could question the legitimacy of party ideologies. The claims of the pro-business party to be representing small businessmen in an era of massive corporate consolidations would seem to be of dubious validity. However, clearly the two parties have completely reversed their views of the state.

The book is well organized; it definitely clarifies the political speech of the two major American political parties by providing well-drawn frameworks on which to hang that speech.

An excellent discussion on party ideology in America, well researched and nicely presented. Starts off with a helpful review of where the thesis will take the reader, and then methodically makes the points and convinced me, the skeptical reader.

For the record, my favorite passage is a quote of Martin Van Buren on page 43... but you will have to read the book to find out what I mean!

This book is must reading for anyone with a serious interest in American political parties and their historical development. Gerring's work is a major contribution, showing that American parties do have distinct ideologies, and that these ideologies have persisted over long stretches of American history. The book is extremely well-researched, and written in a clear and engaging fashion.

The Basic Question:

- How can a B757 that was said by officials to have
totally disintegrated and vaporized as it impacted
(accounting for lack of substantial aircraft wreckage
on site), have nevertheless penetrated through the 3rd
ring's inner wall with its nosecone (the punched-out
hole on the cover of this book), given that the nose
cone is the most fragile part of the aircraft?

There seem to be zillions of other subsidiary
questions, such as:

- Why the FBI confiscated and has
never shown the adjacent hotel and gas station
security cam videos that must have caught the B757's
impact;

- Why the officially blessed few frames of
Pentagon cam video do not show anything remotely
resembling a B757 and appear to have been doctored
anyway;

- How the "hijacker" pilot (incompetent by
instructors' reports) accomplished an extremely
precise approach and targeting (they say these guys
never learned to land, but the "B757" was just meters
above the ground when it hit, (in effect he "landed the plane"
very precisely);

- Why the little scrap of liveried supposed "wreckage" on the lawn shows lettering only one-half or less the size scale it should be for an AA liveried B757;

- Why the "plane" coincidentally hit the
least populated side of the Pentagon, after apparently
taking extra effort and time to target that position;

- Why after saying the plane was totally vaporized and
disintegrated officials now claim to have an almost
complete reconstruction of the "B757"; why the initial
entrance hole was so small;

- Why after a fire that totally melted and vaporized the plane computer manuals and other papers visible in offices at the
sheared cutoff are totally undamaged;

- Why initial eye witnesses reported a small plane or missile-like object; and on and on and on.

Meyssan deals with most of these questions and I got news for you - as a mainstream mind-controlled American (like me) you aren't going to like his answers!

Anyway let's face it - probably no Boeing 757 ever hit the
Pentagon.

The only evidence supporting the Boeing hypothesis
seems to be the following:

- About half the eye witnesses state they saw either a
B757, a plane with AA livery, or both (i.e. a B757 in
AA livery)

- AA Flt 77 is unaccounted for

- The government has officially stated that AA 77 hit
the Pentagon

- bits of possible 757 wreckage were photographed in
ambiguous settings

I really hate to conclude this, but to me it seems
probable that some form of cruise missile, dressed in
AA livery, was used and all the rest is a USA Mil-Gov
coverup. A horrible conclusion, I know it!

Please read this book and if you can convincingly
refute it, dealing adequately with all the anomalies I've
listed above and settling each concern, please write
your own counter-book immediately, and we'll put this horrible
hypothesis to bed once and for all.

Note that Purdue (Indiana) academics have completed a
government-funded graphical simulation of the crash
that on my reading, unfortunately again, does not come
close to answering all the questions raised above.

I don't know why the mainstream media doesn't at least
look into this? All I've seen are one or two jokey
reviews of Meyssan's first (much less detailed)
general book about 9-11. In one case, the "reviewer"
hadn't even read the book!

Why isn't the public more interested in this? Are we
just so satisified with our Hollywood FX story of
"Fires, Explosions, Arab Villians, American Heroes"
that we can't even be bothered to read and respond
rationally to an important analysis like this one?

"Nothing was wrong far as we could tell,
that's what we liked to tell ourselves,
but no it wasn't that way"

- Stevie Wonder "How Come, How Long"

After having read the big lie I still was dubious as for knowing if the Boeing 757-200 from American Airlines Flight 77 crashed on the Pentagon or not. Even Though I fully agreed with Thierry Meyssan about the FBI lies and contradictions, the Meyssan's thesis was not supported enough and all he had done was asking questions without really answering them. Further to all these accusations here is a book which explains the thesis in minute detail - lots of pictures, testimonies and experts to back this up and this is very convincing. The demonstration lacks nothing and Thierry Meyssan easily quashes all his detractors' arguments to finally put forward a sturdy hypothesis. The Author and his team show a great analytic sense, without setting aside any fact or testimony in their disfavor.

Pentagate is a very important book about the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon because it points out the problems with the evidence that U.S. journalists won't even touch.

Meyssan has built much of his case on the problems in the official version of what happened at the Pentagon. His first chapter, "One Piece of Debris Too Many", points out that the large piece of debris that appeared to be from an American Airlines jet has not even been inventoried by the Dept. of Defense.

As a journalist for American Free Press in Washington, I have tried repeatedly to get the Pentagon to clarify the status of this important piece of debris that was seen by millions. As of this date there has been NO response to numerous requests. What's wrong with this picture?

Meyssan points to the evidence seen in the video from the Pentagon security camera and the round holes that were pierced in three layers of the Pentagon and builds his case that this was not a Boeing passenger jet that struck the building.

The explosion seen in the video and the nearly perfectly round holes that were bored in the Pentagon are evidence that a cruise missile, painted to look like an American Airlines jet, crashed into the Pentagon, according to Meyssan.

The book has an important chapter by a French military expert on explosives who describes "The Effects of a Hollow Charge". This technical information bolsters the case made by Meyssan.

Meyssan raises a lot of good questions. Now if we could only get some answers from the Pentagon.

Pentagate is highly recommended for those interested in the Pentagon attack by Christopher Bollyn of American Free Press.

Painstakingly compiled by Anthony Quain, The Political Reference Almanac 2001-2002 Edition is a thorough, comprehensive, 1,038 page fact-filled reference and resource on the current political system and the elected men and women who serve it. Listing information about state and local governments, all three branches of federal government, political parties, other nations and their leaders, international organizations, state and local governments, political documents, economics, statistics, mission statements, black-and-white photographs of featured individuals, and much more, The Political Reference Almanac 2001-2002 Edition is the core source to consult for quick, useful information on just about any important and influential political figure.

This guide has everything the policy analyst or 12th grade civics student needs, but the international data is where it really shines. If the county has a government, all the relevant data's included. Even if you don't pay attention to politics, having this guide on your shelf will (1) make you look smart, and (2) help settle countless arguments and bets. Trivial Pursuit doesn't stand a chance.

Also, make sure you pay the extra to get access to the Internet site. It includes updated information and a great search function.

This is an excellent reference tool for students and professionals. I use my almanac regularly for national and state information. As a consultant in the field, I find that I can answer questions and find the information I need quickly and efficiently. In addition, the layout of the book makes it easy to use as a teaching guide for students and interns. I look forward to the new edition.

Professor Rigger's inaugural work shows a great deal of talent and promise. She argues convincingly that it was the very institution of local elections, conducted even in the darkest days of the Chiang Kai-Shek era, that made a crucial contribution to the island's later peaceful transition to democracy. Very insightful and informative.

'Politics in Taiwan' is an extraordinarily well researched, elegantly argued and very readable book. It concisely contends that Taiwan's 'democratic miracle' is a result of a long history of local elections that have taken place on the island, inculcating democratic skills and nurturing a viable opposition to the authoritarian regime. The book comprises an equal blend of theoretical reasoning and empirical richness. Professor Rigger nicely captures both the dynamics of historical development and the contingencies of real-life politics. A must-read for those interested in contemporary Taiwan and/or democratization, and very suitable for the college classroom.

An outstanding contribution to understanding the current status of the political scene in this part of Asia and its implications for the greater world community. It is comprehensive, well organized, and very readable, even for the relative novice to the field.

This book is amazing. It leads one through a clearly stated and easy to follow discussion comparing two recent populist movements. But not only is it political theory, it also has possibly the most romantic dedication, from the author to his wife that has ever been written. A must read for any political enthusiast or even those that couldn't tell H. Ross Perot from an armadillo.

A page-turner on populism. I cannot recommend it enough

Probably the best book on Populism ever written

This well-researched and elegantly crafted book provides a fascinating insight into how we came to be the most punitive society in the industrialized world . It's politics, stupid ..

A great piece of work. Insightful commentary, exhaustive research and timely topics make this book a must read for anyone interested in state politics and/or the politics of prison building.

This book should be read by everyone who wonders why the U.S. has expanded imprisonment at five times the rate of Western European nations.