Governments

In a country where the corruption is rewarded with the impunity, to find courageous citizens that face the power it is not easy. In this book, the author of the famous sentence " if this ends in pizza it will be the end of the country " (sentence that uttered during CPI of Collor-PC and it was famous in the whole country and until today it is used when it is wanted to say that some thing that she are investigating will end in anything), it counts, in way simple, direct and involving, all the maneuvers of the famous and unlucky " Operação Uruguai " - the false loan contract that Collor said to have done to justify the millionaire expenses peculiar of the whole family, in the gardens of the House of Dinda, where they lived. With that maneuver, wrought in the president's close friend office, Alcides from Santos Diniz, Collor played your last cartada, in the hope of finally to CPI that investigated the acts of corruption denounced by your brother, Pedro Collor of Mello. It is a touching and extraordinary report, a historical document, extraordinary for who wants to understand the back stages of the power under a simple citizen's optics - a secretary that witnessed step the step the staging of that farce that ended up denouncing to the nation, being a fact that was decisive in president Collor's impeachment. The book, edited in 1993 by the Publisher Eye Of water, has 103 pages and it was indicated for the Prize Land turtle of Literature (the largest prize of the Brazilian literature), in the Political category, being in third place. It is obligatory reading in the courses of Secretariat and Journalism, when it opened an interesting discussion on the limits of the professional ethics. The secretary's attitude was a divisor of waters in the profession and today the profession is discussed before and after Sandra's attitude, while professional and citizen. The book has a reading stimulating, attractive and touching. Extraordinary. Recommended it all those that believe that will still be able to live in a world of more honesty, dignity and social justice.

The underground history of the outline Collor-PC, that took to former-president Fernando Collor de Mello impeachment won an important document: the book THE Instant of the Farce - Operação Uruguai, that was written by Oliveira's secretary Sandra Fernandes, that became one of the principal witness of CPI after detonating Operação Uruguay's farce, an alibi set up at the office of your boss, the president's close friend, disassembling Collor's defense and your gang. In the middle of the year of 1991, Sandra was secretary of the company ASD Empreendimentos and Participations, of property of Alcides from Santos Diniz. Sandra ended up testifying the assembly of the plot you/he/she intended to save the president of the impeachment. Author of the sentence " If this ends in pizza, it will be the end of the country ", sentence that was famous in the whole country and that it fell in the public domain, to " end in pizza " means " to fall through, as it is what it usually ends up happening with the great thieves of the white collar, the mobsters and the corrupt politicians of Brazil, that end if benefitting with the impunity that reigns at the country. Sandra's book is an indignation hymn and of hope. In the opinion of one of the most famous Brazilian intellectuals, died in 2000, until then president of the Brazilian Association of Press, journalist Barbosa Lima Sobrinho wrote in the fourth book cover: " The exercise of the citizenship in Brazil, he/she has been having, along your history recent, few examples as what gave us Sandra Fernandes of Oliveira. Your deposition and your courage, in decisive moment, when so many witness if they silenced, they are a homage to the dignity of the Brazilian people". Sandra, that was called woman -courage ", was 42 years old and you/he/she went by your first pregnancy. They are 16 chapters and 104 pages of pure emotion and suspense: when he/she began to distrust of the assembly of the farce in that office; the risk of being picked in the act searching drawers in search of proofs incriminate ; the anguish between to denounce your bosses and to finish being connivent or to follow your conscience, denouncing everything; the discussions with your husband, that feared for your risk pregnancy; the decision of testifying; the repercussion of your deposition in the press; Collor's parliamentarians defenders' lowering glances during your deposition; the threats for telephone to your family before, during and after the deposition.It is a detailed history of a very delicate personal decision, the one of testifying to CPI that dropped the president. With your courage, Sandra helped to change the recent history of the country. With your attitude, it placed in discussion the limits of the professional ethics for the secretaries. It is a sincere and touching report, that it is worthwhile to be read. True citizenship class. O book (the sandra history) it is selected for the route of a film on the 10 years of the impeachment and it should be in the screens of the Brazilian movies in the year of 2002.

I am a major fan of Louise Armstrong. Author of "Kiss Daddy Goodnight," and "Rocking the Cradle of Sexual Politics," Armstrong is a seeker of Truth and will stop at nothing to dis-cover what it is that puts America's children at risk and keeps them there. It is more than professionals and volunteers who can identify with what Armstrong has to say. Those who have partaken of the system can easily identify themselves in the pages that tell one story after another of lies, secrets and betrayal by a system that supposedly exists to rescue and protect our most vulnerable citizens. While Armstrong sees a system flailing in the wind of incompetence and confusion, I see more. In a system where no one is held accountable, where those who are targeted with "services," that are nothing more than "punishment" defined as "treatment," the Nazification of the social service system has created an open door to those who thrive on the exploitation of children for profit. If you don't believe it, read the other books I have reviewed. The truth will begin to reveal itself to you, too.

Louise Armstrong has exposed the dark underside of Child Welfare in this country. This is not a "feminist" book in any narrow definition of that term; rather this is a book for any American who believes our children deserve our best.

Armstrong details nothing less than an evil conspiracy. Federal mechanisms for funding, the courts and state bureaucrats have conspired to make the public believe that the nation's most tragic victims - abused children - are in good hands. Then the three branches of government then play the parts of those legendary monkeys - see no evil, speak no evil and hear no evil.

The concerned volunteer or interested citizen will be appalled at the stories Armstrong tells. They are heartbreaking stories that ring all too true for those of us who have worked or volunteered in the child welfare field. Those who are looking for an easy scapegoat, however, will be disappointed. The child welfare system in this nation is accountable to no one, and even though some of our nation's heroes work here every day, many - perhaps most - of the children are poorly served, even harmed.

Here is a system where no one keeps account of the most basic data - how many children, how many placements made, etc. - where secrets are every where and those in charge seem somehow unwilling or unable to make the changes necessary. Here the poorest women have their children taken away by a system seemingly without either a heart or a mind. For there is no caring and no logic to the punishment of both mother and child whose crimes are simply being born poor in the world's richest nation.

This isn't a book of answers, but it asks all the right questions. Read it, and then give it to a legislator.

I concur with the previous reviewer. Mr. Nossiter has produced a well-researched and fascinating chronicle of the case of Medgar Evers, including a detailed and chilling portrait of his assassin. Nossiter also effectively re-creates the eerie atmosphere of early 1960's Mississippi, where the Klan, the White Citizens' Council, and the Sovereignty Commission flourished, and where a man like Beckwith would become a sort of folk hero to his fellow racists. However, it is also a story of dogged determination and the quest for justice, as exemplified by Myrlie Evers and Bobby DeLaughter, whose efforts culminated in the long-overdue conviction of Beckwith. It is a story of tragedy and triumph, skillfully crafted by a talented and deeply insightful writer. Well done, Mr. Nossiter!

Forget the Movie. This is the book to read about the assisination of Medgar Evers and the subsequent retrial some 30 years later of the killer.

The author provides a moving and engrossing story as well as sharp analysis of the social conditions and personalities involved.

Of Rats And Men: Oscar Goodman's Life From Mob Mouthpiece To Mayor Of Las Vegas is the inherently fascinating biography of Oscar Goodman, a man who deliberately became a pre-eminent defense attorney for alleged gangsters for 35 years. Accused but never proven of being more than a mouthpiece and defense attorney for organized crime, Oscar Goodman somehow managed to successfully defend his clients without becoming part of organized crime itself -- at least according to the voters of Las Vegas who eventually elected him as their mayor twice. Of Rats And Men is very highly recommended reading for anyone with an interest in the history of organized crime in America or who wish to avail themselves of a unique insight into the life and philosophy of an accomplished trial lawyer who specialized in defending members of established crime families.

The copious notes and eight pages of bibliography supporting John L. Smith's meticulously researched biographical look at Oscar Goodman, former mob attorney - presently the two-term mayor of Las Vegas, impressed me.

Talk about "insider" information! Smith has long been quoted as a preeminent authority on mob history and "wise guy" relationships. In his book, "Of Rats and Men: Oscar Goodman's Life from Mob Mouthpiece to Mayor of Las Vegas," Smith names a Who's Who of notorious clients, alleged criminal activities, and egregious political innuendoes surrounding the controversial bonds between Goodman and friends. Scared me! While it is obvious the attention-seeking mayor was generous in his interviews with the author, Smith kept me up nights as he interpreted what Goodman would have us believe with his [author's] own extensive background knowledge and investigative prowess. John L. has balls of brass to write as honestly as he does.

Don't let an easy read fool you. This book is a gem for all who follow gaming history, or the Las Vegas / mob connection - to say nothing of government ineptitude (now, that was a hoot!).

Some of the basic information to this book that is missing is that the author is Anne Kerr, and it was published by the Lands Directorate, Ministry of Environment (Government of Canada).

The book seeks to identify the amount of land, the location of this land, its specific type and the rate at which its use has changed from the period 1958-1981 within the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, Canada. Within this context the book further seeks to see how these changes have affected the fruitland base of the Okanagan, and in turn to document the federal governments role in these transformations. Of further interest, it seeks to see how major initiatives such as the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) how impacted on the use of land within the Valley.

I personally found this book to be very excellent study of the issues that are set out in the introduction. It does a comprehensive job at looking at how these federal and provincial programs have helped to slowly change the economic base of the Valley away from a primarily agricultural mode of production to a more diversified industrial one. The merits of this are, of course, debatable, bringing into question the continued relevance of even the ALR itself as the Valley has become a haven for retirees and a burgeoning high tech sector.

All in all this is an excellent study of the land-use trends within the Okanagan and is a most read for anybody interested in the evolution of land-use planning in British Columbia. My only concern would be the availability of this book. Good luck in trying to get a copy.

This is not a book I expected Amazon to carry! It is actually published by the Canadian federal government (Lands Directorate to be precise), and was authored by Anne Kerr. I have personally found this book extremely useful in my research on land-use decisions in the Okanagan over the last 30-40 years. Be warned however, this is a very specific work and I think is better intended as a reference work.

This study seeks to look at changes in fruitlands between 1958 (which was the year that the McPhee Report was released) and 1981. Of course, one of the major developments of this era was the introduction of the Agricultural Land Reserve by the Provincial government in 1973. This work makes the assertion that this has led to a reduction in the number of orchards being converted over to urban uses. Yet, it fails I believe to adequately address how the Land Reserve affected the fruit industry in other ways (but that was not really the mandate of the study).

Regardless, this is an excellent, albeit specific source, on land-use changes in British Columbia.

This book truly shows the art of a great speaker and orator. Cicero is the best!. "On government" truly develops the mind. (The book is also handy if you want to expand your vocabulary.)

Cicero is the greatest of latin writers. His knowledge is so wide. This book brings together many of his thoughts on government.This book makes it obvious how much he loved the republican form of government. Our founding fathers were widely read on Cicero's treatise's and rightly so. Excellent reading.

THIS BOOK IS ABOUT THE DIRTY PROTEST BY THE IRA PRISONERS IN H BLOCK OF THE MAZE PRISON ONE OF THE PRISONERS WAS BOBBY SANDS. WHETEHER YOU AGREE WITH THE IRA OR NOT IT IS A TRAGIC INCIDENT AND SHOWS THE WILL AND DRIVE OF THESE 10 MEN AND ALL THERE SUPPORTERS AND THERE STANDING FOR THE THINGS THEY TRULY BELIEVE IN ESPECIAALY IN SUCH DEPLORABLE CONDITIONS. SOME BOOKS ABOUT THE TROUBLES ARE A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO GET THROUGH BUT THIS WAS A PRETTY GOOD BOOK

Published just prior to the hunger strikes of 1981 which claimed the life of ten IRA prisoners, "On The Blanket" details the so-called "dirty protest" that led up to the horrors of that year. With several first-hand accounts from prisoners and actors in the struggle, Coogan presents an unflinching account of the events in Long Kesh (the Maze) and Armagh prisons. The descriptions of the conditions in both prisons will move even the most cold-hearted reader. Coogan puts forth an important work that will stand as testiment to this troubled period in Irish history.

The true mark of a genius is in developing an idea that, when put forth seems obvious, yet is an original idea. This book is Strayer's work of genius. Being so short, Strayer's book should be mandatory reading in the public school system. No one else has come close to explaining the unique origin of the state system in the modern West.

This book, as is well known, is a small classic among history books on Medieval Europe since its publication in the early 19seventies. There is a clear and distinct approach of rational government building in 11-14th century England and France, and how the modern state has roots shaped by the lessons and experiences of that time. Although the treatise is short, it is very clearly and concisely written. Obviously, the writer has deep knowledge of what he is talking about, and reading the book gives a stong impression that there is much more behind the analysis that he gives. The idea of more-or-less rational institutional building of government functions in middle-to late Medieval times does leave out a lot of other human elements shaping human governance at that time, while i got a distinct impression of the smoothness of the whole process overall. This seems certainly very debatable. Nevertheless, perhaps the sharp focus is what makes the book so very clear, informative and enjoyable to read. A definite must for any serious Medieval history buff...

This is bound to be a classic, one of those books scholars will use as a reference in trying to understand the transformation of Indian nations in the late 20th century. Several years before Indian casinos changed the economic landscape of the southern New England and other sections of North America, Rick Hornung was one of the first reporters on the case. In 1989-1990, he traveled to Mohawk lands, artfully documenting the Mohawks' violent civil war over the effort to build, run and maintain lucrative casinos. While most nations negotiated settlements and compacts with state and federal governments, the Mohawks refused to give up their sovereignty over reserved lands. This decision to resist and begin a new, dynamic economy is at the core of Hornung's gripping, exciting and incisive chronicle of what happens to an Indian community when it must decide between gambling or other forms of economic and political development. Adding to the complexity and excitement is Hornung's shrewd awareness of how troubles in New York spilled across the St. Lawrence River and caused an armed revolt on the streets of Montreal. Determined to let the various present their views, Hornung creates a vivid and unfrogettable protrait of a Mohawk community faced with the conflicting demands of preserving the past and securing a future. From one confrontation to the next, Hornung weaves a tight narrative of suspense and political intrigue that often erupts into violence. In his book, the Mohawks are astute and intelligent participants in the struggle to redefine their own identity in a world of loss, longing and betrayal.

This account of the Mohawk Civil War, near the end of the 20th century, proves even more relevant at the beginning of the 21st, as gambling laws and Indians make new news. Rick Hornung invites the men and women whose story this is, to speak from their own places of division and betrayal. With honesty and intelligence, Hornung's report brings these people to the understanding of his readers. One Nation Under The Gun is one of the most important books for anyone brave enough to look deep inside conflict and struggle. It is a must read for the serious student of history, politics, and government.

Thanks to Steyn we get a closer look at one of the most fascinating persons in modern history. Nelson Mandela demonstrates most convincingly that integrity and respect for fellow human beings of all levels is not a sign of weakness but rather the ultimate demonstration of greatness. This book ought to be mandatory reading for every person in a leading position, be it in the political or any other field. Thus, let us hope that it becomes more readily available outside of South Africa!

An excellent book! This book was very well written and contained in depth information about executive and personal protection that few people have the intimate knowledge to find out about. I was especially drawn to the special relationship that formed between Mr. Steyn & his protectee, President Nelson Mandela. This book also contained some very humerous passages, such as the incident where the driver for Mr. Mandala's principal car accidently locked the keys in the car, with the president's helicopter inbound a due to land in a few minutes! I would recommend this book to any protection specialist in the field and others alike.