Randy Quarles's Blog
October 8, 2013
A scholar's view of Olsen's Nation
Olsen’s Nation by Randy Quarles
Harold See*
(*Harold See is a legal scholar, a constitutional law professor at the Belmont University College of Law, and a retired two-term Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court.)
I picked up “Olsen’s Nation” with a general idea what it is about: a comical look at government involvement in the minutia of daily life; in particular, federal occupation of health care.
I have become weary of the hyperbolic tone of today’s political discussions, and I suspect (polls show that it is more than a suspicion) that average Americans are even more turned off by the harsh, partisan rhetoric that bombards them. Yet, it is average Americans upon whom our future, and that of our children and grandchildren, rests. How can anyone get the attention of a talking-points-weary public above the din of the 24-hour news cycle, the group-rights hucksters and the TV and internet narcissists?
I have longed for a way to point out the obvious, simply, quietly, good-humoredly. I have longed for Frederic Bastiat’s “Candlemakers’ Petition,” in which he demonstrated, through the farce of a petition to the government to stop an unfair competitor of the candle makers – a competitor whose costs were much lower and who, therefore, had an unfair advantage over them – namely, the Sun. The absurdity of the petition that the Sun be blocked by law from competing with the candle makers made the simple point, in a humorous, not an ugly or insulting way, that using the law to benefit one group after another results in everyone’s ultimate harm.
Olsen’s nation is in this vein. A non-partisan can enjoy it. Nothing in it is ugly. It is not a name-calling diatribe. It is a joyful romp through wonderland. But it makes you wonder. It is a look, albeit a light-hearted one, in the direction we are heading. And, it makes one think.
Harold See*
(*Harold See is a legal scholar, a constitutional law professor at the Belmont University College of Law, and a retired two-term Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court.)
I picked up “Olsen’s Nation” with a general idea what it is about: a comical look at government involvement in the minutia of daily life; in particular, federal occupation of health care.
I have become weary of the hyperbolic tone of today’s political discussions, and I suspect (polls show that it is more than a suspicion) that average Americans are even more turned off by the harsh, partisan rhetoric that bombards them. Yet, it is average Americans upon whom our future, and that of our children and grandchildren, rests. How can anyone get the attention of a talking-points-weary public above the din of the 24-hour news cycle, the group-rights hucksters and the TV and internet narcissists?
I have longed for a way to point out the obvious, simply, quietly, good-humoredly. I have longed for Frederic Bastiat’s “Candlemakers’ Petition,” in which he demonstrated, through the farce of a petition to the government to stop an unfair competitor of the candle makers – a competitor whose costs were much lower and who, therefore, had an unfair advantage over them – namely, the Sun. The absurdity of the petition that the Sun be blocked by law from competing with the candle makers made the simple point, in a humorous, not an ugly or insulting way, that using the law to benefit one group after another results in everyone’s ultimate harm.
Olsen’s nation is in this vein. A non-partisan can enjoy it. Nothing in it is ugly. It is not a name-calling diatribe. It is a joyful romp through wonderland. But it makes you wonder. It is a look, albeit a light-hearted one, in the direction we are heading. And, it makes one think.
Review: "A romping road-trip"
“Olsen’s Nation is a well-written, refreshing parody about politics and the media with a very colorful cast of memorable characters.” - GoodbooksToday.com Reviews
The full review is at:
http://goodbookstoday.com/bookclub/?p...
The full review is at:
http://goodbookstoday.com/bookclub/?p...
September 24, 2013
Review from The Washington Times Communities
"Olsen’s Nation is a parody on steroids. At every turn, author Randy Quarles mercilessly lampoons the Obama administration. . . . Olsen’s Nation offers a humorous but serious look into the potential side effects of Obamacare."
-- Joseph S. Diedrich, The Washington Times Communities
Full review at:
http://communities.washingtontimes.co...
-- Joseph S. Diedrich, The Washington Times Communities
Full review at:
http://communities.washingtontimes.co...
