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The Dark Side of Liberalism: Unchaining the Truth
Argues that Islam is not a religion of peace, that environmentalism works against national sovereignty, and that liberals hate America while discussing topics including immigration, race relations, the media, and Big Government.
- GenresPolitics
226 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 22, 2024
A STRONG CRITIQUE OF LIBERALISM... PERHAPS TOO STRONG FOR SOME
Phil Kent is president of Southeastern Legal Foundation, a conservative public interest law firm; he has also written the book 'Foundations of Betrayal: How the Liberal Super Rich Undermine America.'
He wrote in the Introduction to this 2003 book, "This book, while chronicling liberalism's Long March and its alarming inroads, seeks to show how to 'unchain the truth.' It emphasizes how conservatives and their natural allies in Middle America can ... be effective in the new century."
He argues against allowing the child of illegal immigrants born on U.S. soil to automatically become a U.S. citizen (Pg. 58); he asserts that "California is a prime example of how socialism destroys an economy---people leave, profit is discouraged, and taxes go up on those remaining to pay for a myriad of services" (Pg. 122); he also claims that "Sport utility vehicles are safe and vital to consumers and the U.S. economy---and the... campaign against them is insulting and hypocritical." (Pg. 138)
Alarmingly [for most readers], he seemingly endorses the book 'The Bell Curve: Intelligence and Class Structure in American Life')---and perhaps even persons such as Arthur Jensen and William Shockley---claiming that "a Supreme Court majority now acknowledges that violent crimes are linked to low IQ!" (Pg. 39-40) He also asserts that "Radical Islam's clear message is hostile to Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism and other of the world's great religions." (Pg. 71)
He concludes on the note, "I'm an optimist... not so long ago, a rising tide of 'noble' liberalism seemed vibrant, confident, and on the winning side of history. That's not the perception anymore. More and more liberals are embarrassed to even be identified as such." (Pg. 201)
Those interested in a critique of liberalism may enjoy this book... but caveat emptor about some of its opinions.
Phil Kent is president of Southeastern Legal Foundation, a conservative public interest law firm; he has also written the book 'Foundations of Betrayal: How the Liberal Super Rich Undermine America.'
He wrote in the Introduction to this 2003 book, "This book, while chronicling liberalism's Long March and its alarming inroads, seeks to show how to 'unchain the truth.' It emphasizes how conservatives and their natural allies in Middle America can ... be effective in the new century."
He argues against allowing the child of illegal immigrants born on U.S. soil to automatically become a U.S. citizen (Pg. 58); he asserts that "California is a prime example of how socialism destroys an economy---people leave, profit is discouraged, and taxes go up on those remaining to pay for a myriad of services" (Pg. 122); he also claims that "Sport utility vehicles are safe and vital to consumers and the U.S. economy---and the... campaign against them is insulting and hypocritical." (Pg. 138)
Alarmingly [for most readers], he seemingly endorses the book 'The Bell Curve: Intelligence and Class Structure in American Life')---and perhaps even persons such as Arthur Jensen and William Shockley---claiming that "a Supreme Court majority now acknowledges that violent crimes are linked to low IQ!" (Pg. 39-40) He also asserts that "Radical Islam's clear message is hostile to Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism and other of the world's great religions." (Pg. 71)
He concludes on the note, "I'm an optimist... not so long ago, a rising tide of 'noble' liberalism seemed vibrant, confident, and on the winning side of history. That's not the perception anymore. More and more liberals are embarrassed to even be identified as such." (Pg. 201)
Those interested in a critique of liberalism may enjoy this book... but caveat emptor about some of its opinions.
August 11, 2011
Bluntly put, Kent isn't fit to carry the boots of a Pat Buchanan, a Paul Craig Roberts, or even a Peter Brimelow. Although he never completely eschews truth, Kent dutifully (one might even say "robotically") swaddles it in a soiled diaper of GOP talking points, half-truths and propaganda.
In tone and quality, TDSoL is the mirror-image its left-wing counterpart, Vonnegut's _A Man Without a Country_. Like the latter, it's a disappointing read for those of us to who've long since discovered that *both* putative "sides" can be (and often are) dead wrong on the same issues: i.e., one side insisting the moon is made of green cheese, while the other maintains that it's composed of fairy dust and dewdrops.
Although the book isn't completely worthless; more erudite conservative thinkers have already made most of Kent's arguments -- and done a better job of it. Aside from infuriating vacuous, soundbite-spewing Michael Moore cultists, TDSoL is of little real-world (and even less intellectual) value.
In tone and quality, TDSoL is the mirror-image its left-wing counterpart, Vonnegut's _A Man Without a Country_. Like the latter, it's a disappointing read for those of us to who've long since discovered that *both* putative "sides" can be (and often are) dead wrong on the same issues: i.e., one side insisting the moon is made of green cheese, while the other maintains that it's composed of fairy dust and dewdrops.
Although the book isn't completely worthless; more erudite conservative thinkers have already made most of Kent's arguments -- and done a better job of it. Aside from infuriating vacuous, soundbite-spewing Michael Moore cultists, TDSoL is of little real-world (and even less intellectual) value.
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February 5, 2016This book was written in 2003 but is still relevant.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews