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Progressivism: A Primer on the Idea Destroying America
America is dying from an idea she only dimly understands, so-called "progressivism." So, Jim Ostrowski, drawing on 45 years in politics, law and the Liberty Movement, deconstructs and demolishes the idea that has dominated American life for longer than any of us has been alive. He lays the hidden premises of progressivism bare for all to see and then shows how they have led to the destructive policies that are dragging America down. Ostrowski exposes the mental force field progressives carry around that protects them from having to answer for their multitude of policy failures. He also deconstructs progressivism's chief opponent for the last fifty years, conservatism and its marquis strategy, constitutionalism. These approaches have failed and crowded out progressivism's only viable adversary, true the proposition that human beings have the natural right to do as they wish with what they own. The book not only diagnoses what is wrong with America but proposes numerous and detailed strategies and tactics for what individual Americans can do right now to battle progressivism. LibertyMovement.org will be the vehicle for promoting and coordinating those efforts.
228 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 16, 2014
61 people are currently reading
134 people want to read
About the author
James Ostrowski
17 books9 followersJames Ostrowski is a trial and appellate lawyer and author from Buffalo, New York. He graduated from St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute in 1975 and obtained a degree in philosophy from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1980. He graduated from Brooklyn Law School in 1983. In law school, he was writing assistant to Dean David G. Trager, later a federal judge in the Eastern District of New York. He was a member of the Moot Court Honor Society and the International Law Moot Court Team.
He served as vice-chairman of the law reform committee of the New York County Lawyers Association (1986-88) and wrote two widely quoted reports critical of the law enforcement approach to the drug problem. He was chair of the human rights committee, Erie County Bar Association (1997-1999). He has written a number of scholarly articles on the law on subjects ranging from drug policy to the commerce clause of the constitution.
His articles have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Buffalo News, Cleveland Plain Dealer and Legislative Gazette. His policy studies have been published by the Hoover Institution, the Ludwig von Mises Institute, and the Cato Institute in Washington, D.C.. Presently, he is an adjunct scholar at the Ludwig von Mises Institute, a columnist for LewRockwell.com, and CEO of LibertyMovement.org.
He and his wife Amy live in North Buffalo with their two children, Anna and Will. He is a long-time youth baseball and basketball coach.
He served as vice-chairman of the law reform committee of the New York County Lawyers Association (1986-88) and wrote two widely quoted reports critical of the law enforcement approach to the drug problem. He was chair of the human rights committee, Erie County Bar Association (1997-1999). He has written a number of scholarly articles on the law on subjects ranging from drug policy to the commerce clause of the constitution.
His articles have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Buffalo News, Cleveland Plain Dealer and Legislative Gazette. His policy studies have been published by the Hoover Institution, the Ludwig von Mises Institute, and the Cato Institute in Washington, D.C.. Presently, he is an adjunct scholar at the Ludwig von Mises Institute, a columnist for LewRockwell.com, and CEO of LibertyMovement.org.
He and his wife Amy live in North Buffalo with their two children, Anna and Will. He is a long-time youth baseball and basketball coach.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 17, 2019
It's truly jaw-dropping what Ostrowski accomplished with this short book. Would it have any impact on any of the progressive or conservative friends/family I know? Who knows? But it'll be fun to find out!
July 24, 2016
We are all progressives now. After 100 years of steady advance, we can hardly see its odious and ruinous grip on us. The unfortunate creep of big government and loss of individual liberty continues to ruin our economy, opportunity, inner cities, and way of life. We ignore the lessons from this book at our peril. The answer posited? Not more failed progressive policies, and not conservativism. It's the liberty movement, which continues to make the world more prosperous, and us more free to pursue life, liberty, and happiness. Please read this book.
July 28, 2021
Progressivism: A Primer on the Idea Destroying America is primarily a Libertarian critique on the destructive worldview of progressivism or what I refer to as cultural and economic socialism unleashed on the United States. Throughout the entire time reading this book I never felt like I was lost or lacking for understanding regarding what progressivism is or how it is that it’s adherent’s function and push forward their worldview. The author has a good economic understanding of what is happening in terms of the outworking of economics within our country and he provides you with a scathing critique of how progressives are destroying this country by advancing and applying their progressive worldview.
Ostrowski begins by explaining the nature of classic liberalism, and he demonstrates how the original idea of being a liberal is diametrically the opposite of what so many understand today. This book is good in that it critiques the right problems that are produced by all the implemented progressivism and socialist ideas since the early 20’s. The book is not good in that it’s Libertarian solution is problematic itself because the inherent presuppositions embedded within the Libertarian worldview are utilitarian. The foundational belief of Libertarianism is the idea that anyone should be allowed to do anything they want as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone else. If this sounds like the old John Stuart Mill utilitarian ethic, it’s because it is precisely what he advocated. Freedom and liberty within the Libertarian worldview are premised on this idea and when these ideas are worked out to their logical consistency you run into different problems.
Aside from the inherent problem of Libertarianism itself you will be forced to contend with the idea of how Abraham Lincoln set America on a path toward Progressivism. As you read you will encounter how progressives Woodrow Wilson, FDR, and LBJ did more damage to our country than you could imagine. Do you want to challenge your traditional right wing, conservative, left wing, liberal, democratic socialist view of America, then this is your book?
Ostrowski begins by explaining the nature of classic liberalism, and he demonstrates how the original idea of being a liberal is diametrically the opposite of what so many understand today. This book is good in that it critiques the right problems that are produced by all the implemented progressivism and socialist ideas since the early 20’s. The book is not good in that it’s Libertarian solution is problematic itself because the inherent presuppositions embedded within the Libertarian worldview are utilitarian. The foundational belief of Libertarianism is the idea that anyone should be allowed to do anything they want as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone else. If this sounds like the old John Stuart Mill utilitarian ethic, it’s because it is precisely what he advocated. Freedom and liberty within the Libertarian worldview are premised on this idea and when these ideas are worked out to their logical consistency you run into different problems.
Aside from the inherent problem of Libertarianism itself you will be forced to contend with the idea of how Abraham Lincoln set America on a path toward Progressivism. As you read you will encounter how progressives Woodrow Wilson, FDR, and LBJ did more damage to our country than you could imagine. Do you want to challenge your traditional right wing, conservative, left wing, liberal, democratic socialist view of America, then this is your book?
October 2, 2017
Defining Progressives
An analytical picture of progressives. They are permeating our society. With magical thinking and lack of rational thought process, solutions are limited to present actual facts and change minds. Scary future with the quasi religious movement alleviating personal anxieties of some by taking away the liberty of others. Well defined and written but light on solutions but this may be the nature of the issue.
An analytical picture of progressives. They are permeating our society. With magical thinking and lack of rational thought process, solutions are limited to present actual facts and change minds. Scary future with the quasi religious movement alleviating personal anxieties of some by taking away the liberty of others. Well defined and written but light on solutions but this may be the nature of the issue.
January 17, 2017
Wake up America
There are many excellent points made in this book that suggest a reset of American principles are in order. Our Constitutional Republic has been slowly replaced with a system that is opposed to individual freedom and the government duty to protect our natural rights and the sovereignty of our Nation.
There are many excellent points made in this book that suggest a reset of American principles are in order. Our Constitutional Republic has been slowly replaced with a system that is opposed to individual freedom and the government duty to protect our natural rights and the sovereignty of our Nation.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews