The Patriot's Toolbox: First Edition

by Joseph L. Bast, George Gilder, Leonard Gilroy

Rarely have more people in the United States been so deeply concerned about the direction of their country as right now, in 2010. During the past two years, millions of men and women have literally marched in the streets for political change, and surveys show their views are supported by the great majority of other Americans. They are not demanding new entitlement programs or threatening to strike if their demands are not met. They simply want their country back. As this book's title suggests, they are patriots who want to restore the country's freedom and prosperity.

The most visible part of this uprising, called the Tea Party movement, arose in response to the enormous government bailouts of banks and insurance companies launched by President George W. Bush and overseen by President Barack Obama, and then the massive spending initiatives and government takeovers of formerly private businesses during the first 18 months of the Obama administration. The new patriots perceive that these developments contradict basic American ideals and historical practice. They are right.rose in response to the enormous government bailouts of banks and insurance companies launched by President George W. Bush and overseen by President Barack Obama, and then the massive spending initiatives and government takeovers of formerly private businesses during the first 18 months of the Obama administration. The new patriots perceive that these developments contradict basic American ideals and historical practice. They are right.

This book is offered as a guide to public policy for patriot-activists in the Tea Party movement as well as for candidates for public office, incumbent office holders, civic and business leaders, and journalists assigned to cover the movement. It consists of eight chapters, seven of them previously published by The Heartland Institute as booklets in a series called Legislative Principles and one written specifically for this book. Together, they provide a comprehensive collection of practical, evidence-based principles in the major fields of legislation. Additional research and commentary can be found on The Heartland Institute's Web site.

270 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2010

About the author

Joseph Lee Bast: son of LeRoy J. & Elizabeth M. Bast (m. 9.29.51); Married Diane C. Ver Voort, 8/29/81.
Catholic
Attended U of Chicago until 1984
Dir, Nomos Press 1983-88
Founding Dir, State Policy Inst 1991-97
Dir, American Conservative Union
President/CEO, The Heartland Institute
Trustee, Shimer College
State Policy Network Roe Award '94
Eagle Forum Award '98
Philadelphia Society Member 2002+
Libertarian Party Champion of Liberty
Award 2004
Published in Phi Delta Kappan, Economics of Education Review, Wall Street Journal, Investor’s Business Daily, Cato Journal & USA Today. Publishes 5 moly papers: School Reform News, Environment & Climate News, Health Care News, Budget & Tax News & IT&T News. Contributes to public policy debate, testifying before Congress against environmental legislation. Named one of “88 to Watch in '88” by Chicago's Tribune. Commissioned a Kentucky Colonel by Gov. Paul E. Patton on 6/19/96. Corecipient of the '96 Sir Antony Fisher Internat'l Memorial Award. Elected to American Conservative Union board in '07.
He was the Heartland Inst's lst employee in '84. Originally focused on policies relevant to the Midwest, since '93 it's focused on nat'l officials & opinion leaders. It features an Internet application, PolicyBot, a clearinghouse for research from other conservative thinktanks like the Heritage Foundation, American Legislative Exchange Council & Cato Inst. Criticized for having executives from ExxonMobil & Philip Morris on its board & in its PR dept, it counters that "no one on Heartland's board of directors works for a tobacco company (Roy Marden retired yrs ago) or for an oil company (Walter Buchholtz was on the board but no longer is)."

Reviews

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must read.