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The Spectacle Blog
In the midst of all the headlines from the campaign trail, our friend Mark Levin’s Ameritopia continues to glide along, now number two atop the New York Times Bestseller List almost a full two months after its January release.
Why note this?
In this space we are big believers in “cultural indicators” — those things ongoing in American life that do not appear, at first glance, to have anything to do with, say, this or that presidential campaign.
Levin’s Ameritopia is a detailed history of the lure of utopia that is at the very core of leftist thought. The idea that a society composed of imperfect human beings can somehow produce a perfect world - a utopia. Or, in the case of American leftists, “Ameritopia.” The idea of such a perfect world, from Plato to Obamacare, is of course fatally flawed, although that has never stopped the witch doctors of the left from trying to sell it just one more time. Always at the expense of your liberty.
Listening to the Republican presidential candidates as they crisscross the country in search of votes one is struck by the fact that each in their own fashion they are verbalizing the central point of Ameritopia, whether the issue is the economy, health care, energy, entitlements or what have you. Doubtless millions of Americans understand this as well, which is why Levin’s book is still riding high months after its release.
Now comes yet another great review of Ameritopia, this one by the always-astute Andrew McCarthy of National Review. His take of Ameritopia and its importance can be found here over at the New Criterion.
Why is this important to read? Why both McCarthy’s review of Levin and most importantly Levin’s Ameritopia itself?
What is really being discussed as Romney, Santorum, Newt and Ron Paul slog from state to state is some semblance of this question, as posed by McCarthy:
The stark question Mark Levin poses is whether we are so far gone that the losses are permanent. Do we throw off Ameritopia and pivot back toward liberty and self-determination?
Good question. As a matter of fact, THE question of 2012.
The fact that Ameritopia is such a huge bestseller — as was predicted in this space back in January — is a hopeful sign that more and more Americans are on to the left’s game.
And a terrifying game it is.
The continuing popularity of Mark Levin’s Ameritopia holds out hope the game is over. The game is over.
View all comments (9) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Jeffrey Lord
http://spectator.org/blog/2012/03/01/while-campaign-roars-ameritopi
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Nick| 3.1.12 @ 10:04AM
I thought Andy McCarthy and Jeff Lord would say they hated Ameritopia. Next I will hear that Rush and Hannity like it too.
boogalie| 3.1.12 @ 11:07AM
Ameritopia, among its' strong points adds another more subltle question: Why, in our PUBLIC schools is the Constitution and its' values and merit not taught? I cannot speak for all public schools of course, but my experience as well as that of my children demonstrates that it is not. Hillsdale College has a wonderful web course on the Constitution 101. I urge everyone with interest to investigate it! Semper Fi.
Indy| 3.1.12 @ 11:23AM
This book should be required reading for High School and College students.
9thID| 3.1.12 @ 11:50AM
Levin's latest is a fine addition to Liberty & Tyranny. They present us with the stark extremism we are now openly fighting against in Liberal collectivism and Liber-tarian anarchism...
Clint| 3.1.12 @ 12:02PM
Ronald Reagan,
" If you analyze it I believe the very heart and soul of conservatism is libertarianism. I think conservatism is really a misnomer just as liberalism is a misnomer for the liberals–if we were back in the days of the Revolution, so-called conservatives today would be the Liberals and the liberals would be the Tories. The basis of conservatism is a desire for less government interference or less centralized authority or more individual freedom and this is a pretty general description also of what libertarianism is.
Now, I can’t say that I will agree with all the things that the present group who call themselves Libertarians in the sense of a party say, because I think that like in any political movement there are shades, and there are libertarians who are almost over at the point of wanting no government at all or anarchy. I believe there are legitimate government functions. There is a legitimate need in an orderly society for some government to maintain freedom or we will have tyranny by individuals. The strongest man on the block will run the neighborhood. We have government to insure that we don’t each one of us have to carry a club to defend ourselves. But again, I stand on my statement that I think that libertarianism and conservatism are traveling the same path."
The Tea Party Rebellion Heads To A Brokered Convention.
Bill| 3.1.12 @ 2:39PM
The "Great" Mark Levine is a legend. I listen to him everyday.
PattyMor| 3.1.12 @ 3:05PM
Yes, Ameritopia reveals the Left's plans. An America so clean and perfect. Pristine lakes and rivers, plenty of otters, polar bears, and deer. But, no messy, smelly, expensive kids because they defile "mother earth" and consume resources. Of course with that goes no jobs and no future. Ah, the fairy never ends well (in real life).
Joe | 3.2.12 @ 8:25AM
This is THE QUESTION OF OUR TIME, not just 2012!!! As Levin points out, we've been heading in this direction for a long, long time and not just one election is going to change this. I don't mean to be so dramatic, but we, as a civil society of Americans that embrace the principles of true liberty, MUST persevere beyond candidates, parties and elections to stand defiant against the march of tyranny. All of us need to speak out against this, with patient, clear, and bold facts, to educate and clarify for the unaware, to ensure they see that which is promised by the Left is but a mirage that will evaporate the closer you get to it. Our Founders gave us the gift of a republic with the intent of enabling and protecting individual liberty – if we could keep it – and to my astonishment and fear, we may actually see it lost.
Anna| 3.3.12 @ 9:41AM
It is clear that is citizens must educate themselves first about the responsibilities of citizenship (protecting the Constitution & Bill of Rights), and then educate those around them. Marl Levin's books cover political philosophy at a higher level than anyone writing today. Pair his works with the Hillsdale course, and Larry Arn's new book, 'The Founders' Key' and you will be on your way to recognizing the abyss that surrounds what is left of our representative Republic.
Santorum & Newt need to sit down and talk. It is clear from your poll that most of us prefer them over the current delegate leader. Or, in Ghostbuster terms...we might have to cross the streams in order to send Gozar the Traveler back to the beyond. Dangerous, radical, bold...rock, paper, scissors it to decide gentlemen...but this is one time I want two strong vetted conservative Republicans in the one - two position far ahead of what promises to be the dirtiest campaign season ever. Please, for our Republic, lay aside ego...join forces, for we need both of you and all of your supporters pulling in the same direction.