Wake Up, You're Liberal!: How We Can Take America Back from the Right

by Ted Rall

Americans are not living as well as the citizens of the world's wealthiest and most powerful nation should. Part of the reason: their government has been hijacked by the right third of the political spectrum. Why? After all, the American left -- Democrats, Greens and political movements from environmentalism and animal rights to those who oppose unfettered free trade -- should by all rights enjoy majority, mainstream status. Eighty percent of Americans...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1932360220
• ISBN13: 9781932360226
• Release Date: May 2004
• Publisher: Soft Skull
• Length: 315 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.2" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Food for thought -- read it while thinking's still allowed

- I found "Wake Up, You're Liberal!" to be excellent food for thought. There are some who feel that all the important issues facing America and Americans have been solved. For those who feel this way, doctrinaire nonsense from one or another "ism" obviates the need to examine, consider, and decide -- all that's needed is to just keep shouting ideological catchphrases at any and all problems 'til the problems succumb from exhaustion. For the great majority of centrist Americans, however, partisan shrieking isn't enough. For them, reflecting on earlier events and examining new ideas is an essential part of good citizenship. Ted Rall's cogently written book, "Wake Up, You're Liberal!," provides that reflection and examination. Like any of our fellow species members, Mr. Rall may not always get it right, but that's a consequence of his considering complex problems rather than arguing that simplistic catchphrases alone are enough to solve them them. His examination also means that the word "Liberal" in the title may mislead, even disappoint, some readers. One of the books recurring themes is that doctrinaire liberals and doctrinaire conservatives alike have allowed rigid advocacy of overly simplistic, even extremist, dogma to move their respective movements out of the political mainstream. "Wake Up, You're Liberal!" won't offend or annoy anyone who can tolerate reasoned political dialog. The book certainly isn't grounds for having Mr. Rall imprisioned, exiled, or shot as some neocons have publicly suggested. But for those of who naively belive that any book, doctrine, or "ism" can provide the answer to any and all problems, books like "Wake Up" may present an unacceptable deviance from approved doctrine. That's true whether the orthodoxy originates from the left or the right. For that reason alone, I strongly suggest you read this book while it's still legal to do so...

A sharp-voiced wake-up call

Wake Up... You're Liberal: How We Can Take America Back From The Right is a sharp-voiced wake-up call, grounded heavily in both research and personal passion. Cartoonist, columnist, and war correspondent Ted Rall argues that most "Republican" voters agree with liberals on most issues, but have been duped into voting against their own interests and for the interests of the wealthiest, most sharply conservative, and often most fanatically religious minority of the nation. Discussing everything from high school bullying to dirty political practices to Central Asian oil politics, Wake Up... You're Liberal combines its whetted observations into an overriding manifesto to wake up, get involved, and contribute to the democratic system that makes America great.

Opened my eyes

Ted Rall should be commended for laying out all the cards on the table and calling out what needs to be fixed. He is spot on in his current views of the Democratic Party and what they need to do to get the blood flowing again. He is absolutely correct in that the majority of Americans hold different shades of liberal views and that the conservative movement has been against progress from the very beginning. But why do they win election after election? Because they are successful in media control, voter manipulation and lying. This country is headed for the toilet and people need to wake up.

one of the best political analyses I have ever read!!

The writing is clear, lucid and entertaining, yet manages to rile even the most sedate Democrat who feels that this country is going to hell in a handbag. Rall's ability to capture the way Americans can entertain contradictory opinions is spot on and enlightening to those of us who have a hard time comprehending how avowed Republicans can sleep at night. The really good thing is that reading this book has given me a better sense of my political identity and an urge to do something about the sad state of affairs in which the Bush administration has placed this country and its people.Ted Rall is a prime example of why a study of history can be so valuable in helping us lead mature, well-reasoned, persuasive and self-actualizing lives as Liberals.

Great- to the point and no B.S.

You either like Rall or you want to see him die painfully. I like his writing a great deal. His cartoons and editorial comments are infamous for tweaking the right wing - hard. Like a meaner, more vitriolic Michael Moore or a modern day Ambrose Bierce. He thinks that Bush is an evil dumba$$ and that Ronnie Reagan in "turning a crispy black about now". His infamous cartoon about ranger Pat Tillman elicited death threats galore.However relatively little of that invective is on display in this book. 'Wake Up..' is pretty much focused on the thesis and subsequent applications thereof that could best be summed up as follows: 1-Liberals instituted most of the good things in American Society - health and workers safety programs, education, 40 hour work weeks, abolishing child labor, etc.2-Conservatives currently play the game of acquiring and keeping political power much, much better; thus many people vote conservative even as those same conservatives work to screw them over.3- The Democratic party has followed the Republicans in it's movement to the right, most Democrats are, for the most part, moderate Republicans.4-To get back into power the Democratic, or even better a truly liberal party should be both true to itself, be unashamed of wanting basic things that any civilized country should expect to have, E.G. universal healthcare, education and a redistributionist tax model. But at the same time get its head out of it's behind and focus deeply and pervasively on a few issues. Rall points out the general scattered approach and fruitiness of the typical peace march with people carrying every type of sign, compared to the Republicans ability to stay on message.A solidly written, pragmatic book, nearly as good as the brilliant 'To Afghanistan and back' (IMHO the best war writing since Orwell and 'Homage to Catalonia'); it is hard to believe it is written by the same guy who is such a savage attack dog in cartoon and sound bite. If you hate the guy and what he stands for (American populist socialism, in essence) go buy something by Ann Coulter instead; however if you wonder how the heck we end up with such crappy leaders and what we can do about it this is an interesting and worthwhile book.