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America's Pursuit of Absolute Security at All Costs
By David C. Unger
What this book is about:
The gradual erosion of Congressional authority and the U.S. Constitution, along with the growth of presidential powers, on national security and the economy. Because of actions taken by every president from FDR to Obama, the country remains in a perpetual “emergency state,” whether during war or peacetime. The emergency state seeks total security within our borders, relying on Executive Branch decisions and actions that don’t have much debate or accountability; namely, undeclared wars, covert assassinations, indefinite detention, expansion of secrecy, and bloated federal budgets.
The Emergency State, written by a veteran New York Times reporter and Johns Hopkins University foreign policy professor, is not for casual history buffs or conspiracy theorists. Rather, it’s a well-documented book that must be read by anyone concerned about the future direction of the U.S. It also provides little-known facts about our most beloved presidents in their pursuit of the absolute security. For example, FDR (Unger calls him “the godfather” of the emergency state) secretly worked with FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover to investigate anti-interventionist groups as part of FDR’s plan to enter the Atlantic theater in World War II.
Why you should read this book:
- If you idolize any recent president, Democrat or Republican, this book will bring you down to earth.
- It discusses the dangers of our prolonged national crises, financial insecurity and government secrecy.
- It exposes how dwindling tax revenue and increased borrowing from other countries pay for our military and national security needs.
- You’ll realize that the two political parties differ only in candidates’ personalities and positions on social issues.
- You’ll improve your knowledge of recent U.S. history. (Did you know that Bill Clinton, not George W. Bush, started “extraordinary rendition,” the capture and transport of enemy combatants for foreign interrogation?).
- It features 10 proposals to begin reversing the permanent emergency state, and you’ll learn how to get involved.
Must-Read Scale—Non-Fiction
5=Highest Value; 0=Lowest Value
| Importance to Society | 4.8 |
| Importance to You | 4.5 |
| Fun Read | 2.5 |
| Quality of Writing and Presentation | 4.5 |
| Perspective Changer | 4.8 |
| Overall Must-Read Rating | 4.2 |