Review: Real Change

The Barnabas Ministry
Book Review

Real Change: From the World That Fails to the World That Works
Newt Gingrich (Regnery Books, Washington, DC 2008).

Newt Gingrich, one of the brightest minds in American politics, has written a hopeful if not radical book on critical issues facing American government today. It is about solving American problems with solutions that a significant percentage of Americans support.

The former Speaker of the House of Representatives (now working with American Solutions) demonstrates that the people of the United States are pretty much a right-center country in terms of most political choices. He cites the failings of both major political parties towards serving those interests. While the Republicans are generally closer to where the people are in terms of values and policies, Gingrich cites their lack of attention to problems in the inner city and a long-held "minority mindset" that leads them more towards attacking and complaining about their opponents and less about actually leading and governing. On the other hand, the Democrats are generally out of touch with America despite their claims, driven by their left-wing, special-interest, base- trial lawyers, the Hollywood elite, labor unions, and government bureaucrats (p7).

Gingrich cites the values of a significant majority of Americans on a wide variety of hot political issues. For example (pp38-39, but this is just a fraction of the polling data Gingrich includes in the book):

85 percent believe it is very important for a group or organization in this country to pursue the goal of helping defend America and its allies.
75 percent believe it is very important for a group or organization in this country to pursue the goal of defeating America's enemies.
93 percent believe Al Qaeda poses a serious threat.
85 percent believe Iran poses a serious threat.
70 percent favor a tax incentive for companies headquartered in the United States.
61 percent favor the option of a single income tax rate of 1 percent.
74 percent favor the single rate of 17 percent for corporations.
68 percent see a direct link to making American corporations more competitive in the United States so they will not move jobs overseas.
54 percent believe the wealthiest should pay the same proportion of their income as everyone else, while only 43 percent believe they should pay more. This undermines on of the Left's happiest battle cries of "tax the rich."
89 percent believe religion and morality are important to them and their families
87 percent approve of the reference to "the Creator" in the Declaration of Independence; 6 percent strongly disapprove.
88 percent approve of the reference to "one nation under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance; 7 percent strongly disapprove.
90 percent approve of a Christmas tree or menorah being placed on public property during the holiday season; 5 percent strongly disapprove.

Throughout, the point is that American government can and should enact laws and policies that solves the problems America faces based upon these values. What a concept!

So what needs to happen to get there? Citizens need to get involved-- this means expecting better results and holding elected officials accountable. Radically, America needs to break out of its current political mold. This doesn't have anything to do with which party wins the White House this year; this is a much larger, more fundamental change that is needed. And we're not talking the socialism that seems to be creeping in as a "solution," but rather going back to the principles upon which the country was founded-- citizen involvement in government and producing results that enable people to live their lives with freedom.

Holding a doctorate in history, Gingrich easily summarizes American history and eras of great change, and claims the time is right for a new era in the history of America:

The time is right for bold leadership that recognizes that in order for America to succeed, the entrenched permanent government in Washington can and must be defeated. This will only happen with the help of an overwhelming majority of Americans who demand the reassertion of core American values and principles and a bold set of solutions that protects American safety, rewards achievement, and works for the interests of the self-governed (p. 75).

I might add that if new leaders are to rise up to carry this torch, this is not the current torch either party carries. The petty bickering over nonsense and trivia that constitutes a lot of the political dialog in the country these days doesn't really advance the interests of the American people. If such leaders were to rise up, there would be a vast difference between those interested in truly serving the people of this country and those who are out to advance their particular causes and their own power. And I hope the American people would recognize the difference.

Gingrich is one of the true treasures of American civic thought, blending clear historical perspective, insight, political experience and a genuine desire to see America succeed at this time in her history. I highly recommend Real Change.