The Patriot’s Toolbox by Herbert Walberg (PDF)

Description

The fourth edition of The Patriot’s Toolbox offers an agenda for incumbent office holders, a platform for candidates for public office, and a report card for civic and business leaders and journalists following the policy moves of the Trump administration, Congress, and state lawmakers.Coauthored and edited by Herbert Walberg, Ph.D. and Joseph L. Bast, with contributions from 18 other distinguished policy experts, the book covers ten of the most important topics being debated today:1. Health Care2. Energy and Environment3. Elementary and Secondary Education4. Higher Education5. Privatization6. Firearms7. Telecommunications8. State Fiscal Policy9. Federal Tax Policy10. Constitutional ReformNearly 13,000 complimentary copies of the book were sent in early November to influential audiences across the country, including every state elected official and member of Congress, thousands of civic and business leaders, and the media. More than 100,000 copies of the first three editions of The Patriot’s Toolbox were distributed since 2010, making it one of the most widely circulated and influential books on public policy in the United States. The new edition is completely rewritten and thoroughly updated to reflect the events of 2016 and so far in 2017.

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐In a rush to make my Amazon purchase I mistakenly bought the 2010 version of the book (red cover and inspired by the Tea Party). A few pages into it, I realized I was reading discussions of issues whose time has passed. I went back to Amazon to see if there was an update. There were used books so I purchased one (green cover and likely inspired by the then-incoming Trump administration). It took forever for the green book delivered, but I am glad I pursued it.Reading the evolution of the issues from 2010 to 2017 gave me insight into the tremendous effort of the editors & authors, to provide an up-to-date review of many most important domestic issues facing this nation. In transparency, I have meet a few of them and know other contributors through my readings.The authors of the green version contribute ten chapters, 100 principles for maintaining freedom and prosperity. Before every chapter there is a list of principles addressed in the chapter. Each chapter contains references within the discussion. This placement avoids hundreds of them lumped together as an endless endnote.Also, at the end of each chapter there is an additional and long list of References, additional resources and a directory of organizations that work on those issues. Simply, if the reader wants an excellent summary of domestic issues, from the conservative, free market, property rights perspective, the reader need only read this book. For those digging deeper, it provides enough information to assist anyone become a scholar or lobbyist on the issue.The 2010 Energy and Environment chapter by Joseph L. Bast (one of the authors I know) and the 2017 chapter written by Isaac Orr and James Taylor, illustrates the value of keeping policy discussions current. For example, when discussing energy independence, the conclusion in 2010 (Obama administration) is that energy independence is an illusion. In fact, according to one expert cited, “It makes absolutely no sense to talk about energy independence…” At that time there was a common belief that oil and natural gas were in short supply and numerous legislative hearings were on “Peak Oil.” An accurate description of the times.By 2017 however, the U.S., (Trump administration) due primarily to fracking, achieved a “…competitive advantage over every other nation in energy abundance,” also an accurate description of the time. I assume an update of the book will be needed after a few months of a Biden administration as it enters another hysterical, regulatory frenzy that mandates the bureaucracy to save the planet through climate regulation, the Green New Deal and zero greenhouse gas emissions, waterless toilets, clothes washers and dish washers that try to clean without water.The two versions of the book illustrate how U.S. energy policy swings like a pendulum from administration to administration.Now for a few shortcomings, which I reluctantly discuss knowing that the authors had to be selective so the reader could complete reading it. The Telecommunications section focused on too many details, e.g., pole attachment, muni broadband, while ignoring the liability protections for Big Tech, referred to as section 230. While section 230 was not the highly contentious in 2017 as it is today, it was actively discussed and of key importance to the industry, competition, industry liability and growth. The entire future of Big Tech rests on how section 230 will be addressed.A second shortcoming is that while the policies are very clearly spelled out, there is little analysis of competing positions and outcomes. (Again, I raise it recognizing there has to be limits on the discussion.) The best example is in Constitutional Reform. Declaratory statements can be very misleading. The application of a specific principle may be very innovative in one situation but the same principle may be harmful in a different situation. To illustrate this point, Principle 7 posits the use of the Compacts Clause of the Constitution, in lieu of a constitutional amendment, to achieve a balanced budget. An outcome we would all like to achieve. But the use of the same Compacts clause in a different situation can cause serious constitutional harm by radically changing the constitution without voters having a voice. For example, the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact would allow a combination of blue states to agree that whoever wins the popular vote, receives all electoral votes from each state in the compact, notwithstanding who wins in any specific state. Simply, the electoral college is gone and the blue states could hold the presidency in perpetuity. Analysis helps with the pros and cons of policy positions. In the constitutional law section, analysis is a must.The Patriot’s Toolbox is a great reference book for anyone entering the policy debate. For conservatives it gives you most of the talking points you will need to debate. For liberals, it tells you all the arguments from the other side.The book’s editors, Herbert J. Walberg and Joseph L. Bast should be thanked for a very comprehensive update. Hopefully, they have the energy for another update nine months into the Biden administration. The update will be a critical educational tool for those fighting for freedom, small government, property rights, and far less federal spending.

⭐The Patriot’s Toolbox: One Hundred Principles for Restoring Our Freedom and Prosperity, a publication of the Heartland Institute, is a well-written blueprint of American conservative principles. The book serves as a “roadmap” for defining and implementing bedrock conservative policies promoting limited government, economic freedom, and growing prosperity.As stated in the book’s Preface”The word “patriot” appears in the title of this book because the principles we recommend would return the country to government based on the ideals of the Founders who led the American Revolution: liberty, limited taxation, and limited government. The word toolbox” appears because the principles can be used as tools to fix what is wrong with the country’s politics and public policies.”To achieve its goal, the book is divided into 10 chapters, titled 1) Health Care, 2) Energy and Environment, 3) Elementary and Secondary Education, 4) Higher Education, 5) Privatization, 6) Firearms, 7) Telecommunications, 8) State Fiscal Policies, 9) Federal Tax Policy, and 10) Constitutional Reform. Each chapter then articulates 10 principles for restoring “freedom and prosperity” to American society, followed by a reform agenda, recommended readings, chapter references, additional resources, and a directory of places to go for further discussion.By way of illustration, the first chapter (Health Care) recommends that we 1) repeal and replace Obamacare, 2) reform Medicare and Medicaid, 3) repeal existing regulations, 4) expand health savings accounts, 5) expand high-risk pools 6) encourage price transparency, 7) expand the use of direct primary care programs, 8) expand access to prescription drugs, 9) remove regulatory barriers to medical innovation, and 10) reduce malpractice litigation expenses. Each of these recommendations is supported by hard data that show them to be cost-effective improvements that will increase access while raising the quality of care patients receive. As the world’s most advanced health care system, these recommendations could further enhance our abilities to deliver life-saving innovations at the fastest rate possible.The remaining chapters in this book are equally robust, and have the potential to reshape the nation’s thinking on a number of critical issues. In addition to the wealth of ideas this book provides, the writing is clear, lucid, and easy to read. The arguments are well reasoned, and readily impart a thorough grasp of our most pressing issues. I highly recommend this book to anyone who cares about America’s future, and is open to the idea that limited government is the key to unlimited prosperity.

⭐As a university professor, this book has proven to be a valuable resource. The book exposes much of the nonsense students have been subjected to by the leftwing professoriate by encouraging critical thinking about important public policy issues. Students across the political spectrum appreciate this aspect of the book, because it facilitates robust discussions not only about public policy but core political values. Regarding the latter, it boils down to either a commitment to liberty or, in the words of Hayek, servitude to Big Brother. Ideologically driven students on the Left have difficulty rationally defending their arguments and default to emotionalism, i.e., irrationalism. This too is an important lesson for students, particularly those on the Right, because it reveals at the micro-level why rational discourse between the Left and Right is becoming increasingly rare. I highly recommend the book for adoption in university courses focused on public policy. One would be hard-pressed to find its equal among mainstream university textbook publishers.

⭐Great desk reference to counter the all government, all the time philosophy that has taken over the minds of too many in America. The concepts/topic are timely, and the material is presented in a clear, concise fashion.I loved the section on net-neutrality because it debunked a lot of the myths and hysteria that were being parroted by the uniformed.But there is so much on healthcare, energy and the environment, education k-12 and college, privatization, firearms, fiscal policy on the state and federal levels, and constitutional reform.You’ll learn more from this book than you will by listening to agenda driven sound bites on the boob tube.

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