Duct Tape Politics

This is entry 1 in our ongoing Book-o-logue project.  For more information look at our main homepage at www.DuctTapePolitics.com .

In chapter 1 of Real Change Newt makes a few solid points. He shows that there are more things America agrees on than disagrees.  And these are overwhelming agreements.  Newt also discusses how the two party system has wrongly divided America into Red & Blue.

One of his critiques of the Republicans is that they’re so focussed on limited government that they’ve failed to make government work period.  The belief in keeping government small has made Republicans fail in using any resources within government to get things done.  Newt calls on Republicans to have limited, but clear goals for goverment.

Newt also critiques both parties because both tend to appeal to their radical bases, while neglecting the middle ground.  According to him, the Democrats listen to their Hollywood elitest base while neglecting the more mainstream Democrats who could help them get things done.

A main message from Newt in chapter one seems to be that there is more that unites us than divides us and that both parties need to appeal to that.

Please come back later for more discussion about our current book, Real Change By Newt Gingrich.

It’s Mothers Day and I notice this day is more of a celebration of women than it is of mothers.  I’m not saying that’s bad or good, it is what it is.

But reflecting on this, I’m wondering if we should just have a generic woman’s day, where we buy any woman in our lives chocolates, flowers, gift cards, gift cards to Starbucks or just something in general.  So many women miss out on the other major holidays for women, ie Valentines Day and Mothers Day.

I think this could help us in the politics of life if we learned to show a little appreciation for all women.  This could be done by random, generic, women days.