Literary Analisis #1

        For the class reading I selected a book based on American politics. This book, Common Sense written by Glen Beck, was inspired by Thomas Paine whom also wrote his version of the book in 1776. As told to us in our history books, Thomas Paine wrote his pamphlet in objection to the current British rule over the American colonies. As such, this short book is comprised of questions and arguments.
     What astonished me and kept me from simply setting the book aside as another political rant, was when he claimed to stand against both political parties. Of course this alone didn't buy my time. Anyone can claim he is neutral and then continue to only tell only part of the story, however he commonly refers to the original document which is also located in its entirety in the back of the book. His brazen rebut of current government policies involving the U.S. tax code; the rising federal debt make it clear that he wants his audience to pay closer attention to national politics. I look at this book as an important tool to understanding the current state of our government, and to ideally creating a more suitable world for both ourselves and those who live after us.
        I could only describe Glen's apparent attitude as didactic and cynical. You may go as far to say he is a little morose. Though he never directly states that the country is doomed, it seems that he truly believes that if something, anything, is not done to permanently alter the way our politicians act, we will go the "way of Rome" and die out. He views many politicians as gross liars whom want nothing more than power and are willing to lie and cheat their way to do as such.
       His Militant  analysis of current events surrounding large political issues such as the ever increasing debt of the federal government, in current time measuring $16 trillion(Treasury direct), assumes that the political leaders of our nation are simply not doing what is needed to fix the issues we are facing. He even quotes George W. Bush's statement "abandon(ing) free-market principles to save the free-market system" as absolute hypocrisy. He continues to avoid circumlocution by offering an alternative, the reduction of government spending. The clear motif in this book ,think for yourself, can be clearly found in his repetitious allusion to the incompetence to our political leaders leaving little room for ambiguity.
       All of this, however well conceived, would be a mere lip service if not for the vast amounts of references covering four pages in his works sited section. These sources combined with the full Common Sense by Thomas Paine shows that Glen is well educated and is willing to share facts without telling the audience where his facts were drawn from.
      In the long term I expect to remember the apparent hypocrisy within both political parties. Instead of holding a dogged alignment to a political party and blindly granting them my servitude, it will be paramount for me to research political movements before jumping upon the wagon with those whom act purely upon emotional responses.