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A Manifesto for the Radical Center
America is frozen. We have failed to face our nation’s most crucial challenges—and we are about to pay the price.
When it comes to solving our country’s problems, we have become utterly paralyzed: bipartisanship has lulled us into a deadlock, preventing us from taking action. Yet we can no longer ignore the inevitable catastrophes or hand them off to Washington to fix—they must be addressed now, or we will suffer the long-term consequences.
In the New York Times bestseller Becoming China’s Bitch, Peter Kiernan presents an unflinching manifesto in which he explores five factors that have sustained our national paralysis, then uncovers the ten challenges that pose the greatest threat to the future of America. Presented from a fresh yet informative Centrist perspective, these ten impending catastrophes include our semiconscious dependency on China, our lack of a centrally coordinated intelligence effort, our downward-spiraling health-care system, and the continually expanding problem of illegal immigration. In a logical, personal, and persuasive voice, Kiernan offers radical yet common-sense solutions to these challenges—solutions that every American must acknowledge and act upon before it’s too late.
With provocative insight and analytical depth, Becoming China’s Bitch is the answer to securing our country’s immediate future and restoring our national soul.
“Peter Kiernan cut[s] through what he saw as partisan gridlock.”—The New York Times
“Ambitious! . . . Peter Kiernan is a badass.” —Business Insider
“A rocket-fueled ride . . . very thought provoking.” —CNBC Power Lunch
“Peter Kiernan is a tough guy.” —Chris Matthews, Hardball with Chris Matthews
“This is an important book.” —Joe Scarborough, Morning Joe
“Sure to stand out.” —Foreign Policy
“Brilliant.” —Dennis Miller, Dennis Miller Radio
“A great read . . . fascinating stuff. Even if you don’t agree with Peter . . . at least it’s an adult conversation—and you don’t get that a lot.” —The Roe Conn Show
“[Peter has] laid out so many convincing arguments about the polarization in this country. . . . very compelling.” —The Hays Advantage, Bloomberg
“Thought provoking . . . a new concept in this decade.” —Sly in the Morning
“Peter Kiernan’s energy is incandescent. Should there ever be a problem . . . they could hook Peter up and get power to light New York.” —Meryl Streep
Acknowledgments xi
Introduction xiii
Part I: Why Are We Polarized?
Five Factors That Freeze Us from Doing the Right Thing
Factor One
Genesis: The Shot Heard ’Round the Dial 5
Factor Two
Democracy Under the Influence (DUI): Lobbyists in the Kitchen 51
Factor Three
The Ultimate Backstage Pass: Thought-Provoking Think Tanks 71
Factor Four
Predator or Pray: Wayward Christian Soldiers 85
Factor Five
It’s My Party: The Hijacking of the Two-Party System 107
Part II: Ten Catastrophes We Must Avoid
Challenge One
China: A Co-dependency That Is Decoupling 137
Challenge Two
The Silver Surge: The Aging of America 175
Challenge Three
Labor Pains: The Devolution of the Labor Movement 191
Challenge Four
The “M” Word: Same-Sex Marriage 213
Challenge Five
Being Smart About Intelligence: Terror Firma 225
Challenge Six
Political Hack: Tobacco Road to Ruin 267
Challenge Seven
Sick and Tired: Today’s Care, Tomorrow’s Cure 289
Challenge Eight
In Stir with Love: Education Versus Incarceration 321
Challenge Nine
Dread on Arrival: Homeland Insecurity 349
Challenge Ten
Crude Awakening: A True Energy Policy 373
Coda: Where Do We Go from Here? 399
Index 405