Thursday.....Politics.....Senator Jim DeMint

To those of you looking for another Ronald Reagan, I have a candidate for you. He's not a movie star and I have not heard him speak at any length yet, for some can write with verve and passion but do not have great speaking ability, but his writing is on the mark, incisive, clear and just what we need at this time. His name is Jim DeMint and he is a senator from South Carolina. His book is Saving Freedom, We Can Stop America;s Slide Into Socialism. isbn 978-0-8054-4957-0. Along with Jonah Goldberg's Liberal Fascism and Mark Levin's Liberty and Tyranny, it is one of the three books that one would have to read on politics to be prepared for the debate ahead, and it is by far the most practical. More importantly, it is written by a United States Senator. If he can answer a question at a press conference, with the power of intellect and reason that he writes, he will be a force to reckoned with. As a matter of fact, he begins with a reasoned defense of freedom as socialism does more than encroach, it seduces without reason but by playing on desires for immediate gratification in everything. The author gives a little history of his journey from business to government at the beginning of the book, and adds to that throughout. Of particular interest are his descriptions of life in the House and Senate. We all know that most politicians ultimately make decisions that solidify their own standing but Senator DeMint gives a number of specific examples that will cause revulsion at the workings of our Congress and Executive branch, and George Bush is not given a pass. He doesn't even give himself a pass as he relates early mistakes that he had to learn from. He counsels us also in that he describes how he became alienated from business clients, social and civic organizations and even good friends as it became evident where he stood on issues and how he planned taking on some sacred cows. He begins every chapter with a story for illustration on what he is about to write about. They're not my favorite parts of the book but a couple, particularly Odysseus and Don Quixote, serve well. Austrian born, British subject and economist Friedrich Hayak is referenced often as he directly experienced totalitarianism take over the mind of a people. His chapters on America's adoption of patronage and then paternalism is sad and revealing. He tackles most issues that have been on the front burner in recent years and his description of the Wall Street debacle is the clearest concise effort that I have read. Here is the kicker of the book; DeMint gives a reasoned, legitimate and accurate description of where religious faith should be in America. His Christian testimony is a sound one as he writes The most amazing part of the whole process was the discovery that the freedom I sought all my life was in the last place I thought I'd find it: Jesus Christ, his Christian history as it pertains to America is telling and he is ecumenical without denying his beliefs. Martin Luther is highlighted as he relates that freedom into all spheres of our lives, Other than Jesus Christ and his apostles, Luther may have done more to unleash the power of freedom than any other man is history. He quotes Henry Kissinger in There would be no America as we know it without the Reformation, and he relates this information without offending, yet without compromising. DeMint then gives us some chapters on pertinent issues such as the rule of law and personal responsibility as it relates to freedom and finishes up with capitalism once again, this time as it relates to freedom. Twenty-eight pages of action plans and valuable references are given as DeMint is not content without attempting to get the reader involved. I think we will hear a lot more from this United States Senator and I'll be eager to see America's reaction.