MsH2k wrote: ↑02 Sep 2022, 20:46
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Are We the United States of America?" by John Geyman, M.D..]
4 out of 4 stars
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If you were drawn to this title, chances are you have questioned the unity of the U.S. in recent years.
Are We the United States of America? outlines areas contributing to the country’s current disunity.
Reading this 200-page book by John Geyman, M.D., was like taking a crash course in U.S. civics history. The breadth of content and references complemented the author’s background as a family physician in rural practice, teaching, and administration. The sources were well documented, allowing the reader to further research a topic or issue of interest.
The areas of healthcare, voting rights, and privatization of public programs were mentioned often in the discussion. Understandably, Geyman gave a convincing argument supporting quality health care as an inalienable right and highlighting the benefits to the overall population when each person has access to their specific medical needs. Dissemination of disinformation was another pervasive issue addressed.
At first glance, the problematic domains seemed distinct, but as layers were uncovered, the underlying commonality frequently was wealth disparity. The oft-quoted biblical verse, “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil,” was seemingly validated in the analysis of this book.
I found the issues of income inequity and tax compliance to be concerning. The author quoted a source revealing that “CEOs of the largest U.S. corporations made 254 times more than their median employees in 2021.” But that was not the most troublesome part. The repeated and quantified references to wealthy corporations and individuals who exploit tax loopholes and pay no federal taxes were staggering. Diagrams and examples described both the inequity in funding and the unregulated spending of federal government resources. This disparity is not new, but it was sobering to trace how the widening wealth gap negatively affects education, health care, taxes, and even voting rights.
I appreciated the clear communication structure of the text. Each chapter began with a list of points that would be covered and ended with a lead-in to the next chapter’s discussion and a list of the sources used. The book included many quotes from other references, and the author seamlessly integrated them, providing an impressive continuity of flow.
However, the text repeated the same examples throughout the read to highlight issues. I would have preferred a wider variety of illustrations. Also, at the time of this review, the book’s cover slightly missed the mark of unity by excluding two of the fifty states.
The two aspects mentioned in the previous paragraph did not affect my reading enjoyment; therefore, I rate
Are We the United States of America? 4 out of 4 stars. The analysis, quotes, and diagrams create an informative read. One does not need to be well versed in government or politics to understand the scenarios covered. I recommend this book to readers interested in learning more about areas contributing to the disunity in the United States and suggestions to improve them. The analysis is critical of many aspects of the current Republican party, so those opposed to this position may want to skip this read.
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Are We the United States of America?
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