Ameritopia - Anyone read it?

Cafe Society
1

So my father sent me the book Ameritopia by Mark R. Levin for my birthday. It should be mentioned my dad is a hard-core Republican and I am not. He included a very nice inscription in the book asking that I read this, not so much to convince me of the validity of his political point of view but so that I will better understand my father and why he does believe the way he does.

My immediate reaction to just the book itself is “this is just right-wing revisionist garbage” and having a fairly biased view towards the content without even beginning to read it. I’m already thinking of how I can counter the arguments made in the book without even hearing the arguments themselves. Not exactly objective. :smiley: However, my dad’s note touched me and I’m going to try and read it with an open mind that these are the foundations to why he believes what he believes. We probably won’t agree afterwards but I’m going to read it anyway.

So Dopers, has anyone read this book? Whether you are Republican or Democrat? Conservative, Tea-Party, Liberal, or Far-Left Nutter - what is your opinion of it?

And because this is the Dope and I like a good political debate - any good resources for debunking the book itself?

2

I haven’t read the book, but I do have to say…I already like your dad. :smiley:

3

I haven’t read the book and know nothing about it, but “You brought me up better than this” is a good all-purpose response to any father-son argument. :slight_smile:

4

To me, the name makes it sound like one big straw man attack. As if anyone left of center is trying to create a utopia.

5

Here’s a review. Admittedly, it’s biased, but one thing it points out is that the author associates with people like Limbaugh and Hannity. That should tell you something right there.

6

My dad is a good guy, even if he is a Fox News-Hannity-Limbaugh-Angry-White-Republican. A little background, I am 43. I met my father when I was 27. So he didn’t really raise me and we’ve built a very good relationship over the years. When we did originally meet, I was probably more fiscal Republican and social Democrat. Over the years, I’ve moved almost entirely away from conservative political views (8 years of Bush will do that). My father on the other hand, over 3 years of Obama has gone absolutely crazy.

Davidm - Thanks for the review, I’m going to read that now. You’re straw man comment very much aligns with my immediate reaction to just the title alone.

MeanJoe