The Reunited States of America, Mark Gerzon
The Reunited States of America, Mark Gerzon
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The Reunited States of America
How We Can Bridge the Partisan Divide

Author: Mark Gerzon

Narrator: Jeff Hoyt

Unabridged: 5 hr

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Ascent Audio

Published: 02/29/2016


Synopsis

With a government held hostage by poisonous partisan gridlock, there has never been a greater need for changing our political process. The transpartisan movement offers hope for finding common ground.

Our country's motto is "E Pluribus Unam-"out of many, one"-but you'd never know it now, says activist Mark Gerzon. The United States seems hopelessly divided. In the past, Americans could disagree without demonizing each other. But now healthy partisan debate has been replaced by brutal political brawling, where nothing but winning matters. Loyalty to party has replaced love of country.

The solution, says Gerson, is to become transpartisan. This doesn't mean adopting a new set of political beliefs. "Transpartisan" is an adjective, not another ism. You can be a transpartisan Democrat, a transpartisan Republican, or a transpartisan independent. It is about the how, not the what, a way of conducing politics and solving problems that is the opposite of the hyperpartisanship destroying our country. If you're open to learning instead of insisting you already have all the answers; if you're open to change instead of remaining where you've always been; if you're open to working with people you disagree with instead of vilifying them; if you're open to finding new solutions instead of clinging to the same old positions; in short, if you place country above party, you are a transpartisan!

Gerzon describes the roots and core beliefs of the movement, and uses real-world examples to show how transpartisans are already making a difference all over America. This book, at its core, is about what has made America great - and what can restore that greatness if we seize the opportunities before us.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Kenia on November 18, 2016

The idea and meaning behind this book is stellar. I found myself nodding for most of it. Part I told of some very interesting organizations that are bridging partisan divides, and I learned a few things about the election process. Part II is what dropped this down from 3 stars to 2. It felt all fluff......more

Goodreads review by Page on December 27, 2016

Not a page turner, but gives hope that all is not lost in a world seeming completely divided. Provides good resources and reminds us all we can learn about and respect views different than our own without sacrificing our beliefs....and that the melding of diverse views produces a whole better than t......more

Goodreads review by Justin on August 17, 2016

Disappointed in this book that read much like an informercial. Although Gerzon touted his proposals, it felt like he left out the hidden ingredient, and boasted of only fading results. Gerzon's proposals work within the established bounds to tame the hyperpartisan beast. Partisanship in the U.S., how......more

Goodreads review by Sharon on February 05, 2017

Incredible book with practical tips about how to reduce the partisan divide by focusing on common ground to make America strong by listening to, respecting, and seeking to understand different points of view. Deliberate, intentional acts of building relationships with people who have different exper......more

Goodreads review by John on May 08, 2018

As vapid as some of the ideas in this book seem, as a whole it is a breath of fresh air. The general point of the book isn't to draw a new political map, but rather to illuminate ideas that already exist and then implement them, the main idea being E Pluribus Unum. It seems that if American democrac......more