Book Review Information

Here's Information I've sent to Jim Ward, Editor for the Visalia Times-Delta's "Choices" section. It's scheduled to accompany a review of my book by Newell Bringhurst to appear in the paper on Friday, June 12.

Book Title: Liberally Speaking: Why Liberalism is Right for America

What's it about: It starts with my own story, from being brought up as a conservative Republican to my political transformation to a liberal Democrat based on liberalism's ethical and moral foundations and its record of effectiveness in successfully furthering the rights and prosperity of the American people. It's a thoroughly-researched work that shows the values that underpin liberalism, explains where liberals stand on the issues and why, and highlights the superior historical record of civil rights, personal liberties and economic prosperity the nation has achieved when liberal ideas and policies have been followed. That's why I gave up my old views. The record shows they don't work, and that liberal ones do. Chapter 7, for instance, details the strikingly superior economic record the nation has enjoyed under Democratic presidents compared to Republican ones.

About the author: I am a Professor of History at College of the Sequoias, where I have taught since 1999. I served on the Governance Committee of the recent Accreditation Task Force, part of the effort that successfully restored the college to fully accredited status. I served on the COS Academic Senate for nine years, including four years as President, and on the Executive Committee of the College of the Sequoias Teachers Association for eight years. I have been faculty adviser of the COS Young Democrats Club since its inception in 2008. I hold undergraduate degrees in History and Political Science and Graduate degrees in History and Education. I am a COS teacher of the year awardee and Democratic lifetime achievement award recipient. I taught at the middle school level for 17 years prior to COS. I have been married to my wife Joan for 37 years. We have two grown daughters. I usually go by Steve, but used my full name, Stephen J. Natoli, as author of the book.   

Where can you buy the book:

From the publisher: www.brandenbooks.com

On Amazon.com (Search Liberally Speaking or Stephen Natoli.)

The Book Garden, 189 E. Pine St., Exeter

Linda's Used Books, 1107 E. Houston St., Visalia

I will also be talking to Visalia Costco on Monday to see if they will carry it. COS Visalia Bookstore has told me they will carry it; I'll find out Monday when they will get copies in for sale. I'll likely have Bargain Books on Walnut carry it too. I'll try to get all this info to you by some time Tuesday, or at least as much as has been finalized by then.

COS will hold an author's appearance, sale and book signing in November (date still tbd). I'll be seeing about a Cafe 210 and potential COSTCO author event and book signing too.

Book Update

Just a quick note to report I am so busy finishing my book project I haven't had time to post much lately. I'm working on correcting the index of Liberally Speaking and should be finished this week. The release should come very shortly now. 

Report: 22 States Face Deficits This Year

The Associated Press has recently done a study showing that even in economic recovery, 22 states are looking at budget shortfalls for the upcoming year. That's an ominous sign, causing consternation about how bad things might get the next time the economy goes back into a downturn. There are two main culprits: states that have tried to spur growth with tax cuts, and states that rely heavily on oil revenues. It's more confirmation that the trickle-down "tax cut your way to prosperity" plan doesn't seem to work.

California and Colorado are singled out as two states that are running surpluses and in strong financial shape. California followed a liberal program; voters approved tax increases on high incomes, instituted a statewide sales tax increase, and gave the legislature authority to pass budgets with a simple majority. It's also committing $1 billion to water projects and going ahead with high speed rail construction. Contrary to conservative expectations, the Golden State is on its way to a projected $3 billion surplus this year.

Kansas and Alabama are highlighted as states in which tax cutting fever failed to produce strong growth rates and is leading instead to substantial deficits that will require either restoring the taxes or severe cuts to education and the judicial system in order to restore balance. Kansas school districts are closing early this year because they are running out of money.Alaska is the poster child for excessive reliance on oil revenues. With global prices down by half from their peaks, Juneau faces an expected $3.2 billion deficit over the next two years.


 

Book: Graphic Artist Needed for Cover

Everything is ready for the release of my book, Liberally Speaking, except for the cover. The latest concept involves the Statue of Liberty. We are trying to get a good graphic artist for the project. If you know of anyone, get in touch!

Clinton the Early Leader

The first major poll released since Hillary Clinton announced as a candidate for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination gives her a strong opening lead against any of her announced or potential Republican rivals. The CNN/ORC Poll matched the former Secretary of State, New York Senator and First Lady against eight prominent Republicans. Her leads against them ranged from 14 to 24%.

Florida Senator Marco Rubio did best, trailing Clinton by  14 points, 55 to 41. Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush was next closest, though he was 17 points down at 56 to 39. After that came New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Kentucky Senator Rand Paul. Both lagged behind Clinton by 19 points, 58-39. The other four hopefuls sampled were more than 20 points back. Former Arkansas Governor and 2008 presidential candidate Mike Huckabee trailed by 21 at 58-37, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker was 22 back at 59-37, Texas Senator Ted Cruz was down by 24 at 60-36, and former neurosurgeon Ben Carson also lagged by 24 with numbers identical to Cruz.

It's very early and should be remarked that Rubio, Paul and Cruz are the only officially announced GOP candidates vying to take on Ms. Clinton, though it is plain the other four are all making the expected moves serious candidates would be expected to make at this stage of the political season. There may be other entries as well, such as former Texas Governor Rick Perry, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, Ohio Governor John Kasich and Indiana Governor Mike Pence.  But even with that said, Clinton begins with a formidable advantage that cannot be completely discounted.  

My Book to Be Published

I haven't posted in 10 days and have been pretty busy. My book, Liberally Speaking, has been picked up by Branden Books of Wellesley, Massachusetts. I've signed a contract and have been engaged in  pre-production chores. Today after work it's been proofing the publisher's master file for errors. I've managed to get through four chapters of the 20 so far. It will be released soon,  perhaps as early as next month. I will keep you posted on the progress. 

Iran Nuclear Deal

Yesterday's interim nuclear agreement between Iran and the six powers is a hopeful step and to be applauded. By it, Iran will dismantle part of its nuclear program, scale back the rest to a level that cannot be used to make fissile uranium, and submit to rigorous inspections. In return, crippling international sanctions will be relaxed contingent on Iranian compliance with the agreement.

The five Permanent Members of the United Nations Security Council (US, Britain, France, Russia, China) plus Germany had set a deadline for agreement by June, but had established March 31 as a date to determine whether enough progress was being made to continue the talks. They were close enough to continue through April 1, when the overall framework was agreed upon.  

British foreign secretary Philip Hammond said “This is well beyond what many of us thought possible even 18 months ago.” He continued,“There is a very rigorous transparency and inspection regime with access for international inspectors on a daily basis, high-tech surveillance of all the facilities, TV cameras, electronic seals on equipment, so we know remotely if any equipment has been moved,” he said.

Here are the pertinent details as reported by the The Guardian:

• Iran’s infrastructure for uranium enrichment will be reduced by more than two thirds, from 19,000 installed centrifuges, to 6,104, of which only 5,060 will be used for uranium enrichment, for a period of 10 years.
• Iran’s stockpile of low-enriched uranium will be reduced by 98% to 300kg for a period of 15 years.
• Iran’s heavy water reactor will be redesigned so it produces only tiny amounts of plutonium.
• Iran’s underground enrichment plant at Fordow will be turned into a research centre for medical and scientific work.
• Iran will be open to enhanced inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency for 20 years.

This is a reasonable agreement in terms of making sure Iran does not develop a nuclear bomb without going to war. Critics such as Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and congressional Republicans are not happy. They seem to feel no deal will be enforceable and that Iran will find a way to cheat  The agreement is stringent and should minimize the possibility. Yet if it happens, we will be back to where we are anyway: President Obama has stated he is on the same page as the war hawks in that case. He has said Iran will not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons and that if it appears close to that goal the U.S. will use "any means necessary," an obvious reference to military attack, to prevent it. So Netanyahu, Sens. Tom Cotton, John McCain and Lindsey Graham would scrap negotiations and leave only the certainty of war with Iran. That's not a desirable eventuality, as one would think they might have learned something from the expected easy triumphs in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Obama and the other five powers are right to pursue the path of peace. Iran is submitting to the reversal of all aspects of its program that could lead to a bomb, and to intrusive inspections to keep it that way. Bringing Iran back into normal international relations could have a stabilizing effect on the entire Middle East, and if the effort fails we can always resort to he military option anyway. A few details of logistics still have to be worked out by June. The war hawks have nothing to offer, and it is high time to move and get on with this.