Healing American Democracy

American democracy is in trouble. Loss of public confidence in the federal government to solve-or even care about-the problems and concerns of ordinary people has bred both frustration and anger. At the same time, sharp divisions-partisan, demographic, cultural, generational and economic-make finding consensus at the federal level nearly impossible. Yet pundits and politicians continue to call for leadership that "brings us together" as the antidote to this growing divisiveness. The authors profoundly disagree. Mike Hais, Doug Ross and Morley Winograd make a thought-provoking, non-partisan case to rebuild Americans' faith in democracy. Coined as "Constitutional Localism" they suggest moving as much decision-making as possible out of Washington into local communities, while preserving the individual and civil rights granted by the Constitution. EDITORIAL REVIEWS "Messrs Hais, Ross, and Winograd have stumbled upon a simple yet brilliant idea for how to fix American democracy: empower localities to create their own political and civic solutions while using the Constitution as the bedrock for civil rights. From Kalamazoo to Denver, and Knoxville to New Orleans, they provide stories about local success, places where leaders have responded to their constituents' needs in a way the federal government never could and rebuilt civic trust in the process. The authors' optimism and creativity have been sorely needed and should be welcomed by those on both the left and the right. On one thing all Americans should be able to agree - we need new solutions and this book offers many that are worthy." Michael Smerconish, SiriusXM, CNN, and Sunday Philadelphia Inquirer. "Here's a brilliant, alternative solution to our national woes. The notion of bringing power back to communities represents the potential upside in an information age that, to date, has driven greater centralization, economic concentration and horrendous levels of polarization. This should be a foundational text, not to any one political perspective, but to the entire polity." Joel Kotkin, Presidential Fellow in Urban Futures, Chapman University and Executive Director, Center for Opportunity Urbanism "Tip O'Neill said 'All politics is local.' As Mike Hais, Doug Ross, and Morley Winograd explore in this valuable work, while Washington is riven by polarization, some of the most innovative and important policies are flowing from local communities today." David Axelrod, Founder and Director of the University of Chicago Institute of Politics MORE ABOUT THE AUTHORS (insert pictures from all three authors as on this page https://www.amazon.com/Millennial-Majority-Coalition-Remaking-American/dp/1517063582/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1522345245&sr=8-4&keywords=morley+winograd )

Hope for American democracy in an era of deep divisions In Healing the Heart of Democracy, Parker J. Palmerquickens our instinct to seek the common good and gives us thetools to do it. This timely, courageous and practicalwork—intensely personal as well as political—is notabout them, "those people" in Washington D.C., or in ourstate capitals, on whom we blame our political problems. It's aboutus, "We the People," and what we can do in everyday settingslike families, neighborhoods, classrooms, congregations andworkplaces to resist divide-and-conquer politics and restore agovernment "of the people, by the people, for the people." In the same compelling, inspiring prose that has made him abestselling author, Palmer explores five "habits of the heart" thatcan help us restore democracy's foundations as we nurture them inourselves and each other: An understanding that we are all in this together An appreciation of the value of "otherness" An ability to hold tension in life-giving ways A sense of personal voice and agency A capacity to create community Healing the Heart of Democracy is an eloquent andempowering call for "We the People" to reclaim ourdemocracy. The online journal Democracy & Educationcalled it "one of the most important books of the early 21stCentury." And Publishers Weekly, in a Starred Review, said"This beautifully written book deserves a wide audience that willbenefit from discussing it."

An enlightened exploration of history to unite a deeply divided America The political dialogue in America has collapsed. Raw and bitter emotions such as anger and resentment have crowded out any logical debate. In this investigative tracing of our nation’s divergent roots, author Seth David Radwell explains that only reasoned analysis and historical perspective can act as salves for the irrational political discourse that is raging at present. Two disparate Americas have always coexisted, and Radwell discovered that the surprising origin of these dual Americas was not an Enlightenment, but two distinct Enlightenments that have been fiercely competing since the founding of our country. Radwell argues that it is only by embracing Enlightenment principles that we can build a civilized, progressive, and tolerant society. American Schism reveals • the roots of the rifts in America since its founding and what is really dividing red and blue America; • the core issues that underlie all of today’s bickering; • a detailed, effective plan to move forward, commencing what will be a long process of repair and reconciliation. Seth David Radwell changes the nature of the political debate by fighting unreason with reason, allowing Americans to firmly ground their differing points of view in rationality.

A memoir about restoring the health of our people, and our democracy, from a physician and “one of the brightest young stars” of the progressive movement (Sen. Bernie Sanders). A child of immigrants, Abdul El-Sayed grew up feeling a responsibility to help others. He threw himself into the study of medicine and excelled—winning a Rhodes Scholarship, earning two advanced degrees, and landing a tenure-track position at Columbia University. At thirty, he became the youngest city health official in America, tasked with rebuilding Detroit’s health department after years of austerity policies. But El-Sayed found himself disillusioned. He could heal the sick—even build healthier, safer communities—but that wouldn’t address the social and economic conditions causing illness in the first place. So he left health for politics, running for Governor of Michigan and earning the support of progressive champions like Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Bernie Sanders. This memoir traces the life of a young idealist, weaving together powerful personal stories and fascinating forays into history and science. Marrying his unique perspective with the science of epidemiology, El-Sayed diagnoses an underlying epidemic afflicting our country, an epidemic of insecurity. And to heal the rifts this epidemic has created, he lays out a new direction for the progressive movement. This is a bold, personal, and compellingly original book from a prominent young leader. “In Healing Politics, Abdul El-Sayed doesn’t just diagnose the causes of our broken politics; he gives us a prescription and treatment plan.” —Representative Pramila Jayapal

A New York Times Bestseller, with an updated explanation of the 2010 Health Reform Bill "Important and powerful . . . a rich tour of health care around the world." —Nicholas Kristof, The New York Times Bringing to bear his talent for explaining complex issues in a clear, engaging way, New York Times bestselling author T. R. Reid visits industrialized democracies around the world--France, Britain, Germany, Japan, and beyond--to provide a revelatory tour of successful, affordable universal health care systems. Now updated with new statistics and a plain-English explanation of the 2010 health care reform bill, The Healing of America is required reading for all those hoping to understand the state of health care in our country, and around the world. T. R. Reid's latest book, A Fine Mess: A Global Quest for a Simpler, Fairer, and More Efficient Tax System, is also available from Penguin Press.

This subtle and powerful ethnography examines African healing and its relationship to medical science. Stacey A. Langwick investigates the practices of healers in Tanzania who confront the most intractable illnesses in the region, including AIDS and malaria. She reveals how healers generate new therapies and shape the bodies of their patients as they address devils and parasites, anti-witchcraft medicine, and child immunization. Transcending the dualisms between tradition and science, culture and nature, belief and knowledge, Langwick tells a new story about the materiality of healing and postcolonial politics. This important work bridges postcolonial theory, science, public health, and anthropology.