A Deficit of Decency

Zell Miller is a brave man, unafraid to speak his mind. For decades, he was loyal to the dictates of his party, the Democrats. Over the years, however, he grew disturbed over what was happening in Washington. Miller wasn't alone. Many decent people from all sides of the political spectrum have watched with dismay as special interested have hijacked the political process. Ordinary people don't count to the politicians in Washington: only those who can write big checks matter. Appointed to the Senate to complete the term of his predecessor, Miller found himself sitting in a cesspool of self-interest and corrupted processes. After 9/11, he became greatly dismayed that politicians, particularly Democrats, were playing games with the security of the nation. In particular, he was incensed that Democrats currying favor with the unions blocked the creation of the Homeland Security Department. When John Kerry appeared to be the Democratic nominee, Miller found he could neither keep quiet nor support Kerry. This culminated in Miller's electrifying speech at the Republican National Convention. Needless to say, the left-wing slime machine has done everything it can to make Miller a pariah. This, frankly, demonstrates the bankruptcy of the left. For Miller's message is one that will resonate with reasonable people of every political persuasion. In short, Miller appeals to commonsense and common decency, qualities Miller rightfully feels are in short supply. Miller's religiosity may turn many off. It certainly left me feeling uncomfortable. However, the values of the religion Miller espouses are central to all reasonable people. Truthfulness. Decency and morality in dealing with others. Miller describes how he came to rally to Bush's side; why he is so disdainful of John Kerry and the Democrats; why he fears that not only the Democrats, but the nation have lost their moorings. He calls for a flat sales tax and the abolishment of the Internal Revenue Service. Instead of a nearly million page tax code and endless exemptions and loopholes for those who can afford to buy the votes to get them, there would be a single tax on whatever you purchase. Miller supports this argument well. He calls for the abolishment of the 17th Amendment which substitutes popular election of Senators for the previous appointment by state legislators. Miller claims that popular election of Senators leaves the electorate disconnected from the officeholder. I am not convinced Miller is correct in this. After all, state legislators in urban areas are no more accessible to voters than Senators and Congressional representatives. He suggests that schools be exempted from much of the regulation they now face. The problem here is that he retains too much respect for public school teachers, rather naively (in my opinion) believing that they actually want to teach and, in fact, are capable of teaching. Again I question this since the NEA has so degraded teacher educati

Zell Miller is an old school democrat. He was brewed when democrats had character and when the democrat party stood for something. Zell Miller came from the time when Ronald reagan used to be a democrat and when the democrat party had real leaders like John F. Kennedy. As a result, Zell Miller like Joe Liederman takes a lot of flack from current members of the democratic party who rely on disingenuis film producers like Mike Moore and unethical authors like AL Franken, just a more hygenic version of Michael Moore to be their PR men. The current democratic party relies on lies by liars like John Kerry, John Edwards, Howie Dean, Teddy Kennedy, Jimmy Carter, Al Gore, the Clintons, Nancy Pelosi and more. So is it any wonder that the democratic party is in disawray, is losing members and looks like a Marx brothers comedy? I am not a democrat, but I respect Zell Miller for his honesty and concern. When Zell Miller speaks, it is for for power of his dying party, but as a proud american who served and loves his country. My only complaint with Zell Miller is that he hasn't left the demcoratic party. Clearly he is in the miniority there and whatever dignity and horor that the democratic party once had, is long gone.

Love him or hate his politics Zell Miller has the courage of his convictions to speak his mind. Is this book a blast from the right? No in my opinion it is a blast straight from the heart of the author and he is as mad as hell. Is Zell sincere? Is he a true embodiment of integrity? It is my belief that he is but I will let the reader decide. For those who do not like Zell Miller I encourage you to read this book anyway. Forget all of the Zell bashing you have heard an approach this book with an open mind. If you cannot bring yourself to buying his book I suggest that you take it out of the library. I think a fair minded left winger will find something in this book that speaks to them. If nothing else if you are a hardcore left wing Democrat you might learn something about why Kerry lost the last election. More than this book being a diatribe against the Democratic party I believe this book is a cautionary tale for all of us as Americans. Zell Miller points out case by case how American values have strayed. Now I am not a fan of the religious right, at least those of them that are intolerant zealots, but I do believe like Zell we need to return to our values whether they be based in Christianity, Judaism, Islam Buddhism or whatever what faith to which we ascribe. For even if one is an atheist there are certain core principles we all share or should share. I am not suggesting everyone should return to the Bible but it is certainly time for us to get our act together. This country definitely needs some backbone and boy do we need it now. The author emphasizes the importance of duty and sacrifice. It is a message many of us in these days of instant gratification do not want to hear but it is something we must hear if we are to survive as a culture and as a nation. We live in some of the most perilous times this world has ever seen yet we find ourselves lulled into opinions of the mass media that many times have no basis in fact of logic. Our culture, as Zell Miller points out, is both crude and banal. How can anyone who lives in America argue with that? (Those ideologues who wish to throw mud at the author and to point to his past with his less than an exemplary record on civil right I will remind you of one name - Robert Byrd.) Zell despite his former short comings is a sincere individual and a former marine you served his country admirably. He has the courage of conviction to blow the whistle on a party that had turned its bak on its former principles and turned its back on America. He is a true patriot and a man willing to forsake his party rather than to forsake America. I am neither a Democrat nor a Republican and I a leery of propaganda coming from either side. We now and always have needed a loyal opposition. I for one am sick as hell of both parties but our President right now happens to be a Republican. Shame on the many Americans who want our President to fail. For wishing the President of our country to fail no matter w

Zell Miller is a living embodiment of the good things we all strive for, honesty, integrity, and a humble apprecation for the benefits of hard work that lead to a life worth living. I don't think many people today can be happy with the level of discourse in politics or our culture; it is narcissistic and decadent that rewards people with no talent or gift beyond self-promotion and smearing the values of the people who unwittingly made them millioniaires. As the product of a southern culture some years back that rewarded virtue and sincerity, Zell is an impeccable candidate to chronicle the current woes of our cultural discourse. While some may see this as a cranky old man complaining " 'bout the way things USED to be " - it is nothing of the sort. It is a firm but loving letter from a patriot who knows life in America will be far improved for all when the garbage is taken to the curb, and away from our eardrums. Open any newspaper or turn on your televion today, and you'll see ink and airwaves telling us all about people like Madonna, Eminem, and other assorted dim-wits who crave attention. These people and their kind add nothing to the quality of life or values of America, yet the media follows their every move. Watch cable tv and you'll see Hollywood movie stars that didn't finish high school lecturing George Bush and Donald Rumsfeld on foreign policy, using insults, slander and perjoratives without fail. The more insulting and "outrageous" they are, the more coverage they recieve. It is they who spew hatred and vitriol into our lives, it is Zell who argues for courtesy and manners. Watch the evening news and you'll see Democrats nightly attack George Bush as worse than Saddam Hussein (Sen. Kennedy), throw tantrums when the President seeks to fulfill his duty to fill the judiciary and threaten filibusters when the MINORITY is kept from controlling appointments (Daschle, Boxer, Reid, etc.) or make ridiculous lies that the President should be impeached (Rangel, Frank, McDermott). To top it off, the major broadcast media serve as a mouthpiece for every piece of leftwing propaganda (Dan Rather, 60 Minutes) and regardless of how little the facts comport with the fictious claims of the left, the anti-Bush and anti-conservative demagogues never seem to have trouble having their grievances aired (fraudulent voting machines in Ohio, covered by the network news). All this contributes to a culture of vitriol, hate and self-promotion that poisons discourse in America and cheapens our culture. Bravo to Zell, a man with the courage to tell the truth and not be bullied by those who fear he speaks the truth about them.