Book Review: We Can All Do Better by Senator Bill Bradley

Hardcover: 208 pages
Publisher: Vanguard Press; 1 edition (May 8, 2012)

The following comes from the publisher's website:

In We Can All Do Better, for the first time since the financial meltdown and since the worst of the intensifying political gridlock, Bradley offers his own concise, powerful, and highly personal review of the state of the nation. Bradley argues that government is not the problem. He criticizes the role of money and politics, explains how continuing on our existing foreign policy, electoral, and economic paths will mean a diminished future, and lays out exactly what needs to be done to reverse course.

Breaking from the intransigent long-held viewpoints of both political parties, and with careful attention to our nation's history, Bradley passionately lays out his narrative. He offers a no-holds-barred prescription on subjects including job creation, deficit reduction, education, and immigration. While equally critical of the approaches of the Tea Party and Occupy Movements, he champions the power of individual Americans to organize, speak out, bridge divisions, and he calls on the media to assume a more responsible role in our national life.

As this moving call to arms reminds us, we can all—elected officials, private citizens, presidents—do a better job of moving our country forward. Bradley is perhaps the best guide imaginable, with his firsthand knowledge of governments' inner-workings, the country’s diversity, and the untapped potential of the American people.

Former senator Bill Bradley did a tremendous job with this book.  Washington would be doing a good job just by listening to even a little bit of what he has to say.

Without mentioning the names, Bradley calls out those Republicans who refuse to raise taxes on the wealthy by calling them "job creators," when in fact the real job creators are in the middle class.

Bradley's book is definitely one to read this political season.  At a time when things are so divided in Washington, Bradley provides answers to problems.  They may not be the answers that you want but there are some reasonable solutions at a time when the United States is losing more ground to powers like China.

The Hall of Famer even shares an anecdote from the time that he shared pointers with the granddaughter of the late Sen. Jesse Helms.  He didn't quite look at Helms the same way after that despite the fact that they disagreed so much politically.

While reading this book, remember that America can do better if it listens to the right people...such as the former New Jersey senator.