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Books > Social sciences > Politics & government > Political control & freedoms > General
This timely book sets out how ordinary citizens can reform our broken economy.
Politicians curry favour with interest groups such as trade unions, public service workers, teachers and the unemployed, instead of serving the general public. Trade unions exploit labour laws to get benefits for their members without increasing productivity. Teachers enjoy sheltered employment without producing properly qualified learners. Formal employees abuse the bargaining-council system to push up labour costs
imposed on employers and employees outside the system. Notoriously unproductive “public servants” enjoy above-market salaries in a growing sector that creates little to no economic value. Unemployed people, of whom there are 11 million, form the bedrock of our community of 18 million recipients of welfare grants. They produce nothing in return. The glue holding together all these forms of rent-seeking, is centralised
government power, undergirded by laws and government spending.
The author highlights that the system of rent-seeking has damaged moral fabric in this country, eating at it like a virus. It does not let go, because it contains the seed of destruction of any argument deployed towards dismantling it. Rent-seeking is embarked upon – invariably almost – in the name of some noble cause or other. And noble causes demand that we be on the right side of them, or risk being tainted as unfair, oppressive, right-wing or simply bad.
Who in their right mind doesn’t want to protect workers against unemployment or exploitation, advance previously disadvantaged black citizens, improve the matric pass rate, help the poor with housing and money, build a strong public service?
This book, as the first one did, will bring readers behind the
scenes of the show, talk about cases never before shown, talk about
the major forensic breakthroughs of Forensic Science, have a
glossary of important terms, talk about the cutting edge research
that we can only imagine right now have exclusive photos from the
archives of FORENSIC FILES as well. --This text refers to an out of
print or unavailable edition of this title.
In 1982 aanvaar Nico Smith ’n beroep na die NG Kerk in Afrika
se Mamelodi-gemeente. Hy en sy vrou laat hulle gemaklike
lewe agter en gaan bly in Mamelodi. Hier leer Nico en Ellen
rêrig die hart van Mamelodi se mense ken, en beleef swaarkry
saam met hulle. Hulle leer wat dit beteken om swart te wees in
Suid-Afrika onder apartheid. Hulle leer ’n ander God ken, nie
die God van Nico se vaders nie, maar die God van die
verworpenes en die verdruktes.
In 1997, George Henderson, who was staying in a homeless shelter,
asked for the help of author, Dr. Bonnie Clark Douglass. George's
brother Paul Henderson, who was nicknamed "Poncho," was only 17
when he went missing on Halloween night. Poncho's lifeless body was
found a couple of weeks later on Nov. 14th, 1981, at the end of the
catwalk under the Centennial Bridge in Miramichi City. Poncho's
sneakers were found neatly placed, side by side, atop a pillar
approximately 50 yards from the body; not one police report
retrieved mentions this fact. George refused to "live with it,"
after the family was told Poncho fell off the bridge, and that was
not what the Pathologist's report concluded. "I'd say he was
beaten. When a person falls, you expect to see trademark injuries,
especially to the hands and face." Sheriff Pollard said that if he
did not know better, he would guess that someone put Poncho on a
rack and stretched him. (Telegraph Journal, February 6, 1999,
Calvin Pollard, with 25 years combined experience as a sheriff and
coroner). George and Dr. Bonnie dug up every piece of information
they could find. This included old RCMP records retrieved from the
New Brunswick Archives, and news articles from 1981. A
comprehensive written report was submitted to the N.B. RCMP Major
Crime Unit and, in 1999, the RCMP announced that the case was being
opened. After George's violent death in 2007, Dr. Bonnie knew that
one day she had to tell George's story, because of his tenacity and
courage in the face of a system that seemed dead against him.
George remained the eye of the storm, no matter what he came up
against. After starting a Facebook site, miraculously, 10 pages of
tips came in. The truth about that fateful night and what happened
on the catwalk began to unravel. Who would ever believe how the
truth surfaced because of social media? A loyal group of people,
who ravaged the storm and fought to honor George's vow for justice,
are revealed in the story.
This provocative volume explores how and why the word "patriot" has
been appropriated by those who fight against the U.S.
government-sometimes advocating violence in support of their goals.
Today, as in the past, some "patriot" groups in America long for a
return to traditional values and believe it is their duty to stop
an intrusive government from whittling away at the freedoms that
define the United States. This book looks at the origins and
current activities of such groups through an exploration of the
dual nature of the patriot in American mythos-the unquestioning
lover of the country and its policies versus the man or woman who
places the founding principle of limited government above all else.
Focusing on contemporary patriot groups and their impact on U.S.
society, the work offers insights into factors that have
contributed to the rise of such groups in the past that are again
manifesting themselves. It explores the groups' motivations and
justifications and shows how these groups use the emotionally
powerful sentiment of patriotism to agitate for change and promote
political violence. Perhaps most significant for readers is a
discussion of the beliefs that divide the American public today as
reflected in the ideologies of patriot groups-and what this means
for the future. Addresses the wide range of "patriot" groups
currently active in the United States, covering their origins and
current activities and what they reveal about America's political
state Profiles well-known patriot groups Discusses the political,
economic, and social dynamics that perpetuate the growth of these
movements Explores how and why such groups evolved from guardians
of the principles of restrained government to proponents of
radicalized violence against those they see as being in opposition
to their beliefs Overviews the congruence of patriotism and
political violence in U.S. history, such as how disillusionment in
the wake of the Civil War provided fodder for the forming of the
Klu Klux Klan
Drawing on archival sources from Czechoslovakia, Poland, East
Germany, Romania and Bulgaria, Perceptions of Society in Communist
Europe considers whether and to what extent communist regimes cared
about popular opinion, how they obtained their information, and how
it helped them implement and maintain their rule. Contrary to
popular belief, communist regimes sought to legitimise their
domination with minimal resort to violence in order to maintain
their everyday power. This entailed a permanent negotiation process
between the rulers and the ruled, with public approval of
governmental policies becoming key to their success. By analysing
topics such as a Stalinist musical in Czechoslovakia, workers'
letters to the leadership in Romania, children's television in
Poland and the figure of the secret agent in contemporary culture,
as well as many more besides, Muriel Blaive and the contributors
demonstrate the potential of social history to deconstruct
parochial national perceptions of communism. This cutting-edge
volume is a vital resource for academics, postgraduates and
advanced undergraduates studying East-Central European history,
Stalinism and comparative communism.
Dr. Lee P. Brown, one of America's most significant and respected
law enforcement practitioners, has harnessed his thirty years of
experiences in police work and authored Policing in the 21st
Century: Community Policing. Written for students, members of the
police community, academicians, elected officials and members of
the public, this work comes from the perspective of an individual
who devoted his life to law enforcement. Dr. Brown began his career
as a beat patrolmen who through hard work, diligence and continued
education became the senior law enforcement official in three of
this nation's largest cities. The book is about Community Policing,
the policing style for America in the Twenty-First Century. It not
only describes the concept in great detail, but it also illuminates
how it evolved, and how it is being implemented in various
communities throughout America. There is no other law enforcement
official or academician who is as capable as Dr. Brown of
masterfully presenting the concept of Community Policing, which he
pioneered. As a philosophy, Community Policing encourages law
enforcement officials, and the people they are sworn to serve, to
cooperatively address issues such as crime, community growth, and
societal development. It calls for mutual respect and understanding
between the police and the community. The book is written from the
perspective of someone whose peers identify as the "father" of
Community Policing, and who personally implemented it in Police
Departments under his command. It is a thoroughly amazing book that
has been heralded as a "must read" for anyone who has an interest
in law enforcement. Elected officials, academicians, leaders of the
nation's police agencies and members of the public will be
captivated by Dr. Brown's literary contribution.
Power is classically understood as the playing out of relations
between the ruler and the ruled. Political impasse is often viewed
as a moment in which no clear-cut delineation of power exists,
resulting in an overwhelming sense of frustration or feeling stuck
in a no-win situation. The new globalised world has produced a real
shift in how power works: not only has power been concentrated in
the hands of very few while many millions become more oppressed by
radical shortages and growing costs, but we also have a new
category of political subjectivity in which many find themselves
neither rulers nor radically oppressed. Those who live the
neither/nor of contemporary power live the new global impasse. For
those of us who are stuck and compelled to wait for dominant power
to break, this book uncovers possibilities in thought, imagination,
and self-appropriation through oikeiosis, that is, making oneself
at home in oneself, and constancy.
Court administrators and judges have long acknowledged that culture
plays an important role in the function of trial courts. This text
provides a comprehensive framework for understanding this
organisational culture, along with a set of steps and tools to
assess and measure the current and preferred culture.
Now updated and expanded for its second edition, this book
investigates the role intelligence plays in maintaining homeland
security and emphasizes that effective intelligence collection and
analysis are central to reliable homeland security. The first
edition of Homeland Security and Intelligence was the go-to text
for a comprehensive and clear introduction to U.S intelligence and
homeland security issues, covering all major aspects including
analysis, military intelligence, terrorism, emergency response,
oversight, and domestic intelligence. This fully revised and
updated edition adds eight new chapters to expand the coverage to
topics such as recent developments in cyber security, drones, lone
wolf radicalization, whistleblowers, the U.S. Coast Guard, border
security, private security firms, and the role of first responders
in homeland security. This volume offers contributions from a range
of scholars and professionals from organizations such as the
Department of Homeland Security, the Center for Homeland Defense
and Security at the Naval Postgraduate School, the National
Intelligence University, the Air Force Academy, and the
Counterterrorism Division at the Federal Law Enforcement Training
Center. This breadth of unique and informed perspectives brings a
broad range of experience to the topic, enabling readers to gain a
critical understanding of the intelligence process as a whole and
to grasp what needs to happen to strengthen these various systems.
The book presents a brief history of intelligence in the United
States that addresses past and current structures of the
intelligence community. Recent efforts to improve
information-sharing among the federal, state, local, and private
sectors are considered, and the critical concern regarding whether
the intelligence community is working as intended-and whether there
is an effective system of checks and balances to govern it-is
raised. The book concludes by identifying the issues that should be
addressed in order to better safeguard our nation in the future.
Addresses the most recent changes in homeland security and
intelligence, explains the dynamics and structure of the
intelligence community, and assesses the effectiveness of new
intelligence processes Focuses on the evolving structure of the
intelligence community and its processes in the age of ISIS and
organized, widespread terrorist threats as witnessed by the events
in Boston, San Bernardino, and Paris Contains seven new chapters as
well as revisions and updates throughout this second edition
Underscores how intelligence can work-and needs to function-across
homeland security efforts at the federal, state, and local levels
Recently, a wall was built in eastern Germany. Made of steel and
cement blocks, topped with razor barbed wire, and reinforced with
video monitors and movement sensors, this wall was not put up to
protect a prison or a military base, but rather to guard a
three-day meeting of the finance ministers of the Group of Eight
(G8). The wall manifested a level of security that is increasingly
commonplace at meetings regarding the global economy. The authors
of Shutting Down the Streets have directly observed and
participated in more than 20 mass actions against global in North
America and Europe, beginning with the watershed 1999 WTO meetings
in Seattle and including the 2007 G8 protests in Heiligendamm.
Shutting Down the Streets is the first book to conceptualize the
social control of dissent in the era of alterglobalization. Based
on direct observation of more than 20 global summits, the book
demonstrates that social control is not only global, but also
preemptive, and that it relegates dissent to the realm of
criminality. The charge is insurrection, but the accused have no
weapons. The authors document in detail how social control
forecloses the spaces through which social movements nurture the
development of dissent and effect disruptive challenges.
Hailed in the Times Literary Supplement as ‘probably the finest piece of non-fiction to come out of South Africa since the end of apartheid’, The Dream Deferred is back in print and updated with a brilliant new epilogue.
The prosperous Mbeki clan lost everything to apartheid. Yet the family saw its favourite son, Thabo, rise to become president of South Africa in 1999. A decade later, Mbeki was ousted by his own party and his legacy is bitterly contested – particularly over his handling of the AIDS epidemic and the crisis in Zimbabwe.
Through the story of the Mbeki family, award-wining journalist Mark Gevisser tells the gripping tale of the last tumultuous century of South Africa life, following the family’s path to make sense of the liberation struggle and the future that South Africa has inherited. At the centre of the story is Mbeki, a visionary yet tragic figure who led South Africa to freedom but was not able to overcome the difficulties of his own dislocated life.
It is 15 years since Mbeki was unceremoniously dumped by the ANC, giving rise to the wasted years under Jacob Zuma. With the benefit of hindsight, and as Mbeki reaches the age of 80, Gevisser examines the legacy of the man who succeeded Mandela.
The United States has a troubling history of violence regarding
race. This book explores the emotionally charged conditions and
factors that incited the eruption of race riots in America between
the Progressive Era and World War II. While racially motivated riot
violence certainly existed in the United States both before and
after the Progressive Era through World War II, a thorough account
of race riots during this particular time span has never been
published. All Hell Broke Loose fills a long-neglected gap in the
literature by addressing a dark and embarrassing time in our
country's history-one that warrants continued study in light of how
race relations continue to play an enormous role in the social
fabric of our nation. Author Ann V. Collins identifies and
evaluates the existing conditions and contributing factors that
sparked the race riots during the period spanning the Progressive
Era to World War II throughout America. Through the lens of
specific riots, Collins provides an overarching analysis of how
cultural factors and economic change intersected with political
influences to shape human actions-on both individual and group
levels. A comprehensive chronology of race riots between the
Progressive Era and World War II A bibliography of race riot
research materials An index highlighting important concepts,
people, and events
p>For over thirty years, World War II veteran and author Burt
Hall assessed accountability in government and national security.
Now, this seasoned, professional analyst delivers a tough account
of what went wrong in our politics and system of government over
the past two decades and what we can do about it.
The right wing (not to be confused with Conservatism) has
hijacked the Republican Party and wrecked havoc on our nation. It
exploited basic flaws in our system to gain power and a series of
major setbacks and a weakened democracy have followed.
The Right-Wing Threat to Democracy lays out clearly what the
basic flaws in our system are and how they can be fixed. The danger
is that an ongoing shift of political power to the very wealthy and
suppression of voting rights is silencing the voice of the average
citizen.
If elected officials do not fix the basic flaws, the American
people have alternatives in our democracy and must take matters
into their own hands.
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