Liberal Politics

Over the last 5 years, Leftists all over the United States have felt marginalized by the current republican led administration. With no clear democratic alternative in 2004, the party was easily defeated by George W. Bush's overriding consistency. This doesn't mean there haven't been clear calls to action in opposition to Bush's policies. Quite the contrary: the country hasn't seen such heated political discussion since the 60's and it is sure to heat up even more during Bush's next term.

With this LearnOutLoud.com topic page, we have endeavored to collect Liberal Audio Books that try to make sense of the last 5 years. The brief guide below groups audio books based on certain issues that have shaped the political framework of the current era. Hopefully this will paint a clearer picture for of the leftist opinion on issues that face U.S. citizen daily.

For this discussion we’ll begin with the polarizing event that in many ways is the base cause of the current political environment: the terrorist attacks that took place on September 11th, 2001. The Audio Book version of "A Pretext for War" by James Branford details what the administration did in response to 9/11, why it failed to capture Osama Bin Laden, and how America's intelligence agencies may have doctored information to build a better case for war in Iraq. Obviously these are provocative accusations, and Bamford doesn't shirk from controversy.

For more alternative thoughts on how the government reacted to September 11th, listen to "Chain of Command� by Seymour Hersh. This audio book is a collection of Hersh's current event analysis for the New Yorker magazine. The main theme of these essays is the question of how Bush made the leap from the World Trade Center attacks to using it as a major factor in deciding to go to war.

Next, we'll look at audio books that actually focus on the war in Iraq. There are two audio titles that examine the current conflict in the middle-east quite explosively: Norman Mailer's "Why are We at War?" and Micheal Moore's "Will They Ever Trust Us Again?". Mailer's audio book is a damning critique of what he feels is quite simply an American quest for Empire. He collects official statements on the current war, and quotes them to build a case for the idea that this conflict is not being waged in the name of freedom, but rather for worldwide dominance.

Meanwhile, on more in a war that many feel is unjustified.human scale comes Moore's argument that Bush has led the country's young men and women into a war they shouldn't be asked to fight. After lies about weapons of mass destruction, and the constant strain of extended tours, Moore asks soldiers how they really feel about the war and sometimes gets answers that may surprise you.

We should also touch on audio titles that deal with domestic issues. For a left-minded overview of how Bush’s domestic policies have affected Ordinary Americans, Listen to the Abridged version of Molly Iven’s and Lou Dubose “Bushwhacked�. This audio book tries to show how Bush’s flawed leadership in Texas has been translated to an equally questionable management of the country. Ivens and Dubose discuss Job Trends, Environmental Deterioration, Bush’s involvement with Enron, Botched Foreign Policy and much more.

Next you might want to get a gauge on what Americans want when they think of a leader. I suggest listening to "What's The Matter with Kansas?“ by Thomas Frank. Here Frank tries to come to terms with a strange phenomenon: When many Americans vote for Bush, they are voting contrary to their Economic and Social interests. Why is this happening so rampantly? Frank tries to answer this by examining his home state of Kansas, a state that currently reviles liberalism but was once quite radical. Through concise analysis, Frank argues that the Republican Party has gone from being the party of ordinary Americans to the primary force working to undermine middle class priorities.

Finally, we can't leave this discussion without a bit of humor. Some of the loudest Liberal voices currently making their voices heard have a sense of humor to go with their cutting barbs. Al Franken is probably the most prominent humorist that has used his fame as springboard for political activism. His most effective audio book is "Lies, and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them". Here Franken takes on leading conservative media figures such as Bill O'Reilly, Ann Coulter and many others. Franken has a talent for using his political nemesis' recorded words against them, and while you may disagree with his claims, you can’t always say you didn’t laugh.

The Audio Book selection listed above is a good indication of what Liberal minds are concerned with today. Both sides of the political coin are sharpening their ideology and working continuously to win you over to their point of view. Whatever side of the political debate you find yourself on, LearnOutLoud.com is dedicated to helping you choose what's best for you. With the power of information as your guide, you can become a more engaged citizen that actively participates in this polarized and heated era.