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Hardcover The Second Bill of Rights: FDR's Unfinished Revolution and Why We Need It More Than Ever Book

ISBN: 0465083323

ISBN13: 9780465083329

The Second Bill of Rights: FDR's Unfinished Revolution and Why We Need It More Than Ever

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Format: Hardcover

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Book Overview

In 1944, Franklin Delano Roosevelt gave a State of the Union Address that was arguably the greatest political speech of the twentieth century. In it, Roosevelt grappled with the definition of security in a democracy, concluding that "unless there is security here at home, there cannot be lasting peace in the world." To help ensure that security, he proposed a "Second Bill of Rights" -- economic rights that he saw as necessary to political freedom. Many of the great legislative achievements of the past sixty years stem from Roosevelt's vision. Using this speech as a launching point, Cass R. Sunstein shows how these rights are vital to the continuing security of our nation. This is an ambitious, sweeping book that argues for a new vision of FDR, of constitutional history, and our current political scene. This description may be from another edition of this product.

Customer Reviews

5 customer ratings | 5 reviews

Rated 4 stars
Timely, important history

Although the focus of this book is the FDR era and his particular vision for an explicit extension of the rights of the common person, the topic is especially relevant today. The author lays out authoritatively both the historic rationale and significance of this vision, and its partial adoption in practice, as well as presenting an illuminating discussion of the meaning of Constitutional change. This is discussed theoretically,...

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Rated 5 stars
Powerful challenge to Federalist Society view of Constitution

Professor Sunstein recovers FDR's 1944 State of the Union address from the dust bin of history. The speech makes a compelling case for the proposition that each of us has inherent economic rights; not just civil and political rights. Among these rights are a right to a useful and remunerative job, and the right to earn enough to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, health care, and recreation. In part two of the book...

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Rated 5 stars
FDR's vision

The idea of the Second Bill of Rights appeared in the classic State of the Union address by Franklin Roosevelt in 1944, and is an underground current of American culture. It was also in part the inspiration for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. That this speech, and the real FDR, is so little known tells us something of the times, but the birth of an idea foretells perhaps its future return. The powers that be don't...

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Rated 5 stars
Let the Sunstien!

This was my fist Sunstein book but it won't be my last. Three chapters (2, 6 and 11) alone are worth the book's price. Sunstein's obvious constitutional experience and social acumen offers depth and insight into many social issues of the day. He caused me to critically understand the definition of "government" and "rights" better than ever. His analysis of Laissez-Faire economic philosophy is the most practical I've ever read...

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Rated 5 stars
Social and Economic Rights

Franklin Roosevelt left this Earth with unfinished business. In the post-war era, he sought to acknowledge the need for social and economic rights. Although it is often referred to as the Second Bill of Rights, FDR did not intend to amend or change the Constitution. He sought to bring attention to basic human rights. Sunstein correctly asserts that progess was being made toward FDR's goals until Nixon was elected President...

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