Literature Analysis Spring 1

Nonfiction: Nullification

Topics and Events

1.      I liked this book it was well written and constantly went back to facts and examples of when this process of nullification worked and how to apply it again. This book clearly defines nullification: how our Founding Fathers felt about it, its history to the twenty first century, and uses now.

2.      Tom Woods wrote about this to refute all the naysayers who never argue over this topic but simply dismiss it with a fallacy, mainly ad hominem, and explain why we should fight to use it.

3.      This book appealed to me because like most other people I am frustrated with the failure of the federal government and these people who claim to represent us never doing their duty.

4.      Yes the book was extremely realistic it was a bit startling how much this political process was used but is now rejected by the two main sides, which of course is only one party.

People

1.      The people in here are mainly people in the government so they all fall under the umbrella of playing public servants trying to help the people but in reality are all equally corrupt. This book does not really go into the nature of the elite but generally this can be inferred by their actions which reverberate much louder than their pretty speeches.

2.      Some people mentioned this book were John C. Calhoun from the early to mid-1800’s, Barack Obama, and George W. Bush. They are not explained in detail or with much bias just a simple statement explaining their party, ideology, and positions of office.

3.      They are a few of many important for our policies and big names that by an act of congress can alter things for better or worse.

Style

1.      No the book was written in a scholarly manner always citing things with references and documents like notes on the legal tender act, South Carolina’s nullification attempts under Andrew Jackson, and now with issues ranging from guns, common core, marijuana, privacy etc.

2.      Lengthy descriptions are used more than action, action and dialogue are only used to show how individuals felt on a topic quoting them on their beliefs.

3.      The tone is set by constraint saying the general government is this large, inefficient, and undemocratic entity while the states have more representation, flexibility, and representation.

4.      The author is completely for using this to ward off unconstitutional acts by congress that are either unethical or the majority of people oppose.

5.      Cited are articles from decades ago, scholarly journals, text books, and current events to show nullification at work. This does affect my thinking since I base all things off of objective facts with little regard to obvious persuasion of the writer then make my own decisions as impartially as one can when reading a biased book.