BEYOND REASON
Beyond Reason' presents one of the most comprehensive and rigorously researched refutations of the major Right-wing misconceptions, delusions, and outright lies that have come to dominate the discourse and policies of conservative politics. Conservatives inhabit an alternative reality in which Obamacare establishes “death panels,” waves of criminals are finding their way over the Mexican border, tax cuts for the rich benefit the middle class, Liberals are waging a war on Christianity, voter fraud is eroding our democracy, and climate change isn’t happening. In 'Beyond Reason,' author J.P. Bernbach meticulously dismantles each of these arguments and more. Bernbach does more than simply correct the record on dozens of dangerous falsehoods, he demonstrates that the current brand of American Conservatism is completely detached from, and indeed hostile to, reality itself – an ideology beyond reason. Written in a tough but reasonable tone, lightened throughout by flashes of wit, 'Beyond Reason' is essential reading for anyone who is fed up with all the right-wing spin, hype, hysteria, and plain nonsense that prevents reasonable debate about the actual challenges facing America today.
"Just read it and then share with everyone you know. This is not just for this election. This sums up and refutes conservative lies. I was schooled on the foreign aid issue. That alone is worth the price of the book."
"This book demystifies and discloses the truth around dozens of issues obfuscated for partisan purposes that have been to our nation's detriment. Never more timely!"
"Excellent explanation of the conundrum of voters continuing to vote against their best interests..."
"Bernbach's writing is accessible and he lays out cogent arguments, challenging what's been accepted as "truth" in mainstream media. Great book."
"I confess, I am not even halfway through yet, but it is outstanding."
Reader Reviews
Publication date: January 9, 2016
Publisher: Astor + Blue
ISBN : 978-1681200
318 pages
photo by T.M. Rives
Buy the book:
"Excellent"
"Outstanding"
"Great book"
"Never more timely!"
"Accessible"
EXCERPTS
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from Chapter 2: "Why The GOP Is Not The Pro-Life Party"
Insofar as “pro-life”is a slogan that means no more and no less than “anti-abortion”, there’s certainly no question that the Republican Party is the “pro-life” party. But beyond that very particular meaning, the “pro-life” moniker does not represent a set of principles that affirm the value of human life or promote the quality of life for the maximum number of human beings in general.
“Pro-life” is a perfect slogan. It instantly polarizes the issue into a“pro” and an “anti.” By characterizing their opposition to abortion in terms of life itself, conservatives place themselves on the “pro” side, automatically placing those who disagree with them on the “anti” side, without any possibility of complexity or middle ground. Simple logic dictates, after all, that anyone who’s not “pro-life” must be “anti-life” or even “pro-death.” It’s an effective rhetorical trick.
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full chapter
Voter fraud in the United States is only slightly less rare than unicorns.
To be precise, in the last 15 years no state in the Union has documented levels of fraud exceeding 0.004 percent of the vote in a statewide or federal election. That’s one vote in twenty-five thousand, or less than four one-thousandths of a percent. The many investigations into the matter of voter fraud are unanimous: it is always rare, usually accidental, and never decisive in determining the outcome of an election.
At best, GOP voter ID laws are an ineffective solution to a non-existent problem - like erecting a fence to keep out dragons, which a) don’t actually exist, and b) even if they did, could fly anyway. But, of course, this isn’t just a well-meaning but pointless precaution that happens to disenfranchise eligible voters unintentionally. The disenfranchisement is the point, and the precaution just a pretext.
from Chapter 25: "Why Voter Fraud Is Not A Serious Threat To Democracy"
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full chapter
A hundred years from now, within the lifetimes of your great-grandchildren, there will be no longer be any major use of oil or coal. Power will be generated from wind, water, and sunlight — some of it will come from large power plants, but much of it will be generated on people’s own properties, perhaps even on their own persons, from fabrics that absorb the sun’s rays and convert it into usable power. The air in cities will be as fresh as air in the mountains, and the word “smog” will be the quaint relic of a more backward age. This is not a dream. It will happen, because it has to happen — fossil fuels are becoming scarce while demand for energy is increasing. The only question is: when will it start to happen
It turns out that the question has already been answered, and the answer is: yesterday. Humanity’s long process of conversion to an all-renewable energy economy is well underway, and not a moment too soon.
from Chapter 10: "Why Renewable Energy Is Already A Viable Alternative to Fossil Fuels"
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full chapter
Climate change is a technical subject that depends on science that most of us don’t understand. Most people are simply not qualified to judge the various arguments on their merits, so they have to rely on experts, activists, and public officials for guidance. Conservative politicians and pundits abuse the good faith of their followers and supporters by feeding them misinformation that they are not equipped to doubt.
When challenged about their opposition to any attempts to address climate change, conservative politicians have recently started to adopt a know-nothing approach, saying “I’m not a scientist.” Apparently this is intended to absolve them of having to take a position. But they don’t seem to realize the implication of their own words — if non-scientists aren’t in a position to offer a valid opinion, presumably it’s the scientists who actually know what they’re talking about. And 98 percent of them agree that human-caused climate change is happening.
from Chapter 20: "Why Evidence For Climate Change Is NOT Inconclusive"
