The title is a play on words. Reich, the Sec. of Labor under President Clinton, is short in stature and says he's been insulted all of his life for being so short.
Reich was born in the 40's in the same time frame as the Clintons and Donald Trump, whom he despises of course.
He is the only person whom I've heard of who was expelled from kindergarten. :)
Reich's father was an outspoken Democrat but independent, an impossible position today.
Reich grew up in a small town 60 miles north of NYC called South Salem. P. 16
"The year my father turned forty I became desperately afraid he would die." He made repeated literary recitations regarding the passage of time, about how fleeting time was and how temporary it was. P. 36
I think about this on August 10, 2025, remembering 8/10/67.
8/11/25 Best book of the year so far.
Great summary of Ayn Rand and presentation of the "common good."
Unexpected description of Dartmouth early 60's.
Getting cussed out by Robert Kennedy. P. 73
Meeting Bill Clinton on the way to England. P, 81
Facing the sword of Damocles---the draft P. 83
THE RIOT THAT STARTED THE CULTURE WARS P. 93
The author dates the beginning of the culture wars as May 8, 1970, the date of the 25th anniversary of the Allied victory over Germany in WWII. It was also the week after Nixon invaded Cambodia, and four days after four student were gunned down on the Kent State campus, A riot broke out in NYC between youthful young people, mostly students, and police and hardhats, cheered on by Nixon and friends.
The hardhat riot was the first salvo in American's culture wears and it had been planned in the Oval Office.
Nixon's hatchet man was Chuck Colson, P. 94
This could have moved blue-collar voters over to the Republican party.
"The hardhat riot revealed a deep split in America's left that had begun to show itself during the 1968 Democratic Convention ----dividing the coalition of workers and progressives that FDR had knitted together in the 1930's. It showed that working class whites could be peeled away from middle class liberals and college educated professionals on cultural issues involving nationalism and class as well as race and gender. P. 95
Talk of stakeholders and shareholder value. Still relevant? P. 142
8-15-25 Book of the Year
The declining of the working class and their amazing consolidation with Trump & the Republicans and ascendency of plutocracy taking over the country. It's quite amazing and tragic from the Democratic perspective. P. 146
REICH IS NOW APPEADRING ONLINE AS A DEMOCRATIC SPOKESPERSON.
The story of Bill Clinton gearing up to run for President. P. 156
Reich meets Sen. Alan Simpson. Same sense of humor. P. 219
The start of a beautiful friendship, the arch Republican and the very liberal Democrat. P. 221
Alan Simpson died 3-14-25 at the age of 93.
Until then I had no idea you were so gullible, Alan. (Regarding the 2008 financial collapse)
Reich distinguishes Fascism and Authoritarianism
#FASCISM rejects democracy, the rule of law, and equal rights under the law in favor of a strongman who interprets the popular will.
#The galvanizing of popular rage against cultural elites.
#Nationalism based on a dominant "superior" race and historic bloodlines.
#Extolling brute strength and heroic warriors. "I am your warrior."
Fascism depends on organized bullying. War and violence are necessary means of stregthening society by culling the weak and extolling heroic warriors.
#Disdaining women and non-standard forms of gender identity and sexual orientation.
Hierarchy and order is authoritarianism.
#The particular order of male dominance. The fascist heroic model is male.
The Republican Party showcases the essential elements of Fascism.
P. 282 - 285
The true meaning of patriotism is the opposite of Trump's exclusionary white male Christian nationalism In the last three-quarters of a century we have seen we have seen America's idea of inclusion more of a reality. Incremental progress toward equal rights for women, Black people, immigrants, Native Americans, Latinos, LGBTQ+, Muslims, Jews, atheists, and agnostics. Much work needs go be done, but America is far better for the progress.we've made. P. 316 - 317
The author closes the book with a touching and poignant remembrance of his teaching career. It sounds like he was certainly unorthodox in the classroom.
Born in 1946 , Reich is a traditional print person like me, but unlike me he is will to bend to the times to communicate with Gen Z. I would not do this. At the suggestion of his son Sam he starts making videos and other visual media to popularize his message in place of print to appeal to the younger generation. I would never do this!
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