TOM BLAIR
POORER RICHARD'S AMERICA
WHAT WOULD BEN SAY?
(September 2010)
by Tom Blair
“In this ambitious book by Tom Blair, Poorer Richard’s America, … Mr. Blair skillfully weaves his own thoughts on financial excesses, national will, journalism, entertainment, generational legacies and the popular culture with the real and imagined reflections of his hero, Benjamin Franklin. It is a provocative undertaking and, in the spirit of Franklin’s mischievous manner, it is designed to at once make us think about the many ways in which we lost our way and how a daily inventory of time-tested virtues can help show us the way once again to a firm foundation built on higher ground.”
– Tom Brokaw, from his foreword to Poorer Richard’s America
He’s back—witty, insightful, concerned, and hopeful. He slaps you on the face, then he pats you on the back.
Now, Benjamin Franklin, whose previous bestseller, Poor Richard’s Almanack, is still in print after nearly 300 years, has returned. Tom Blair, feeling that Franklin would see our times as particularly perilous, has picked up the pen Ben Franklin set aside in 1758 to give us a fresh take on the enduringly popular Poor Richard's Almanack: POORER RICHARD’S AMERICA: What Would Ben Say? (Skyhorse Publishing; August 30, 2010; a great American book at the great American price of $17.76). Tom Brokaw has contributed the foreword.
Blair brings us Franklin’s thoughtful assessments — without a partisan agenda — on prejudice, Wall Street malfeasance, health care reform, lust and infidelity, blogging, the state of our two-party system, flag burning, education, taxes, armor-piercing ammo, the moment of conception, and the secrets of marital bliss and a good night’s sleep, among many other topics. Sprinkled throughout his engaging and timely commentary are Franklin’s clever aphorisms ... as relevant as they were 250 years ago.
The man who brought us bifocals sees our nation as blessed in many ways, yet in grave danger of giving away or giving up on the assets that have made America great. With his characteristic clarity, insight, and humor, he addresses pressing political, cultural and social issues. In Franklin’s stead, Blair notes that, among many other topics:
- Leaders must lead. American leaders are elected. To be elected they often perceive they need to follow; follow the polls.
- Congress is a great team of horses, some harnessed as they should be, head-to-tail, others head-to-head while others tail-to-tail, thus ensuring scant progress while dropping great mounds of manure.
- There are four branches of government: legislative, executive, judicial and corporate ... if only we would have written “All men and corporations are created equal.”
- The People’s Republic of China is a marvelously well-run Private Company. Its management team is the Chinese government.
- FDA — Federal Deficit Administration — labeling might keep Americans abreast of the household impact of the national deficit; “This year we expect a record $1.3 trillion deficit. Hence, under FDA labeling criteria, each citizen is responsible for $42,000 of debt.”
Agree or disagree, we are sure to be entertained and enlightened by POORER RICHARD’S AMERICA.