From: Bill Bonner
Date: 4th of July 2006
re: What a surprise! "The Idea of America" - 2nd Print Run

On the 3rd of July, 1776, John Adams, wrote a letter to his wife back in Boston. "I am apt to believe," he said describing the 'grand event,' the signing of the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain, "that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival...

"It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward. for evermore."

And so it is some 227 years later. The Fourth of July is one of our nation's most important holidays. The day we celebrate the unique American experience.

After 9/11, so many people went out and bought flags that the shops ran short. Old Glory festooned nearly every porch and bridge. Patriotism swelled every heart. Europeans, coming back to the Old Country after visiting the new one, reported that they had never seen anything like it. Citizens wave, wear, display and decorate airplanes, windows, baseball caps, car bumpers, dog collars and front porches with Old Glory. Sometimes they even fly them on flagpoles.

And sometimes, when necessary, they send their sons and daughters to die for it.

But what is this "America" that we love so much? What has drawn millions of immigrants to America? The American Dream? The American Way? What is it that Adams suggested ought to be celebrated with pomp and parade? What is so important about the nation that prompted him to also write the 4th of July ought to "be commemorated, as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty"?

Why should we care more about America
than say, France, for example, Lithuania or Chad?

A Frenchman takes his country for granted. He is born into it, just as he is born into his religion. He may be proud of La Belle France the way he is proud of his cheese. But he is not fool enough to claim credit for either one. He just feels lucky to have them for his own. Americans are different.

Nations are usually composed of groups of people who share common blood, a common culture and a common language though there are plenty of exceptions, especially among the made-up nations of former European colonies. Americans are different. They come from many different cultures, races and language groups...

Americans don't even share a common history. The average immigrant didn't arrive until the early 20th century. By then, America's history was already three centuries old. The average family missed the whole thing.

If Americans weren't united by blood, history, religion or language ... what else is left?

What does it mean to be an American? What is, or what used to be, the idea of America? And what is happening to the idea of America today?

The so-called "neo-cons" - a self-styled group of politicians with a lot of influence in Washington and with the Bush administration - believe that the idea of "America" is something to be proselytised the world over. And - despite warnings of the nation's first president to be "wary of foreign entanglements" - spread by military might, if necessary.

"Our power is so great, and so unlikely to be challenged for many, many years," Admiral Stansfield Turner, former head of the CIA, declared "that you have to go back to Rome for any kind of parallel. It's a misnomer to speak of the United States as being merely a super-power. We're a super-duper power, and I don't know that the world has seen one of those before."

The experiment set forth by the signing the Declaration of Independence has been the most successful political endeavor in human history. That is clear. But should it be exported at the point of a gun?

Before answering that question, we suggest a return to a time when America was scarcely more than an idea....

In an important collection of essays called The Idea of America , we explore the very questions at the bedrock of the nation. This book represents some of the most important ideas that have shaped thinking about America -- what it is and what it is supposed to be.

Some of the pieces are well known, like the Declaration of Independence, others much less conventional, for example, Voltairine de Cleyre's Anarchism and American Traditions.

Unfortunately, even the most well known documents like the Bill of Rights are little read or understood by any Americans. Perhaps it is a good thing they don't read them.... who knows? Maybe they would begin to wonder if America were really all that it was intended to be. Maybe they would ask questions: is the country really on the right track?

Surely, most people would prefer to wave the flag and not think about such things. But if you are the sort of person who is not afraid to wonder, this book may be the perfect thing for your summer reading. It's not a long heavy tome; just 238 pages of what must be the essential texts for those thoughtful enough to want to understand the Idea of America.

You'll read some sparkling diamonds of clear-headed thinking from our country's Founders, Patrick Henry, Thomas Paine, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.

You'll discover select passages from Alexis de Tocqueville's famous Democracy in America, about decentralization, the dangers of powerful democratic governments and the usefulness of private associations. This classic is much quoted and little read. You may find after reading the highlights that you want to read the entire original.

And you'll gain the perspective of some of America's most insightful critics, H.L. Mencken and Mark Twain.

As you may know, when the first, handsome hardback edition of The Idea of America was released, the press run was a surprising success. We didn't have any illusions: most people would rather not think about such things. And who can blame them? America is the world's greatest success story of the last two centuries. Why ask questions?

Clearly, the ideas discussed in this important collection of essays resonates with Americans who are frightened by loss of personal freedoms, military adventurism, our mis-managed economy. As one reader put it "taxation WITH representation" hasn't exactly turned out to be what the colonial revolutionaries expected either. America is being slowly ground down by what Tocqueville called "tyranny of the majority"...

Yet, when you read The Idea of America , you'll discover that from the founding fathers to the frontiers, you'll see that one defining feature of the American character and the American experiment has been present throughout the great moments of our history. Perhaps you'll wonder, as we do, what will become of the nation once that unique characteristic disappears altogether.

Or maybe - as a few of our friends have suggested - you'll feel motivated, uplifted:

"The Idea of America is a gem! The thoughtfully selected essays in this volume offer a window into the soul of our great nation."

-- Edward H. Crane,
President, CATO Institute

"I hope everyone will read this to see why America became a great country -- so we can keep it a great country."

-- Jimmy Rogers,
author of Adventure Capitalist

As we mentioned in our first announcement of the book... "if The Idea of America turns out to be popular, we'll print more." We have, in fact, gone to a second print run... and these are now available.

What better time to think deeply about the meaning of America
than on the Fourth of July?

This collection of important essays also makes a perfect gift to send to people you love and care about. Especially young people who may have had little contact with these ideas.

You won't find The Idea of America in your local bookstores. At least not yet. It has far too exclusive of an audience. We are, however, offering The Idea Of America to our readers on-line. Perhaps, with the success of the first run, we'll get it listed on Amazon.com... but no guarantees... and certainly not for the same low price that I'm offering you today.

Right now, the retail price for The Idea of America is $22.95. But I would like for you to have your own copy for only $14.95. I have no doubt that you will be satisfied. If not, for any reason, just return it for a full refund. Or better yet, donate it to your local library, maybe it will influence some one there.

P.S. "You will think me transported by enthusiasm," John Adams continued in his letter of July 3rd, 1776, "but I am not."

"I am well aware of the toil, and blood, and treasure that it will cost us to maintain this declaration and support and defend these states. Yet, through all the gloom, I can see the rays of ravishing light and glory. I can see that the end is more than worth all the means, and that posterity will triumph..."

Over two centuries later, millions of American are glued to the TVs, and are all but oblivious to the toil, blood and treasure it cost to create the nation. There could be no better time than The Fourth of July to rediscover what Adams "the end more than well worth the means" and question if, in fact, we've realized the promise of that day.

Please order your copy of The Idea of America while the book is still available. Send a copy to a friend, family member or a loved one. Rediscover, with us, the true character at the root of the American experience. Click below to order now... thank you... and have a great 4th.