Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness, Version 4.0

by Gordon L. Anderson

Overview

This book explains the evolution of the core principles of political philosophy contained in the US Constitution and how, in the quest for power and wealth, they have been circumvented and misapplied by those who followed after the founders. The resulting dysfunctional, bloated, and debt-ridden system can be fixed by reapplying principles that prevent special interests from hijacking government. The final chapter suggests changes that would eliminate numerous conflicts of interest and create checks and balances that would make the system more efficient and functional.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940014529112
Publisher:	Paragon House Publishers
Publication date:	04/18/2012
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Gordon L. Anderson earned his Ph.D. in Philosophy of Religion at the Claremont Graduate University. He has been editor-in-chief of International Journal on World Peace since 1992. He is author of many articles and books, including Philosophy of the United States: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness (2004) and Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness, Version 4.0 (2009).

Anderson has a long experience with the analysis of major political systems. In 1985, he organized with Professors Alexander Shtromas, Morton A. Kaplan and 90 sovietologists, in Geneva, Switzerland, a conference on "The Fall of the Soviet Empire: Prospects for Transition to a Post-Soviet World." Observers later stated that this conference not only accurately predicted the end of the Soviet Union, but may have helped guide its peaceful transition. In 1987, in the Philippines, with the guidance of Professors Ilpyong J. Kim and Morton A. Kaplan, a similar study with 90 sinologists was conducted on "China in a New Era: Challenges and Opportunities." Then in 1989, in London, England, with the guidance of Professor Edwards Shils he organized a conference of 90 experts on democratic government titled "Liberal Democratic Societies: The Present State and Future Prospects." He edited Morality and Religion in Liberal Democratic Societies, one of the seven books published from this conference. Anderson also serves as President of the Minnesota Legislative Evaluation Assembly, of which he has been a member evaluating the Minnesota legislature since 1999.

Editorial Reviews

“In his clearly articulated interpretation and “report card” on the current status of America’s national “mission statement” (Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness) Gordon Anderson seeks to accomplish through peaceful, critical, and surgical analysis the objectives advocated by Thomas Jefferson in his provocative suggestion for the rewriting of the United States Constitution every couple of decades.

Cognizant of the radical developments tha

Washinton College of Law - Nicholas N. Kittrie

“In Life Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness, Gordon Anderson continues his penetrating analysis of the American constitutional system, of the “worms” that have infected it, and of a restored constitutional structure that will enable it to fill the noble mission the Founding Fathers intended for it.”

Emeritus, University of Chicago - Morton A. Kaplan

Critical needs besiege the United States. Gordon Anderson’s “state of the union” book rises above partisan politics to identify fundamental steps that all Americans need to take in perilous times to bolster the nation’s commitment to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. His outlook well informed by sound historical understanding, Anderson advances bold public policy strategies, grounded in a political philosophy that emphasizes personal responsibility, the com

Claremont McKenna College - John K. Roth

“This book does a wonderful job explaining how our evolving political-economic system has moved in a direction not intended by the framers of the U.S. Constitution. The primary undermining of our political system is attributed to several factors: judicial activism, erosion of checks and balances, a tendency for our Federal government and institutions in general to become more centralized, deviating from the goal of subsidiarity, and the deleterious economic impact caused by rent-seeking l

Dean, Alex G. McKenna School of Business - Gary Quinlivan

“Smart, balanced, and wonderfully readable, Life Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness Version 4.0 is the perfect antidote to the malaise that seems to be encompassing vast segments of American society. Mired in two wars, and experiencing the most severe economic contraction since the depression, the United States seems to have lost its way. To many, the basic principles and beliefs that made the United States a great country are no longer applicable in today’s world. Gordon Anderso

Naval Postgraduate School - Robert Looney