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Positive Populism: Revolutionary Ideas to Rebuild Economic Security, Family, and Community in America
The elites still can't believe Donald Trump won or that Britain voted for Brexit. But what’s next for the populist revolution and for the people who believe in it?
Ìý
Fox News host and former government insider Steve Hilton shows how populism can be a positive force for improving lives, with revolutionary ideas to restore the economic security that working Americans once took for granted, and rebuild the ties of family, community and nation that have been ripped apart by decades of policies that favored big government, big business, and the powerful.
Ìý
Recounting his own journey from immigrant roots to the heart of power - and his deeply personal battles with the permanent bureaucracy once there - Hilton vividly describes the scale of change that's needed if the true promise of the populist revolution is to be delivered,
Ìý
� An unprecedented assault on centralized government and the administrative state to make sure “Drain The Swamp� is not just a slogan
� A completely fresh approach to jobs, schools and skills so every working American can live on what they earn
� Practical steps to reverse the disaster of family breakdown so that every child can be raised in a stable, loving home
� Ideas to revitalize our communities by giving citizens real control
Ìý
Whether by challenging the excess power of corporations in our economy or the corrupt influence of donors and lobbyists in our government, the ideas in this book echo the intent of America’s founders by taking power from the ruling class and putting it in the hands of the people.
For too long, populism has been defined by those who despise it. By focusing on what populism is for , and not just what it’s against, Hilton provides a coherent philosophy and practical blueprint for how the movement can have an impact beyond one election cycle, and in people's everyday lives. That’s Positive Populism.
Ìý
Fox News host and former government insider Steve Hilton shows how populism can be a positive force for improving lives, with revolutionary ideas to restore the economic security that working Americans once took for granted, and rebuild the ties of family, community and nation that have been ripped apart by decades of policies that favored big government, big business, and the powerful.
Ìý
Recounting his own journey from immigrant roots to the heart of power - and his deeply personal battles with the permanent bureaucracy once there - Hilton vividly describes the scale of change that's needed if the true promise of the populist revolution is to be delivered,
Ìý
� An unprecedented assault on centralized government and the administrative state to make sure “Drain The Swamp� is not just a slogan
� A completely fresh approach to jobs, schools and skills so every working American can live on what they earn
� Practical steps to reverse the disaster of family breakdown so that every child can be raised in a stable, loving home
� Ideas to revitalize our communities by giving citizens real control
Ìý
Whether by challenging the excess power of corporations in our economy or the corrupt influence of donors and lobbyists in our government, the ideas in this book echo the intent of America’s founders by taking power from the ruling class and putting it in the hands of the people.
For too long, populism has been defined by those who despise it. By focusing on what populism is for , and not just what it’s against, Hilton provides a coherent philosophy and practical blueprint for how the movement can have an impact beyond one election cycle, and in people's everyday lives. That’s Positive Populism.
- GenresPoliticsNonfiction
223 pages, Hardcover
Published September 4, 2018
42 people are currently reading
129 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 24, 2018
I love the overall idea here--that political phenomena such as Brexit and the popularity of Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders are signs that people are ready for a change, and we had better pay close attention and be intentional about what that change looks like. Hilton offers some interesting ideas and good food for thought. The policy suggestions here are not the same old party line policies that we hear about all the time--I found myself disagreeing and agreeing with roughly equal portions of what Hilton set out here, and I think that's a great thing! It got me thinking about the values and priorities that underlie my political beliefs, which I think is a great self-examination exercise for anyone.
However, there are some issues here that really undermine Hilton's ideas. To begin with, a book like this really needs footnotes or references. Hilton regularly uses statistics and studies to support his policy suggestions, but without citing the sources of these points they are meaningless. Hilton also does not take the time to explain what he is using terms like "open border policy" and "Deep State" to refer to. In an early chapter about immigration, Hilton rails against "open border" policies and those that support them, but because he never defines what he means by "open border" this comes across as a straw man argument. Finally, some of the policy ideas that Hilton presents conflict with each other. For instance, early on he suggests "green/brown zoning"--either you can build on a piece of land or you cannot, and if you're the landowner you can build whatever you want with no restrictions. Later, he suggests that neighborhood associations have some say over what is built in their own neighborhood. These two ideas are not necessarily incompatible, but it feels like Hilton/his editor decided to skip giving the book a final read-through for cohesion.
It's a shame that these issues are here, because I think it will make it hard for anyone who is not already familiar with Hilton and his show on Fox News to read this book and really hear his ideas. The political self-examination process can be uncomfortable, for many the messiness here will provide a too-easy excuse to avoid it. This lack of attention to detail and cohesion, coupled with the fact that Hilton's face is on the cover, makes this feel more like an attempt to capitalize on Hilton's name recognition, and less like a real effort to find a way forward in our fractured political climate. We need this sort of thinking, though--if Democrats and Republicans remain stubbornly committed to their own ideal policies and refuse to entertain any sort of compromise, we'll all remain stuck in an endless game of tug-of-war. So, I hope to see future books by Hilton or others in the same vein, backed by better data and a little more careful thought than what I see here.
However, there are some issues here that really undermine Hilton's ideas. To begin with, a book like this really needs footnotes or references. Hilton regularly uses statistics and studies to support his policy suggestions, but without citing the sources of these points they are meaningless. Hilton also does not take the time to explain what he is using terms like "open border policy" and "Deep State" to refer to. In an early chapter about immigration, Hilton rails against "open border" policies and those that support them, but because he never defines what he means by "open border" this comes across as a straw man argument. Finally, some of the policy ideas that Hilton presents conflict with each other. For instance, early on he suggests "green/brown zoning"--either you can build on a piece of land or you cannot, and if you're the landowner you can build whatever you want with no restrictions. Later, he suggests that neighborhood associations have some say over what is built in their own neighborhood. These two ideas are not necessarily incompatible, but it feels like Hilton/his editor decided to skip giving the book a final read-through for cohesion.
It's a shame that these issues are here, because I think it will make it hard for anyone who is not already familiar with Hilton and his show on Fox News to read this book and really hear his ideas. The political self-examination process can be uncomfortable, for many the messiness here will provide a too-easy excuse to avoid it. This lack of attention to detail and cohesion, coupled with the fact that Hilton's face is on the cover, makes this feel more like an attempt to capitalize on Hilton's name recognition, and less like a real effort to find a way forward in our fractured political climate. We need this sort of thinking, though--if Democrats and Republicans remain stubbornly committed to their own ideal policies and refuse to entertain any sort of compromise, we'll all remain stuck in an endless game of tug-of-war. So, I hope to see future books by Hilton or others in the same vein, backed by better data and a little more careful thought than what I see here.
September 24, 2018
I love the overall idea here--that political phenomena such as Brexit and the popularity of Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders are signs that people are ready for a change, and we had better pay close attention and be intentional about what that change looks like. Hilton offers some interesting ideas and good food for thought. The policy suggestions here are not the same old party line policies that we hear about all the time--I found myself disagreeing and agreeing with roughly equal portions of what Hilton set out here, and I think that's a great thing! It got me thinking about the values and priorities that underlie my political beliefs, which I think is a great self-examination exercise for anyone.
However, there are some issues here that really undermine Hilton's ideas. To begin with, a book like this really needs footnotes or references. Hilton regularly uses statistics and studies to support his policy suggestions, but without citing the sources of these points they are meaningless. Hilton also does not take the time to explain what he is using terms like "open border policy" and "Deep State" to refer to. In an early chapter about immigration, Hilton rails against "open border" policies and those that support them, but because he never defines what he means by "open border" this comes across as a straw man argument. Finally, some of the policy ideas that Hilton presents conflict with each other. For instance, early on he suggests "green/brown zoning"--either you can build on a piece of land or you cannot, and if you're the landowner you can build whatever you want with no restrictions. Later, he suggests that neighborhood associations have some say over what is built in their own neighborhood. These two ideas are not necessarily incompatible, but it feels like Hilton/his editor decided to skip giving the book a final read-through for cohesion.
It's a shame that these issues are here, because I think it will make it hard for anyone who is not already familiar with Hilton and his show on Fox News to read this book and really hear his ideas. The political self-examination process can be uncomfortable, for many the messiness here will provide a too-easy excuse to avoid it. This lack of attention to detail and cohesion, coupled with the fact that Hilton's face is on the cover, makes this feel more like an attempt to capitalize on Hilton's name recognition, and less like a real effort to find a way forward in our fractured political climate. We need this sort of thinking, though--if Democrats and Republicans remain stubbornly committed to their own ideal policies and refuse to entertain any sort of compromise, we'll all remain stuck in an endless game of tug-of-war. So, I hope to see future books by Hilton or others in the same vein, backed by better data and a little more careful thought than what I see here.
However, there are some issues here that really undermine Hilton's ideas. To begin with, a book like this really needs footnotes or references. Hilton regularly uses statistics and studies to support his policy suggestions, but without citing the sources of these points they are meaningless. Hilton also does not take the time to explain what he is using terms like "open border policy" and "Deep State" to refer to. In an early chapter about immigration, Hilton rails against "open border" policies and those that support them, but because he never defines what he means by "open border" this comes across as a straw man argument. Finally, some of the policy ideas that Hilton presents conflict with each other. For instance, early on he suggests "green/brown zoning"--either you can build on a piece of land or you cannot, and if you're the landowner you can build whatever you want with no restrictions. Later, he suggests that neighborhood associations have some say over what is built in their own neighborhood. These two ideas are not necessarily incompatible, but it feels like Hilton/his editor decided to skip giving the book a final read-through for cohesion.
It's a shame that these issues are here, because I think it will make it hard for anyone who is not already familiar with Hilton and his show on Fox News to read this book and really hear his ideas. The political self-examination process can be uncomfortable, for many the messiness here will provide a too-easy excuse to avoid it. This lack of attention to detail and cohesion, coupled with the fact that Hilton's face is on the cover, makes this feel more like an attempt to capitalize on Hilton's name recognition, and less like a real effort to find a way forward in our fractured political climate. We need this sort of thinking, though--if Democrats and Republicans remain stubbornly committed to their own ideal policies and refuse to entertain any sort of compromise, we'll all remain stuck in an endless game of tug-of-war. So, I hope to see future books by Hilton or others in the same vein, backed by better data and a little more careful thought than what I see here.
September 21, 2018
I am a hard core believer of capitalism so the first few chapters were hard for me to absorb but as I considered the authors reasoning, I paused.
“But the official poverty rate doesn’t come close to fully capturing the experience of the working poor. Since the 1970s, at least half - and maybe two thirds - of Americans, despite growth in the economy overall, have been at best treading water.�
I struggle with the suggestions of health care and home ownership for all as they scream of large government rules and regulations to achieve but I appreciate the sentiment of finding ways to help people succeed.
The author got my attention when he blended suggestions of combining great things of free market with those ideas of a more liberal bent. He makes the case that the robber barons of our day are large Silicon Valley tech companies. He suggests that anti-trust should be investigated for the likes of Facebook, Google and Amazon. This is important to consider.
Mostly I appreciate how the author offers REAL ideas. He focuses on families and communities for ways to strengthen our economy and all our lives. It’s easy to offer criticism. This author offers solutions. Who knows if all of them will work but at least this book is positive. Refreshing!!
“But the official poverty rate doesn’t come close to fully capturing the experience of the working poor. Since the 1970s, at least half - and maybe two thirds - of Americans, despite growth in the economy overall, have been at best treading water.�
I struggle with the suggestions of health care and home ownership for all as they scream of large government rules and regulations to achieve but I appreciate the sentiment of finding ways to help people succeed.
The author got my attention when he blended suggestions of combining great things of free market with those ideas of a more liberal bent. He makes the case that the robber barons of our day are large Silicon Valley tech companies. He suggests that anti-trust should be investigated for the likes of Facebook, Google and Amazon. This is important to consider.
Mostly I appreciate how the author offers REAL ideas. He focuses on families and communities for ways to strengthen our economy and all our lives. It’s easy to offer criticism. This author offers solutions. Who knows if all of them will work but at least this book is positive. Refreshing!!
July 2, 2019
As an independent thinker who enjoys Hilton's columns on "positive populism," I looked forward to this book. I thought it started strong but fizzled for me. A great book on populism is "National Populism" by Eatwell & Goodwin.
July 10, 2020
Lots of food for thought. I especially liked his ideas for transparency in government. And the suggestion that members of Congress recuse themselves from any debates about companies (or entities) that give them money. Other solutions he proposes need more consideration. Still, a worthwhile read.
January 27, 2019
This book and thought provoking ideas. Interesting point of view from a former British citizen. Some gaps on how US communities and neighborhoods actually work.
June 6, 2019
This book was a gift, and when I saw the author was a Fox News host I was quite confused. But he grew up in the UK, so he's a European-style conservative.
And to his credit, there are some pretty good ideas in here! Some of my favorites are: more local (i.e. neighborhood) control over things that make sense, a national service program, more help/resources for parents, serious antitrust enforcement, getting rid of noncompete clauses, and a living wage(!).
There are also some less-good ideas: in particular he's proudly a nationalist (not a white nationalist, mind you), and he was strongly pro-Brexit when he worked in the UK. And he's enthusiastic about "green/brown" zoning, which means that land is either zoned for nature (like a park) or for any sort of development. (I don't really know how to feel about that. Maybe it's good?)
The book has almost a verbal tic about "elites" - it goes on and on about how elites are trying to keep you, the people, down, and it's a bit excessive and maybe even a little dangerous.
One amusing running thread is that in the introduction he talks about how liberals and conservatives are both wrong, and only by looking for pragmatic solutions can we find things that will benefit the people. This is the kind of thing that sounds great but breaks down pretty quickly. For example, in the section about health care he says that
- Democrats want universal coverage
- Republicans want competition and consumer choice
- There have been some scandals in England's NHS (National Health Service); it's not so great!
- But actually people in England are very proud of the NHS despite its problems
- And obviously people shouldn't go bankrupt because of medical bills
- So clearly the pragmatic middle ground is the government paying for healthcare, but the healthcare itself is provided by private doctors.
And I was like...umm, great, but this is clearly a leftist/Democratic position! Have you met the modern Republican party? You should watch some of the other shows on your network!
Anyway, there are a lot of interesting ideas here and it was a fairly easy read. Would recommend, even though I don't agree with all of his policy ideas.
And to his credit, there are some pretty good ideas in here! Some of my favorites are: more local (i.e. neighborhood) control over things that make sense, a national service program, more help/resources for parents, serious antitrust enforcement, getting rid of noncompete clauses, and a living wage(!).
There are also some less-good ideas: in particular he's proudly a nationalist (not a white nationalist, mind you), and he was strongly pro-Brexit when he worked in the UK. And he's enthusiastic about "green/brown" zoning, which means that land is either zoned for nature (like a park) or for any sort of development. (I don't really know how to feel about that. Maybe it's good?)
The book has almost a verbal tic about "elites" - it goes on and on about how elites are trying to keep you, the people, down, and it's a bit excessive and maybe even a little dangerous.
One amusing running thread is that in the introduction he talks about how liberals and conservatives are both wrong, and only by looking for pragmatic solutions can we find things that will benefit the people. This is the kind of thing that sounds great but breaks down pretty quickly. For example, in the section about health care he says that
- Democrats want universal coverage
- Republicans want competition and consumer choice
- There have been some scandals in England's NHS (National Health Service); it's not so great!
- But actually people in England are very proud of the NHS despite its problems
- And obviously people shouldn't go bankrupt because of medical bills
- So clearly the pragmatic middle ground is the government paying for healthcare, but the healthcare itself is provided by private doctors.
And I was like...umm, great, but this is clearly a leftist/Democratic position! Have you met the modern Republican party? You should watch some of the other shows on your network!
Anyway, there are a lot of interesting ideas here and it was a fairly easy read. Would recommend, even though I don't agree with all of his policy ideas.
September 12, 2018
One of my favorite Fox News channel contributors, Steve Hilton - host of The Next Revolution has penned an insightful book - concisely providing an amazingly thoughtful and helpful analysis of today's untenable situation of our society and government. He offers suggestions on how to take back control of our government - and restore it to the people, rather than the political elite of both the Democratic and Republican Parties. He points out the deleterious effect of the non-elected career bureaucrats � the "Deep State" and "The Swamp" He offers fresh approaches based upon on his own personal experience from battles with bureaucracy while serving as senior advisor to the former UK Prime Minister David Cameron.
His approach is to attempt a decentralization of the government... making it more responsive to a State-run approach. Other reasonable goals are discussed - such as establishing a truly free market that is open to competition � fostering growth of small business start-ups. Pointing out the positive effect of countering Big Business , Big Government, Big Pharm � and even the insurance and banking industry. These represent just a few thoughts on how to achieve a Positive Populism Movement. Also highlighted is the ever present corruption in our present government � perhaps improved by term limits,and not allowing lobbyists to have such a great effect on our legislators. He offers fresh approaches in regards to necessity of educational changes �. on the importance of the family unit... and much more.
Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for providing an Uncorrected Proof of this insightful book in exchange for an honest review.
His approach is to attempt a decentralization of the government... making it more responsive to a State-run approach. Other reasonable goals are discussed - such as establishing a truly free market that is open to competition � fostering growth of small business start-ups. Pointing out the positive effect of countering Big Business , Big Government, Big Pharm � and even the insurance and banking industry. These represent just a few thoughts on how to achieve a Positive Populism Movement. Also highlighted is the ever present corruption in our present government � perhaps improved by term limits,and not allowing lobbyists to have such a great effect on our legislators. He offers fresh approaches in regards to necessity of educational changes �. on the importance of the family unit... and much more.
Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for providing an Uncorrected Proof of this insightful book in exchange for an honest review.
January 14, 2019
Very pleasantly surprised by this book. Adds to my knowledge of populism and how it has swept over the US and Western Europe.
"Recounting his own journey from immigrant roots to the heart of power - and his deeply personal battles with the permanent bureaucracy once there - Hilton vividly describes the scale of change that's needed if the true promise of the populist revolution is to be delivered, including:
� An unprecedented assault on centralized government and the administrative state to make sure “Drain The Swamp� is not just a slogan
� A completely fresh approach to jobs, schools and skills so every working American can live on what they earn
� Practical steps to reverse the disaster of family breakdown so that every child can be raised in a stable, loving home
� Ideas to revitalize our communities by giving citizens real control"
Finally, I especially like his chapter summaries.
"Recounting his own journey from immigrant roots to the heart of power - and his deeply personal battles with the permanent bureaucracy once there - Hilton vividly describes the scale of change that's needed if the true promise of the populist revolution is to be delivered, including:
� An unprecedented assault on centralized government and the administrative state to make sure “Drain The Swamp� is not just a slogan
� A completely fresh approach to jobs, schools and skills so every working American can live on what they earn
� Practical steps to reverse the disaster of family breakdown so that every child can be raised in a stable, loving home
� Ideas to revitalize our communities by giving citizens real control"
Finally, I especially like his chapter summaries.
September 19, 2018
Required reading
Not only thought provoking but eye opening to what’s been happening the last many decades. We are facing a cultural war that must result in stronger, united communities. Power back to the states as it was designed!!
Not only thought provoking but eye opening to what’s been happening the last many decades. We are facing a cultural war that must result in stronger, united communities. Power back to the states as it was designed!!
October 22, 2018
A must read for every person in the United States. The book moved at a good pace and was full of really good information about our economy and government. I liked Mr. Hilton's urging for positive actions.
October 15, 2018
One person's view of the world. Readable but impractical.
February 21, 2019
Very thought-provoking.
September 19, 2018
If, like me, you want to be a revolutionary for the long-haul and effectively make a difference, I have a book for you: Road Map for Revolutionaries: Resistance, Activism, and Advocacy for All, by Elisa Camahort Page, Carolyn Gerin, and Jamia Wilson. This is an engaging, informative read that will be on my bedside table for a long time to come. If you´re concerned that protesting and demonstrating don´t work, the book will tell you why you´re wrong. If you´re worried that you just don´t know how to be a good ally, you´ll find out how to change that. You will also learn how to become a protest ninja, protecting yourself and knowing your rights, while standing up for what you believe in.
The book is divided into five parts: Protests and Civil Disobedience, Protecting Yourself Online and Off, Economic Pressure, Getting Into (And Out Of) The Government, and Reform School: Reforming Other Institutions in Our Lives. My personal favorite is the section about the U.S. government. Here´s the thing. Although I´m a U.S. citizen from birth (my mother´s side of the family hails from Pennsylvania), I attended school abroad. When I moved to Florida from Spain 14 years ago, although I had voted often in the primaries, I had no idea how the U.S. government really worked. And while I don´t have an issue admitting this, if you dig around a little, it turns out that even people who are born and raised in this country don´t have a clue either! There is an entire chapter in the book that explains in simple lay terms what the local, federal and state government does. I was thrilled to understand it!
The book is structured in such a way that you can read it from beginning to end or use it as a reference book and pick a chapter or section to help you move forward in one particular aspect of activism. Each of the sections of the book includes Field Notes: Terms and Concepts to Know. You will learn about colonialism, civil disobedience, Columbusing, privilege (and how to own it) and so much more. Whether you are a seasoned activist or just getting started, Road Map for Revolutionaries will meet you where you are now and, most importantly, it will help us all rise and get to where we want to go- together.
The book is divided into five parts: Protests and Civil Disobedience, Protecting Yourself Online and Off, Economic Pressure, Getting Into (And Out Of) The Government, and Reform School: Reforming Other Institutions in Our Lives. My personal favorite is the section about the U.S. government. Here´s the thing. Although I´m a U.S. citizen from birth (my mother´s side of the family hails from Pennsylvania), I attended school abroad. When I moved to Florida from Spain 14 years ago, although I had voted often in the primaries, I had no idea how the U.S. government really worked. And while I don´t have an issue admitting this, if you dig around a little, it turns out that even people who are born and raised in this country don´t have a clue either! There is an entire chapter in the book that explains in simple lay terms what the local, federal and state government does. I was thrilled to understand it!
The book is structured in such a way that you can read it from beginning to end or use it as a reference book and pick a chapter or section to help you move forward in one particular aspect of activism. Each of the sections of the book includes Field Notes: Terms and Concepts to Know. You will learn about colonialism, civil disobedience, Columbusing, privilege (and how to own it) and so much more. Whether you are a seasoned activist or just getting started, Road Map for Revolutionaries will meet you where you are now and, most importantly, it will help us all rise and get to where we want to go- together.
July 3, 2024
I found this book in my library system as a lonely defender of a populist agenda rather than fearmongering or describing what they are against but providing concrete solutions for those ills. The proposals can be divided into introducing a competitive market approach to public policy such as a business friendly living wage (a minimum wage but deductible from taxes) alongside familiar school and healthcare choice, decentralizing decision making down to the smallest level of the nation, local government and ultimately neighborhoods and families, and making government more accountable to voters and elected representatives rather than to donors or the bureaucracy. All of these attend to profound anxieties of modern life in the economy, family and community when control over people’s own lives gets further away and restore a human scale to politics.
Steve comes across as an outside observer of American society who can see its strengths and weaknesses and wants it to work. He describes his family’s experience in communist Hungary and an absent father to his experience with the David Cameron government, not a populist and Great Britain got worse under his and the Tories� watch but the proposals he describes at least sound worthwhile. There is a certain affinity between ‘reformocon� proposals (such as Cameron’s Big Society as opposed to Big Government and Thatcher’s TINA-there is no such thing as society) and populism as they recognize the same problems while the former provides concrete proposals without being paternalist while the latter I regard as more of a political strategy and manner for the redress of grievances.
Steve comes across as an outside observer of American society who can see its strengths and weaknesses and wants it to work. He describes his family’s experience in communist Hungary and an absent father to his experience with the David Cameron government, not a populist and Great Britain got worse under his and the Tories� watch but the proposals he describes at least sound worthwhile. There is a certain affinity between ‘reformocon� proposals (such as Cameron’s Big Society as opposed to Big Government and Thatcher’s TINA-there is no such thing as society) and populism as they recognize the same problems while the former provides concrete proposals without being paternalist while the latter I regard as more of a political strategy and manner for the redress of grievances.
November 11, 2018
I picked it up, put it down and it was honestly a struggle to finish. Creating the story board for this must have been as bad as a root canal. Knowing that he is a Brit gives cause to my big question? If you think you can come here and come up with a plan, basically calling all of those in office dumb, feeling cocky enough to say you have a solution is funny. While there are a few Pro-Trump measures it is really missing the big picture. In my opinion pass on it
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