Category Archives: New Book Releases

Dog Ear Publishing releases “Government Is Good: An Unapologetic Defense of a Vital Institution” by Douglas Amy.

A political science professor tackles recent criticisms of the U.S. government, a full-blown movement that he says is getting worse. This new book released by Dog Ear Publishing focuses on the benefits of government and how reductions in programs and regulations have affected negatively Americans. The author also describes government’s faults and proposes possible solutions to fixing some of them and putting government in a more positive light.

The author takes on what he sees as an anti-government movement and backs up his claims that critics of government highly exaggerate its ineffectiveness. “Conservatives and libertarians have demonized government, attacked basic safety net programs like Medicare, and undermined vital regulations that protect consumers, investors, workers, and the environment,” Douglas Amy writes in this new book. He calls for the public to support the country’s government and its power to improve lives.

“Government Is Good” focuses first on the benefits of government for society, chronicling an average middle-class American’s life and describing how government programs support that life. In this first section, Amy also provides examples of government achievements that may have been forgotten, such as the role government plays in disease prevention, workplace safety, and basic science research. . The book’s second section features descriptions of cuts in social programs and regulations and how they have affected Americans across the country. It tackles such tough topics as tax cuts,  government deficits, and the scapegoating of government.

Amy freely admits that government and its accompanying bureaucracy are not perfect. In fact, the final section offers his analysis of how to improve government, recognizing its faults and proposing several reforms. Chapter headings themselves reveal Amy’s thinking: What is Really Wrong with American Government, How to Fix American Government and Revive Democracy, and Building a Pro-Government Campaign. He provides specific examples of how individuals can help revitalize government – through supporting campaign finance reform, talking correctly about government and reducing stereotypes. Amy makes other suggestions, such as the government better publicizing what Americans get for their tax dollars, and a shift in media coverage. “It should be part of the media’s civic obligation to give the American public more accurate information about the role that government is playing in their lives,” he writes.

Author Douglas Amy, professor of politics at Mount Holyoke College, created governmentis good.com, the website that inspired this book. Amy’s book “Real Choices/New Voices: How Proportional Representation Elections Could Revitalize American Democracy” earned the George H. Hallett Award given by the American Political Science Association.

For additional information, please visit www.governmentisgoodthebook.com. Professor Amy may be contacted at damy@mtholyoke.edu.

Government Is Good: An Unapologetic Defense of a Vital Institution

Douglas Amy

Dog Ear Publishing

ISBN: 978-1-4575-0658-1                        320 pages                         $19.95 US

Available at Ingram, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble
and fine bookstores everywhere

About Dog Ear Publishing, LLC

Dog Ear Publishing offers completely customized self-publishing services for independent authors. We provide cost-effective, fast, and highly profitable services to publish and distribute independently published books. Our book publishing and distribution services reach worldwide. Dog Ear authors retain all rights and complete creative control throughout the entire self-publishing process. Self-publishing services are available globally at www.dogearpublishing.net and from our offices in Indianapolis.

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