Our Culture of Pandering - Softcover

Simon, Paul

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0809327333 ISBN 13: 9780809327331

Publisher: Southern Illinois University Pr, 2006

Synopsis

As we broaden our views, embrace our differences, foster advancements in science and technology, and collaboratively strengthen the political, social, and educational underpinnings from which we build informed and productive lives, we have much to be proud of as a nation and as a people. But we are tempted - particularly during times of political unrest and unbridled patriotism - to ignore the far-reaching repercussions of a society that caters to money and power. In ""Our Culture of Pandering"", former U.S. Senator Paul Simon interrogates the arenas of politics, media, religion, and education to decry the disturbing practices that confuse public service with profit-making ventures or popularity contests. Simon suggests proactive, long-term solutions to the problems that threaten our country's moral, financial, and intellectual well-being - problems that are increasingly exacerbated by our culture of panderin.

About this title

Review

" Finally, somebody has come out and said it: The leaders of our country no longer lead us, they pander to us. Nobody could have delivered the message and the lament stronger and with more credibility than Paul Simon. Read his book and then help him stop the pandering!" -- Jim Lehrer
" Paul Simon, in another of his powerful treatises, has written the guidebook for anyone interested in the future of our democracy. It exalts the element too often missing in those who would lead us in commerce, government, the media, or even in religion and education. The element is courage-- courage to follow one' s conscience rather than yielding to self-serving ambition in the pursuit of personal success. He presents as well a veritable encyclopedia of our nation' s most pressing problems. It is a challenging call to arms for citizen participation in solving them." -- Walter Cronkite

" At a time when our native intelligence has never been under heavier assault, when the ersatz patriot and toady are in the saddle, one of our most respected public servants, Senator Paul Simon, challenges us to wake up and smell the coffee: to challenge our culture of pandering. Never has the time been more ripe for this book." -- Studs Terkel " "Our Culture of Pandering" is a gem of a little book. It should be handy to every journalist and citizen who cares and participates in public affairs in this great country so aptly described by Paul Simon' s fellow Illinoisan, Abraham Lincoln, as ' the last best hope of earth.' " -- Hugh Sidey
" Simon passionately believes that politicians, the media, religious leaders, and educators have, individually and collectively, abandoned their responsibility to lead. . . . In doing so, says Simon, they have made us vulnerable to future political, moral, and economic disasters." "-- Publishers Weekly
"" [Simon] contends that our leaders in politics, the media, religion, and education are guilty of pandering, of giving in to what is easy instead of fighting for what is right. . . . [H]e deftly outlines the problems, and he should be listened to." "-- Booklist"

" Retired U.S. Senator Paul Simon says we now live in a culture that panders to whatever is sexy, profitable, easy, and quick, and it' s destroying our nation. These are strong words, but the maverick Illinois Democrat marshals examples from across the spectrum to back up hisclaims in a new book, "Our Culture of Pandering,"" "-- Parade
"" Simon decries the pandering style that he argues has displaced standards of integrity in public service leadership not only in politics, but in the media, religion, and education as well. . . . With its wealth of policy-relevant detail, this book offers not merely coherent criticism of leadership failure, but constructive insights into the tasks and possibilities of public service. Highly recommended [for] all levels." "-- Choice"
""
" In too many areas we have spawned ' leadership' that does not lead, that panders to our whims rather than telling us the truth, that follows the crowd rather than challenging us, that weakens us rather than strengthening us. It is easy to go downhill, and we are now following that easy path. Pandering is not illegal, but it is immoral. It is doing the convenient when the right course demands inconvenience and courage." -- Paul Simon, from the Preface
" Finally, somebody has come out and said it: The leaders of our country no longer lead us, they pander to us. Nobody could have delivered the message and the lament stronger and with more credibility than Paul Simon. Read his book and then help him stop the pandering! " -- Jim Lehrer
" Paul Simon, in another of his powerful treatises, has written the guidebook for anyone interested in the future of our democracy. It exalts the element too often missing in those who would lead us in commerce, government, the media, or even in religion and education. The element is courage -- courage to follow one ' s conscience rather than yielding to self-serving ambition in the pursuit of personal success. He presents as well a veritable encyclopedia of our nation ' s most pressing problems. It is a challenging call to arms for citizen participation in solving them. " -- Walter Cronkite

" At a time when our native intelligence has never been under heavier assault, when the ersatz patriot and toady are in the saddle, one of our most respected public servants, Senator Paul Simon, challenges us to wake up and smell the coffee: to challenge our culture of pandering. Never has the time been more ripe for this book. " -- Studs Terkel & nbsp; " Our Culture of Pandering is a gem of a little book. It should be handy to every journalist and citizen who cares and participates in public affairs in this great country so aptly described by Paul Simon ' s fellow Illinoisan, Abraham Lincoln, as ' the last best hope of earth. ' " -- Hugh Sidey
& nbsp;
" Simon passionately believes that politicians, the media, religious leaders, and educators have, individually and collectively, abandoned their responsibility to lead. . . . In doing so, says Simon, they have made us vulnerable to future political, moral, and economic disasters. " -- Publishers Weekly
& nbsp;
" [Simon] contends that our leaders in politics, the media, religion, and education are guilty of pandering, of giving in to what is easy instead of fighting for what is right. . . . [H]e deftly outlines the problems, and he should be listenedto. " & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; -- Booklist
& nbsp;

" Retired U.S. Senator Paul Simon says we now live in a culture that panders to whatever is sexy, profitable, easy, and quick, and it ' s destroying our nation. These are strong words, but the maverick Illinois Democrat marshals examples from across the spectrum to back up his claims in a new book, Our Culture of Pandering . " -- Parade
& nbsp;
" Simon decries the pandering style that he argues has displaced standards of integrity in public service leadership not only in politics, but in the media, religion, and education as well. . . . With its wealth of policy-relevant detail, this book offers not merely coherent criticism of leadership failure, but constructive insights into the tasks and possibilities of public service. Highly recommended [for] all levels. " -- Choice
& nbsp;
" In too many areas we have spawned ' leadership ' that does not lead, that panders to our whims rather than telling us the truth, that follows the crowd rather than challenging us, that weakens us rather than strengthening us. It is easy to go downhill, and we are now following that easy path. Pandering is not illegal, but it is immoral. It is doing the convenient when the right course demandsinconvenience and courage. " -- Paul Simon, from the Preface
"Paul Simon, in another of his powerful treatises, has written the guidebook for anyone interested in the future of our democracy. It exalts the element too often missing in those who would lead us in commerce, government, the media, or even in religion and education. The element is courage--courage to follow one's conscience rather than yielding to self-serving ambition in the pursuit of personal success. He presents as well a veritable encyclopedia of our nation's most pressing problems. It is a challenging call to arms for citizen participation in solving them."--Walter Cronkite

"Finally, somebody has come out and said it: The leaders of our country no longer lead us, they pander to us. Nobody could have delivered the message and the lament stronger and with more credibility than Paul Simon. Read his book and then help him stop the pandering!"--Jim Lehrer

"At a time when our native intelligence has never been under heavier assault, when the ersatz patriot and toady are in the saddle, one of our most respected public servants, Senator Paul Simon, challenges us to wake up and smell the coffee: to challenge our culture of pandering. Never has the time been more ripe for this book."--Studs Terkel ""Our Culture of Pandering" is a gem of a little book. It should be handy to every journalist and citizen who cares and participates in public affairs in this great country so aptly described by Paul Simon's fellow Illinoisan, Abraham Lincoln, as 'the last best hope of earth.'"--Hugh Sidey "Simon passionately believes that politicians, the media, religious leaders, and educators have, individually and collectively, abandoned their responsibility to lead. . . . In doing so, says Simon, they have made us vulnerable to future political, moral, and economic disasters.""--Publishers Weekly ""[Simon] contends that our leaders in politics, the media, religion, and education are guilty of pandering, of giving in to what is easy instead of fighting for what is right. . . . [H]e deftly outlines the problems, and he should be listened to." "--Booklist" "Retired U.S. Senator Paul Simon says we now live in a culture that panders to whatever is sexy, profitable, easy, and quick, and it's destroying our nation. These are strong words, but the maverick Illinois Democrat marshals examples from across the spectrum to back up his claims in a new book, "Our Culture of Pandering,"""--Parade ""Simon decries the pandering style that he argues has displaced standards of integrity in public service leadership not only in politics, but in the media, religion, and educationas well. . . . With its wealth of policy-relevant detail, this book offers not merely coherent criticism of leadership failure, but constructive insights into the tasks and possibilities of public service. Highly recommended [for] all levels.""--Choice""" "In too many areas we have spawned 'leadership' that does not lead, that panders to our whims rather than telling us the truth, that follows the crowd rather than challenging us, that weakens us rather than strengthening us. It is easy to go downhill, and we are now following that easy path. Pandering is not illegal, but it is immoral. It is doing the convenient when the right course demands inconvenience and courage."--Paul Simon, from the Preface

"Finally, somebody has come out and said it: The leaders of our country no longer lead us, they pander to us. Nobody could have delivered the message and the lament stronger and with more credibility than Paul Simon. Read his book and then help him stop the pandering!"--Jim Lehrer

About the Author

The late Paul Simon served as the founding director of the Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He also taught courses in political science, journalism, and history. Prior to leaving the U.S. Senate and joining the SIUC faculty in 1997, Simon ranked as the senior senator from Illinois. In the 104th Congress, he served on the budge labor and human resources, judiciary, and Indian affairs committees.

About this edition

• Publisher: Southern Illinois University Pr
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0809327333
• ISBN 13: 9780809327331
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 224