The new book by Grover Norquist, President of Americans For Tax Reform (and member of GRIH's Board of Advisors),  is an invitation of sorts to the many different shades of people--from gun-rights advocates to business owners to home schoolers to religious types--who inhabit the conservative demographic. It is to Norquist's credit that he has made the movement not only welcoming, but also large enough to accommodate the various ranks that comprise the 'Leave Us Alone Coalition'.

Norquist's book arrives at a very crucial time, not only during an election cycle, but also during a period of growing citizen frustration. There is a sense of dissatisfaction openly voiced by conservatives towards Republican leadership. This discontentment could serve to foster revision and restoration, setting the stage for a new course or restoring a formerly forgotten one.  

Capitalizing upon this stage of infancy and uncertainty, Leave Us Alone takes one of the first and most crucial steps to resurrecting a movement: recognizing its members. Here, Norquist’s book serves an invaluable role. Throughout myriad pithy chapters, he illuminates the common fraternity of diverse and, seemingly, far removed groups of voters. Perhaps the single most important cord uniting these groups is illustrated by Norquist's recounting of a tale by former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of the “story of the fat man and the thin man.” As Netanyahu explains, Israeli boot camp includes a drill where each soldier hoists the man to his right upon his back and races a hundred yards distance. Not surprisingly, the soldier who carried the thin man was able to beat the soldier assigned to the fat man. The comparison drawn is that the soldier is the private sector and the fat man is the government. A “fat” government makes the possibility of a good run for the private economy a dim hope.

One of the most important aspects of this Norquist's book is his ability to scrutinize the present state of affairs in the Republican Party. Norquist distinguishes between Red and Blue states while addressing a third category, the Purple states, or Lincoln Republicans. The Republican leadership of Purple states fails to counteract the trends of expanding government and lacks any strong distinction from its Democrat counterpart. The reason for this, Norquist postulates, is the willingness of Lincoln Republicans, the members of the "Takings Coalition", to operate from within the government, ever expanding its role and size. Distinguished from Lincoln Republicans, Reagan Republicans oppose tax hikes and generally lead and inspire the 'Leave Us Alone Coalition'.

Given Norquist’s accomplishments with Americans for Tax Reform, it is no surprise that his book contains some trenchant commentary on the more insidious aspects of taxation today. The first essential point he draws is that taxes are important, now more than ever. The second point is the paradoxical truth that whatever the merits of increasing tax revenue, the most direct means of fattening the state’s coffers is to cut tax rates. A stimulated economy is a strong economy. The stimulation that is most appropriate for economic growth is created by low taxes which increase the individuals’ incentives to produce and save. Given the insatiability of the human appetite, when people are allowed to keep what they earn they tend to want to earn more.

An aspect of this book that should ensure its wide appeal is Norquist's ability to speak persuasively and yet simply, without resorting to obtuse language or complicated figures and graphs. This manner of writing is appropriate given the subject. The differences between the 'Leave Us Alone' and the 'Takings Coalitions' are becoming ever starker and simpler to see. There's no longer any room for indecisiveness or blind party loyalty. For those who wish to enjoy the continued life of the strongest and wealthiest nation on the earth, the choice is obvious. A repressed nation or a free one. A stifled economy or a competitive one. A people of many burdens or a people of self-reliance and prosperity. The objective is as clear as it has ever been. But recently the correct path to take towards that vision seems to have fallen into question. Norquist decisively outlines a clearer path that members of the 'Leave Us Alone Coalition' will be happy to journey together upon.

-GIR-

Former Hawaii resident Jeremy Hicks is a recent graduate of Cal-Poly San Luis Obispo. He is a summer intern at Americans for Tax Reform in Washington, DC. While in Washington he receives a housing allowance from GRIH.