The other reviews for this book amaze me... it seems that the other reviewers like their authors to relate common sense principles with a common thred of self-serving arrogance. Tip said nothing in this book that everyone doesnt already know. And his constant references to himself in 3rd person get annoying by the 10th page. Who actually refers to themself as "a great man"??? Tip does.
To the uninformed, political popularity that arises from local power would seem to be due to extraordinary abilities in the economic and social power circles of geographic regions. In assessing the impact, however, of the geographic dispersion of power, what becomes evident from genealogical studies is that families grow in power and prestige from intentional, and sometimes, discriminatory and malicious exlusion where power is meant to be concentrated within the "family group," sometimes extended to friends, and even sometimes, to female family members, etc. Contrary to the popular Soprano perspective of increasing power blocs to thwart competition, it is often the usurping of power by closely knit unrelated forceful groups that have been able to break the chain of privileged, presumptive entitlement created by the social aristocracy from which pre-19th Century economic wealth has grown, and often continues to be reserved like the fine champagne it is, and has always been. The difficulty of extending the benefits of these fine wines of privilege arises in the knowledge vacuum of the ever growing pyramid of members unaware of their heritage, and their potential inclusion, thereby winnowing benefits to ever, smaller groups of the noticeably "well bred, and therefore, well educated." The antithesis of democratic equality therefore operates only as a parallel universe, a poor relative, to the long ago entrenched, forcing greater stress among all those left behind, and supposed to be included, to ever greater methods of producing influence to share in the producive resources available. This strain on democracy results in local strangleholds by political players desperate to combat the forces of the closed society that has evolved as America where geographically local rules govern success. To some purists, then, the fact that all politics is local is not successful democracy but a demonstration of a failed democracy as an idealistic form of government.
I enjoyed reading this book even though I had to do a report on it. The main point of the book was to show that politics is about ones values combined with instincts; it is basically ones common sense. Some implications were: Though many candidates think it is essential to use the new campaigning and advertising strategies and technology to raise money, it is also important to remember that if the candidate and his issues find favor in the peoples eyes, then many would gladly provide financial support when they are simply asked to. If one is loving and honest towards his constituents then his constituents will be honest and loving towards him. If you have clout and use it then many times you can even convince your most powerful opponents to take your side. I believe the authors thesis to be true because politics is all about how well you know how to deal with people and the right thing to say at the right time, and that is basically what common sense is. Of course reputation, clout, and money are very influential, but if you are a good at politics and have good common sense, those will come in due time. I would recommend this book because it offers a different perspective than what government books give you. All Politics is Local and other rules of the game provides common sense that people interested in politics should know.
