Beck book brings humor to issues

Ahh, Glenn Beck. This name either incites a feeling of patriotism or loathing to whoever hears it.

His newest book, "Arguing With Idiots," is written in typical "Glenn Beck" style, that is a combination of factual based argument, conjecture and comedy. He has satirical comics littered throughout the book, as well as his random A.D.D. moments where he goes off on tangents about the particular topic being addressed in the chapter. These are utter genius when read in context of the topics at hand and had me laughing out loud many times.

To me, the book is quite reminiscent of a high school yearbook, which has had comical things written over people's heads and quotes in the margins of the pages from random people.

As the title suggests, the book is written as a tool to help inform people of factual information, so when arguments come up that are political in nature, one is informed and able to argue back against the uninformed, stereotyping, obnoxious people who typically begin these arguments.

He covers topics that range from the defense of capitalism to health care, illegal immigration and defending the constitution and rights we are guaranteed within it. The funny thing about the book though, is that he is teaching us how to defend these ideas and concepts from ourselves.

He highlights the infighting that goes on within party affiliations, as well as how the uninformed and misinformed voters of America are allowing these things to happen by not being proactive enough.

Glenn Beck has taken key issues that are hot topics currently, taken the arguments typically heard alongside them and brought them into the light of discussion.

In addition to simply pointing out the issues, he is also making his own ideas available as possible solutions to the problems. I have to say, the vast majority of ideas he conveys in this book are not only plausible, but possible.

For instance, in the chapter on illegal immigration, he points out that in a majority of restaurants in America, illegal aliens make up the bulk of the kitchen staff. One of the arguments people tend to make is the restaurant industry will collapse if we abolish illegal labor.

He then addresses this issue with this passage, "Labor makes up 30 percent of the operating cost of a restaurant. If illegals were eliminated [from the restaurants] and wages raised to accommodate legal workers, the cost of meals would likely increase between three to six percent.....hardly enough to make the restaurants go out of business."

The entire book is chock full of ideas and issues that are at the forefront of our politics today, and I love his up-front, take-no-prisoners approach to dealing with the issues.

If you can look past your own party affiliations and be open to another person's point of view, this book will really open your eyes to what is going on in this country politically and socially.