SHOWDOWN

The radio commentator and author of THE TEN THINGS YOU CAN'T SAY IN AMERICA says that liberal government mandates are disrespectful to the intentions of the Constitution framers and the self-respect of the American people. Elder cites data showing that liberal democratic social programs haven't produced the results they intended, and he pulls together an impressive list of such failures. But many of his arguments are bombastic and oversimplify the natural conflict between free enterprise and the social role of government. He sounds like an extreme Libertarian, a media ideologue who has complaints but no solutions. Entertaining and provocative, the program is worth hearing regardless of one's viewpoint. T.W. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 03]