COMMON GROUND How to Stop the Partisan War That Is Destroying America

Longtime friends Thomas and Beckel just want us to get along. Calling polarization an "insidious disease," the authors set out to debunk divisive political labels. Despite the extremist drumbeat from talk-radio and blog pundits, it is too easy--and inaccurate--to put us all in red or blue states, they say. Their theory is that too many people fall into a gray area that needs representation. Richard Rohan's fair tone brings home the authors' points, which are based on historical and contemporary research. Thomas and Beckel come from opposite ends of the political spectrum. Rohan steps aside to let each in his own voice define himself as conservative (Thomas) or liberal (Beckel), and at the end they appear together in a fun dialogue. M.B. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2008]