NOT A FIVE CENT CIGAR!

An obscure U.S. vice-president once said, “What this country needs is a good five cent cigar”. But in this frank, outspoken book, author John Kimberling argues that what this country really needs is a new political party. Both the Republican and Democratic parties have failed the American people.

Uncontrolled campaign contributions put millions of dollars in the pockets of politicians in both parties and make them the servants of the rich and powerful, who own the government and make it operate for their benefit, not for the people.

It is the reason for our foreign policy which has earned us the hatred and fear of the rest of the world and brought terrorism to our shores. It is the reason we have a failing health care system not available to millions of our citizens. It is the reason our prisons are overflowing, but not with the real criminals. Income tax laws favor giant corporations and place the burden of paying taxes on working people and the small businessman. The "war on drugs" has only made the problem worse.

Perhaps most shocking, the author explores the agenda of key Bush administration officials who planned the invasion of Iraq years before 9/11 and then used terrorism as an excuse for our invasion and occupation of that country, which has destabilized the entire Middle East.

What This Country Needs refuses to accept that powerful political and financial forces can take our country away from us. It lays out a blueprint for a new third party to give the voters the tools they need to reshape the political process and point the way in a new direction and to a better future for all of us.