Some Americans came to Soviet Russia because they naively believed in Communist ideology.  Others came because they were fed up with following the rules in the USA.  But most emigrated during the Great Depression, desperate people who unwisely believed the favorable propoganda eminating from the Soviet Union.  Hundreds of free, American families entered the USSR, never to leave again.  As the Russian economy became steadily more dysfunctional and Stalin became ever more paranoid, Americans and Russians suffered privation, indiscriminate execution, and barbaric work camps.  Today, more than ever, we must be reminded what happens when Americans turn to socialism in a time of economic turmoil.

The media rushes to criticize those who attempt to taint Obama's candidacy with "guilt by association" charges. Obama's relationships with Bill Ayers, Tony Rezko, Fr. Michael Pflager, and Rev. Jeremiah Wright are so insubstantial that it's beyond unfair to link Obama to their crimes and racist, anti-America propaganda. The media also often portrays Obama as a moderate Democrat, open to change and compromise with the left.

Freddoso presents an exhaustively-researched and documented response to these argument. Obama's ties to unsavory characters are far from fleeting. To give but one example, Obama and unrepentant former terrorist Bill Ayers worked together closely on the Woods Fund of Chicago for three years. At one point, the Woods Fund paid Obama's organizing salary--now, it helps fund ACORN, a voter fraud machine with which Obama is also closely associated. Obama began his political career at Ayer's house, and Ayers has donated to Obama's campaign.

And Obama is anything but a moderate: he is a radical leftist who has rejected several easy opportunities to make inroads against corruption in local, state, and national politics. For instance, Obama supports card check, a law that would make it easier for unions to harass and intimidate workers into signing cards in support of the union.

This book is an invaluable read prior to election day for anyone who is interested in learning the whole truth about Obama's character and voting record.

Free to Choose is truly an economic classic.  First published in 1980, the book came about when many people believes that socialism was a promising system for promoting material prosperity and human freedom.  In 1990, when the book was republished, the Friedmans noted that even after the collapse of the Soviet Union, "political leaders in capitalist countries . . . continue to favor socialist solutions."  Unfortunately, the Friedmans' observation remains true today.

When people clamor for universal health care, the Friedmans' excellent chapter on "Cradle to Grave" government care in the U.S. and other countries proffers numerous cautionary tales.  When liberals bemoan the death of unions in the U.S., we would do well to remember that "the gains that strong unions win for their members are primarily at the expense of other workers."  When Congress ponders whether to expand the FDA's powers, the Friedmans' historical analysis of the FDA's increase in powers and glaring decrease in efficiency provides a vital voice of dissent.

Anyone outraged by the Supreme Court's Kelo decision would do well to read Timothy Sandefur's timely and compelling description of property rights in America today.  The book is divided into four main parts:

1. a historical and philosophical argument for why property rights are important ("A child who has his toy stolen by a bully understands the moral significance of property."),

2. an originalist overview of property rights in the U.S. Constitution,

3. a harrowing chapter describing the state of property rights today (including the human interest story behind Kelo), and

4. a quick discussion of how Sandefur thinks we can remedy our sorry state of affairs.

Missourians, as members of a state with some of the most egregious eminent domain abuses in the United States, will particularly appreciate Sandefur's engaging defense of property rights and his call to restore the Founders' original understanding of property rights.

Judge Robert Dierker is a sitting judge in the St. Louis city court system.  Judge Dierker is also a brave man for publishing this controversial text while still employed by the state of Missouri. 

Judge Dierker became inspired to write this book after he wrote an opinion denying a plaintiff's sexual harassment claims.  Judge Dierker's rhetorical flourishes complaining of radical feminism landed him under investigation on suspicion of bias against women.  Even though Judge Dierker accurately applied the applicable Missouri common law regarding sexual harassment, his experience with the Discipline Commission forced him into "self-censorship."

After a few years of stewing over that case and its fall-out, Judge Dierker decided to write The Tyranny of Tolerance.  Tyranny is a wide-ranging book that covers everything from radical feminism's pernicious influence on the judiciary to the judiciary's steady erosion of property rights.  Overall, Tyranny is a fun read and a comprehensive introduction to conservative perspectives on the law.  At times, though, particularly when discussing abortion and the so-called "right" to homosexual intercourse, the book becomes less of an argument and more of a polemic.

I recommend Tyranny as an introduction to some of the more egregious examples of liberalism run amok, but what I'd really like to see is something more in-depth by Judge Dierker.  As a follow-up, I suggest he write on the Second Amendment.  His chapter on the Second Amendment was very thorough, and, given the recent spate of scholarly, popular, and judicial interest in the topic, a solid treatment of the subject would likely be well-received.