Are We the UNITED States of America?

“If there was ever a book you want to hug and read for clearly and graphically focusing your attention on the corporatist forces disintegrating our political, economic and cultural institutions for this amassing of profits-at-any-cost, this short, concise ARE WE THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA? CAN WE HOLD TOGETHER AS ONE COUNTRY? is right now the number one choice.

In less than 200 readable pages, with footnote references to follow up, Dr. Geyman lays out the key approaches to rebuild unity and sense of community. He shows how this restoration is in our own hands for “we the people” are the sovereign power under our constitution. The good doctor gives us the prescription. Let’s take and use it as our ways of living.

This is that rare book of universal appeal and action to give to your local library and discuss at your local book club or neighborhood gathering.”
—Ralph Nader, activist, founder of Public Citizen and the Center for Study of Responsive Law, and author of Breaking Through Power: It’s Easier Than You Think

“This book, Are We the United States of America? Can We Hold Together as One Country? asks and brings us an evidence-based response to the major questions of our times that challenge the very survival of our country. Our democracy is under attack from within, threatening many personal rights, including the overturn of Roe v. Wade by the U. S. Supreme Court. From my perspective in health care policy, universal coverage of health care for all Americans remains one of our nation’s vital unmet needs that has not yet been achieved because of the stranglehold of corporate interests. Unchecked corporate power has been the biggest barrier to health care reform as well as to reform in other areas of our society, and is the fight we must continue to engage.”
—Wendell Potter, President of Business Leaders for Health Care Transformation President, Center for Health and Democracy Founder of Tarbell and author of Deadly Spin and Nation on the Take

“Meticulously researched, clear and concise, Are We the United States of America? offers a thought-provoking assessment of our loss of community and threats to democracy. Using insights from prominent scholars, Dr. Geyman demystifies the forces that have undermined unity. He explains, with abundant examples, how neoliberalism has permeated every aspect of our political economy, giving rise to growing inequalities and disparities by race and gender as well as between the rich and poor; monopolization and corporate profiteering, bolstered by government policies, that are at odds with the public good; privatization of vital services; and the changing workplace that has destabilized jobs.

He also hones in on the sharp and growing partisan division on core issues; the destructive power of Wall Street; and the role of Facebook and other social media as spreading harmful disinformation, conspiracy theories, divisive content, distrust of government, and even the Big Lie.

Politicians and American citizens should take note not only of Dr. Geyman’s astute critique of our current situation but also on the key policy areas that he identifies as requiring immediate political action. Anyone concerned about the future of US democracy should read this book.”
—Laura Katz Olson, AGF Distinguished Professor of Political Science at Lehigh University, has published nine books on health politics and policies. Her latest work, Ethically Challenged: Private Equity Storms U.S. Health Care, was published in March 2022.

“Our country is riven in two dimensions, left vs. right, and wealthy & corporations vs. the rest of us. The axes are not orthogonal... the economically privileged preferentially align with conservatives, but they also infiltrate our ‘liberal’ political party. The result is financial insecurity, health harm, and anxiety for the majority of Americans. The evidence is voluminous, with many commentators describing the dynamics. As usual, John Geyman is a brilliant docent, guiding us systematically through the problems, their roots, and changes needed. Just as with his prior books on health care reform, John provides an authoritative yet accessible inventory of key issues in this existential challenge we face. The book should be kept at hand, for its information and inspiration.”
—Jim Kahn, M.D., Professor Emeritus in the Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California San Francisco and Editor of Health Justice Monitor

“What will keep America from coming apart at the seams is a big topic that leaves many people at a loss to understand the issues. Now John Geyman, country doctor and emeritus professor of family medicine explains it all in bite-sized pieces of text and graphics diagnosing who and what causes our social indigestion while writing a prescription for how to make our democracy healthy again.”
—David Cay Johnston, Distinguished Visiting Lecturer at Syracuse University College of Law, Editor and Co-founder of DC Report.org, Pulitzer Prize winning author of multiple books, including the 2021 book, The Big Cheat: How Donald Trump Fleeced America and Enriched Himself and His Family