The Ranting of an Uneducated Reactionary
by Oscar Phillips
Outskirts Press


"…the AIM of any actual HATRED on the right, albeit conceivably misguided, is to build America up while the AIM of true HATRED on the left is to tear America down."

This is a passionate work of political and social opinion from a self-declared, self-educated, far-right conservative who has actively engaged in political discourse, essay and letter writing, and opining over the course of decades. His lengthy collection includes previously published material as well as recurring chapter installments titled "Opinionated Bits and Pieces," which offer a variety of views that may prove either intriguing or offensive to readers across the political spectrum. They showcase a perspective the author calls "Anti-socialism" that devolves into almost comically aggressive antisemitism by the end. The book shares ideas about freedom of speech and thought, economic equality, socialism, feminism, racism, perception, optics, and Jews. Indeed, unsourced and uncited generalizations about the left, liberals, and Jews comprise much of the book's meat through lengthy arguments about forms of collective government and the presumption that certain Americans want changes the author finds objectionable.

Students of political discourse may find familiar material here. Ideas such as a "far leftist" is one who "hates America," a retelling of actress/activist Jane Fonda's infamous trip to Vietnam fifty years ago, and the perception that former First Lady Michelle Obama suffers "seething resentment" play like a record with well-worn grooves. Also familiar is the content of a chapter titled "The Jewish Question Revisited," where the author asserts strong negative and generalized beliefs about American Jews. A final chapter that cheerfully renames Beatles songs with references to Holocaust atrocities and stereotypical Jewish insults reads like a tired internet meme and detracts from the author's stated intent of more elevated commentary. Clearly, this is provocative material intended to stir up a reaction in the book's readers, and, in this, the author succeeds. Whether one agrees or disagrees with the views expressed, Phillips' book will undoubtedly spark some dialogue among its readership.

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