There is a new book out about some rag-tag Virginians (complete with endearing nick-names) who try to return our republic to limited government. They even have a cute name, the Grandsons of Liberty. "On A Hill They Call Capital" is a very short and quick read, but in a simplistic and unsatisfying way. Their plans are too successful, politicians are converted too easily, and the public is too sympathetic. It feels, as it is supposed to, like the diary of one of the men involved before he takes it to a big name publisher to sell as the basis for his exclusive tell all. I bring it up because it is part of a growing segment of literature focusing on tales of average Americans getting fed up with big government and doing something about it. I'm not sure if this is actually growing or not, but I get the sense that these types of books are increasingly being published. I can't tell if it is because more people are fed up with government, or that technology has drastically lowered the costs of publishing. Or a little of both?

Here are some reviews of other similar books I've read.

"The Hunt for Confederate Gold" by Thomas Moore is one of the better ones; it wins hands down in terms of plausibility of all characters involved. It would not be that difficult to see as a somewhat mainstream movie on the lines of "American Treasure" if some of the politics were toned down. I especially enjoy how he focuses on the behaviors of government bureaucrats; too many other novels I've read fail to properly show the mentality of people who are pushing for big government. Too often they employ simplistic strawman arguments where every big government activists is just a communist in sheep clothing. If you haven't read it and you're at all interested in these types of books, I highly suggest it.

Anthony Lewis' "The Third Revolution" and its sequel "Middle America" are also good reads; I in fact enjoyed the sequel more than the original. The whole idea of secession in the first book seems a little too easy, but the plot really shines when you get into the politics and intrigue of the second book and just accept the premise of what happened in the first book.

"Molon Labe" by Boston T. Party has been the biggest disappointment; I couldn't even finish the book. I just could not get into it, period.

I notice that aside from the older "Ecotopia," there doesn't seem to be many left-leaning tales of secession and rebellion. There are no tales of the "Second Green Mountain Boys" and a secessionist Republic of Vermont. I think part of the reason for this is the stronger current on the far right to glorify armed resistance to the government, a hold over from the 1990s opposition to Bill Clinton and Janet Reno, the attention given to the Turner Diaries, and the emphasis on gun-owning "citizen-soldiers". In looking at the recommendations at Amazon.com based on my interest in the above books, I'm turned off by how many recommendations seem to be stories of rag-tag militia men fighting off Mexicans in the Southwest. There is a disconnect between the reality of today's big government and the forces that many of these authors blame for the lose of liberty. Only Thomas Moore focused on conservative characters coming to terms with the failures of the right and the Republican Party in defending our freedoms. Too many other writers still seem to see the problem in terms of Republicans and conservatives being too moderate and rolling over when those evil Democrats push socialism.