Customer Reviews

Shakedown: How Our Government is Undermining Democracy in the Name of Human Rights

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I have been following the machinations of the Canadian HRC's from here in Australia. Why, you might ask?
There is a push here from the usual suspects for a Bill of Rights and beefed up commissions to enforce those 'rights'. Canada and Australia are pretty similar places, so it is handy to be able to point to Canada's experience and show otherwise apathetic Australians that we too could be staring down this barrel.
I agree with Ezra that the best option is to uproot these organisations altogether. They may start off modest and reasonable, but in the nature of things they will always be prone to mission creep. Worst of all they become stuffed with left wing activists. After all there is nowhere else for these people to go - they clearly couldn't survive in the private sector. These activists then use the unaccountable nature of the commissions to push their surreal agenda, an agenda that would never get through legislatures mindful of their electorates.
Those minimalists who suggest that removal of the Section 13 'hate crimes' provisions would be sufficient could perhaps explain how this would help the gym owner who wanted to keep a (pre-operation) transvestite out of the womens' showers, or the restaurateur who wanted to keep a persistent dope-smoker away from his paying customers.
No, I see the current state of the HRC's as the logical and inevitable endpoint of such structures. They are inherently broke.

In Shakedown, Ezra Levant exposes the misdeeds of so-called Human Rights Commissions across Canada. Part of the book is devoted to procedure: how HRCs don't follow the usual safeguards found in real courts and trample on their targets' rights. More importantly, Levant describes the fundamentally illegitimate role that HRCs play and their corrosive effect on society. The focus is on censorship, but various other examples are discussed as well.

The main strength of the book is its firm grounding in clear and consistent principles. Far from being the author's personal vendetta or political screed, Shakedown argues against the HRCs by showing how they violate the Canadian constitution and the Charter of rights and freedoms, in letter and spirit. This rare combination of intellectual honesty, moral clarity, and fact-based research makes for a compelling case.

Stylistically, the text is clear, concise and very accessible to us non-lawyers: there are no judicial technicalities in here. Also, some of the wackier cases discussed add entertainment value. The exposition builds up to an exciting conclusion in the last chapter (really, I thought it was riveting).

All in all, Shakedown is an excellent, thought-provoking book that cannot leave its readers indifferent. It is highly recommended to anyone who values freedom and genuine human rights.

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Dans son livre Shakedown, Ezra Levant dénonce les méfaits des soi-disantes Commissions des Droits de la Personne au Canada. Une partie de l'ouvrage montre comment les CDP ne suivent pas les procédures normales du système judiciaire et bafouent les droits des accusés. La majeure partie est cependant consacrée au rôle fondamentalement illégitime des CDP et leur effet néfaste sur la société. Le thème de la censure est examiné en détail, mais d'autres exemples sont aussi inclus.

Le livre est remarquable par son fondement sur des principes clairs et cohérents. Loin d'être un règlement de comptes personnel ou un pamphlet politique de la part de l'auteur, Shakedown critique les CDP en montrant comment elles enfreignent la constitution canadienne et la charte des droits et libertés. Cette combinaison rare d'honnêteté intellectuelle, de clarté morale et de recherche minutieuse produisent une thèse des plus convaincantes.

En termes de style, le texte est clair, concis et très accessible pour nous qui ne sommes pas avocats: il n'y a pas de jargon légal ou de détails techniques. Par ailleurs, les exemples de dossiers les plus loufoques rendent la lecture amusante. La conclusion de l'ouvrage est particulièrement captivante.

En somme, Shakedown est un excellent livre qui fait réfléchir et ne peut pas laisser indifférent. Vivement recommandé pour tous ceux qui chérissent la liberté et les véritables droits humains.

A great overview of the real world Orwellian tactics used by today's government to silence opposing (or non-politically correct) views. While the book tends to repeat points over and over again, it is well worth the read.

These HRC's really need to be abolished. Write your MP today and demand this be done!

The book is an excellent review of the shortcomings and absolute corruption in Canada's Human Rights Commissions and Tribunals. The book is a must-read for anyone that does not realize that these Organizations are the absolute antipodes of human rights. Ezra Levant writes from his own personal experiences as well as the experiences of other victims of actual human rights denormalization by the Provincial as well as Federal bodies of these non- judicial bureauocracies.

A great book from a Canadian hero. All Canadians should thank Mr. Levant for his tireless work (and personal expense) in exposing this corrupt and useless bunch of bullies at the Human Rights Commission.
The book is well written and a huge eye opener. My wish is that Canadians support Ezra Levant in his fight to put this Commission to sleep forever. It's nothing more than a cruel joke and an affront to freedom of speech in this country..Buy this book

I could only read this book once. It's like a horror story. I'm truly ashamed to be Canadian. Good luck Ezra.

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever consider that Canada would disallow freedom of speech. I knew all about sedition but find that Canada has followed the UK in allowing immigrant minorities to dictate to the native people. Levant has has had the guts and fortunately the wherewithall to show us just how our government has permitted freedom of speech to wither and die. These quasi courts Levant mentioned should either be run by lawyers not jumped up do gooders or preferably closed altogether and allow the normal courts of law to do the job properly.
Levi has shown us that errosions of civil libertis can so easily and rapidly vanish even in Canada in not much longer than it took in Nazi Germany.
It is unfortunate that Anglo Saxons are so esily browbeaten and do not seem to enjoy the ability rise up and defend their freedoms as would the French; before it is too late.
He has made an excellent case for one or more of our MP's in Ottawa to do their duty and defend civil liberty.
An excellent book that deserves to be more widely read and discussed and acted upon.

This book should be required reading for all Canadians.
We thought this miscarriage of justice only happened in third world countries.
What an eye-opener to learn it's happening right in our own country.
It's shocking!

This is a very informative and well-researched book. Augmented with his own mis-adventures with Canada's "Human Rights" bureaucracy, the author has included several other examples that show how the once-noble purpose of this organization has gone horribly wrong. This book is a must-read for anyone concerned with censorship and freedom of speech issues.

... and now look at the profound turmoil plaguing the Western civilization. Ignore the voice of Ezra Levant today, and a hefty price will be paid very soon. Too bad the masses are totally distracted by celebrity gossip. Crucial Wake-up messages like "Shakedown" will sadly get by largely unnoticed.