'Probably the most radical book written in the last 40 years'

From Man Of Action: Ted Rall, 'The Anti-American Manifesto,' Buboys and Poets

Mismanagement has left the U.S. teetering on collapse, he argues, and only with an out-and-out revolution will citizens be able to reclaim the country. And the left-wing has to do it before the right-wing does.

I started thinking, 'OK, someone's gotta say this,' but these are dangerous thoughts. ... They may even be illegal, they may even get you thrown in prison," says Rall. "You keep waiting for someone else to do it, but if you have any integrity, you start thinking to yourself, 'I can't wait for someone else to say what needs to be said.' So this is probably the most radical book written in the last 40 years."

The Anti-American Manifesto Ted RallIt may sound over the top, but that's the point. Rall, who trashed two previous drafts for the book because they weren't as direct as he wanted, is certain people are angry enough to seriously consider taking action against the U.S. government. "What I'm really trying to do is empower them to think of these ideas as legitimate," Rall said. "We've been propagandized into thinking something like revolution and overthrowing the state only takes place in Poland and Senegal, but why not here?"

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The Anti-American Manifesto: Cartoonist Calls For Armed Revolution

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The nation's largest federation of unions, the AFL-CIO, has begun a major campaign in preparation for November's mid-term elections. In an obvious counter to the Tea Party movement, millions of union members around the country are receiving fliers in the mail mobilizing them to march in Washington DC for jobs this weekend. But is this enough to turn the tide of unemployment and end corporate bailouts and subsidies? Certainly it is not enough to change the pro-corporate, pro-war agenda of the Democrats themselves. My next guest, Ted Rall, a prominent political commentator and cartoonist has a new book out called The Anti-American Manifesto. In it, he attempts to inspire Americans to revolt. Literally - by taking up arms. Comparing the coming collapse of the American state to the end of the Soviet Union, Ted Rall says “Revolution, though bloody and terrifying, would have been much easier than the slow convulsions of collapse. So it will be here.”

GUEST: Ted Rall, syndicated political cartoonist, columnist, graphic novelist, and war correspondent. His earlier books include “The Year of Loving Dangerously,” “Silk Road to Ruin: Is Central Asia the New Middle East?,” and “To Afghanistan and Back: A Graphic Travelogue.”