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However, Thom does a great job of laying it all out there, showing us how important, and fragile, a middle class really is. how the privatization of "the commons", destruction of labor unions, and a skewed international trading arrangment will lead to an aristocracy). Thom Hartmann presents a wonderful story of how & why the framers constructed our democratic constitution, and how we've had to fight hard ever since then to maintain a democratic society against the threat of an aristocracy. Thom explains very clearly why our founders fought so hard for a middle class and why preserving it is so important (i.e. Highly recommended. I appreciate Thom's ability to provide a historical context to a subject while interjecting the current day arguments for and against the subject. Often I feel that "the left" is no better than "the right" in all name calling, and distortion of the facts.
Quite extraordinary. This is the best explanation of how all of us in the US got to this particular place in history economically, politically, and even socially. The past is used in an HONEST way to explain our current circumstances.
Well written and well researched. This book is a must read for anyone who needs to understand the current climate we are living in.
Corporate execs are rewarding themselves with enormous paychecks. And I have to flag him for at least one major infraction: His indictment of the corporatocracy as a form of 'fascism'. One where the Scrooges of the world have all the power and are never visited by the ghosts of Christmas that bring about the transformation that can change things for the better.But why show us these visions if we are beyond all hope. It all started with Reagan-omics and continued on through Bush, Clinton, and Dubya.
Think about it. Just as we have laws that prevent the average citizen from littering, committing arson, or smashing a store front window, corporations can be expected to refrain from polluting our air and waterways, deforesting our wildernesses, and on and on."So what's the problem." you might ask. He seems to mostly blame Reagan in his assessment but he also goes after Clinton which demonstrates at least some effort to be non-partisan. This is the picture that the author paints of life in what he calls a corporatocracy. Have we no refuge or resource.
Hartmann has forgotten that fascism was a socialist ideology and the corporate control it enables is more the effect of that ideology than the source of it. Are there no workhouses. But I have to say, with the current economic situation we find ourselves in, its hard to argue with his logic. It's not hard to fathom either. And all of it is a direct assault against the American middle class. Hartmann uses this Dickensian analogy to bring home the point that we need a government setting the ground rules for corporate fair play. Imagine that you are Bob Cratchet and you work for Ebenezer Scrooge. Of course it all needs to be taken with a dash of common sense.
Employee retirement packages have been decimated to 'improve the bottom-line'. Remember. Well apparently, the last four administrations have blindly gone about de-regulating everything in sight. You live in constant fear of losing your 'situation' and being consigned to a life of poverty. It seems Mr. The government ran the show. After all, corporations do not own the country we live in and can be expected to abide by rules of fair play. Of course this is par for the course in American thought today.
Foreign goods are costing Americans their jobs. You have no health care and your sickly son, Tim, is resigned to becoming a casualty of the system. You get the picture.In any event, this book contains some important points that need to be understood. All standard fare these days. Corporations served the government's ultimate will, not the other way around. The official Nazi party name was the 'National SOCIALIST Party'.
Up is down and down is up. Are there no prisons.
I was going to rate this work at 4 stars but due to the faux-pas mentioned earlier, I am reducing it to a rather mediocre 3. Employees work longer hours.
But if we are to benefit from any of it, we must temper it with good reason and resist the temptation to over-state an emotional point as the author has done. Mr.
It was primarily left-wing. And all of it is madness with the American middle class taking the brunt of it.His solutions: Unions, tariffs on foreign goods, limits on corporate compensation, regulations on industry, pollution standards that are enforced, guaranteed health care.
It doesn't sound like a big deal. Health care costs are rising well above inflation.
Anti-free-market thinking/actions, anti-globalism, and anti-corporatism (ultimately leading to fascism) is the book's theme [Naomi Klein's `Shock Doctrine' is a good companion book to supplement the facts of this book].Something to ponder as you read this book is:1)When did business interests become more important than the interests of `We the People'.2)When did capitalism become the same thing as `free market' thinking/acts and `globalism' and the only way to do things.3)When did the group of free market and globalism thinkers become something like a regilous cult in their theology of economics.4)When did 'We the People' lose control of our government.This book is a strong educational base for `We the People' to work from to regain control of an increasingly out-of-control, out-of-touch, corrupt ruling and business elite. The book also provides those that are more intellectually inclined to research his basic sources (which are provided throughout the book).This book concludes with a call to action for everyone to involve themselves in the political process, no matter what their political persuasion, and change our political direction. It is eerie, for a conservative talk radio fan like me, to hear the same depiction of the issues and many of the same solutions expressed by someone on the other side of the politician spectrum. The alternative is a road to serfdom for most of society. [One example is the solution of targeting the employers who hire illegals, not just the illegals]. Any book that makes you think and contemplate your basic beliefs and philosophy, and challenges your personal understanding of how the world functions is a great book--this book is all that and is therefore a great book.
There is no ambiguity to where he stands, especially with his straight forward writing style.This book is an effort to reveal to the masses the ongoing, quiet struggle against the middle class that has been ongoing without interruption since the Reagan administration in the 1980s. The author urges everyone to get involved and preserve the middle class and thus preserve our American democracy. Personally, I did not recognize the author's name, but now, I will be on the lookout for his radio show and his other books.I like the way the book starts, where it reveals the author's father's background and sets the foundation for understanding Mr. Only an egotist would discount his viewpoint without some serious thought. With examples being shown almost every day in current news this book is timely and a must read. Hartmann's philosophical outlook.
His suggestions for possible solutions appear logical and capable of success.
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