false 1138036 2 <p>The incomes of most Americans today are static or declining. Tens of millions of workers are newly vulnerable to layoffs and outsourcing. Health care and retirement burdens are increasingly being shifted from employers to individuals. Two-income families find they are working longer hours for lower wages, with decreased social support. As wealth has become more concentrated, the economy has become more recklessly speculative, jeopardizing not only the prospects of ordinary Americans, but the solvency of the entire system. What links these trends, writes Robert Kuttner in this provocative, engaging, and necessary book, is the consolidation of political and economic power by a narrow elite, who blocks the ability of government to restore broad prosperity to the majority of citizens.<br><br>Kuttner&#8212;one of our most lucid economic critics&#8212;explores the roots of these problems and outlines a persuasive, bold alternative. In <i>BusinessWeek</i>, <i>The Boston Globe</i>, and <i>The American Prospect</i>, he has established himself as a prophetic voice connecting economics and politics. Here he demonstrates how our economy has fallen hostage to a casino of financial speculation, creating instability as well as inequality. He debunks alarmist claims about supposed economic hazards, such as Social Security and Medicare, and exposes the genuine dangers: hedge funds and private equity run amok, sub-prime lenders, Wall Street middlemen, and America&#8217;s dependence on foreign central banks. He describes how globalization of commerce has been used by business less to promote free trade than to escape the balanced regulation that delivered widespread abundance in the decades after World War II.<br><br>While our financial security has weakened under President George W. Bush, Kuttner also faults many Democrats for failing to offer compelling alternatives. Now, with financial markets in crisis and public opinion supporting a more active role for government, he offers a new model of managed capitalism that can deliver security and opportunity, and rekindle democracy as a check on concentrated wealth.<br><br>Here is a passionate, articulate naming of the problem and a call for reform. <i>The Squandering of America</i> sets out a path for reclaiming our democratic politics&#8212;and our prosperity.</p> 1125291 6 11 2007 The Squandering of America: How the Failure of Our Politics Undermines Our Prosperity total:26|5:7|4:8|3:10|2:1|1:0| 26 99 62 13 4 0 false false Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Thu Mar 20 10:47:45 -0700 2008 Thu Mar 20 10:59:14 -0700 2008 more...]]> 3 0 false false Fri Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Tue Mar 11 10:46:32 -0700 2008 Tue Mar 11 10:51:06 -0700 2008 more...]]> 3 0 false false Mon Nov 26 03:59:01 -0800 2007 Mon Nov 26 04:04:27 -0800 2007
But the most interesting point from this book is about the expression that used by Kuttner.. Well, he even don't write about decreasing in US (or another 'weak' point), but he CAN wrapped all his argument in this book and maybe ...more...]]> 5 0 false false Mon Feb 04 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Sat Jun 07 09:52:03 -0700 2008 Sat Jun 07 09:55:21 -0700 2008 more...]]> 4 0 false false Wed May 14 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Mon Jun 02 12:02:22 -0700 2008 Mon Jun 02 12:07:40 -0700 2008 3 0 false false Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Sat Apr 12 11:50:35 -0700 2008 Sat Apr 12 11:52:35 -0700 2008 5 0 false false Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Fri Mar 28 10:32:32 -0700 2008 Sun Apr 13 15:49:25 -0700 2008 0 0 false false Sat Nov 01 10:53:08 -0700 2008 Sun Oct 05 12:55:37 -0700 2008 Sat Nov 01 10:53:08 -0700 2008 0 0 false false Tue Nov 11 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Mon Jun 23 11:45:10 -0700 2008 Tue Nov 11 08:59:59 -0800 2008 5 0 false false Tue Oct 21 10:56:22 -0700 2008 Tue Oct 21 10:56:57 -0700 2008 4 0 false false Thu Mar 27 07:47:31 -0700 2008 Thu Mar 27 07:48:00 -0700 2008 4 0 false false Mon Jan 14 19:53:50 -0800 2008 Fri Jan 11 10:51:33 -0800 2008 Fri Jan 11 10:52:06 -0800 2008 3 0 false false Fri Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Thu Mar 13 07:01:57 -0700 2008 Thu Mar 13 08:43:25 -0700 2008 4 0 false false Tue Nov 03 19:10:07 -0800 2009 Tue Nov 03 19:10:07 -0800 2009 0 0 false false Thu Sep 24 14:23:32 -0700 2009 Thu Sep 24 14:23:37 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Tue Sep 01 17:45:39 -0700 2009 Tue Sep 01 17:45:39 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Mon Aug 10 01:03:44 -0700 2009 Mon Aug 10 01:03:44 -0700 2009 2 0 false false Sun Jul 05 12:29:57 -0700 2009 Sun Jul 05 12:29:57 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Mon Jun 22 11:20:08 -0700 2009 Mon Jun 22 11:20:08 -0700 2009 4 0 false false Thu May 21 22:35:55 -0700 2009 Thu May 21 22:35:55 -0700 2009 http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=1138036