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Showdown at Gucci Gulch
by
Alan Murray
The Tax Reform Act of 1986 was the single most sweeping change in the history of America's income tax. It was also the best political and economic story of its time. Here, in the anecdotal style of The Making of the President, two Wall Street Journal reporters provide the first complete picture of how this tax revolution went from an improbable dream to a widely hailed rea...more
Paperback, 336 pages
Published
April 12th 1988
by Vintage
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An amazing look at the backdoor machinations that created the seminal 1986 Tax Reform Act, and a beautiful case study in legislative process.
Despite dealing with the minutiae of tax policy, this book works great as an actual narrative for a few reasons. One is that the process of tax reform played out well as a series of set-piece battles, each in a distinct venue. It truly started in the Treasury building, where Secretary Donald Regan, at President Reagan's insistence, convened a panel of exper...more
I highly recommend this book. It’s all about the unlikely triumph of a massive tax reform package during the height of the Reagan years and in the face of well-funded corporate opposition. The hero, at least for me, is Bill Bradley. He was a not-very-powerful junior senator who learned the ins and outs of tax policy, and slowly rallied colleagues on both sides of the aisle to embrace the idea. There were many other fascinating players – Rostenkowski, Packwood, Don Regan – with parochial interest...more
Amazing read for the politics and insider-scoop behind what was one of the most monumental policy accomplishments of all time. A real insight into how Congress and the Administration work together to get law done. It's well-written as well, and I think any political or tax policy work would find it a good read.
If you're like me, you probably never imagined a book about creating a tax reform bill could ever be interesting let alone compelling, but this book is both. I almost couldn't put it down. A fascinating look at the inside of how our government functions.
I wasn't really a fan of this book. It's about the 1986 tax reform.
First off, I disagree with the whole premise that eliminating deductions in favor of lower rates is a better taxation system. The tax code is probably the most effective way to encourage people to do certain things and not do other things. It's a perfect vehicle for social change.
Secondly, the book practically gives a handjob to all the politicians who were in favor of it. And then it admits they know that the deductions will s...more
First off, I disagree with the whole premise that eliminating deductions in favor of lower rates is a better taxation system. The tax code is probably the most effective way to encourage people to do certain things and not do other things. It's a perfect vehicle for social change.
Secondly, the book practically gives a handjob to all the politicians who were in favor of it. And then it admits they know that the deductions will s...more
This is a terrific book, and I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in policy. Birnbaum and Murray turned tax reform into something astonishingly human.
Read as part of Policy Process graduate course but it's an educational and entertaining read. One that gives a real day insight into the goings-on of Capitol Hill.
The authors of this book were interviewed on NPR today which reminded me of how totally awesome this book is.
It's a great read regardless, but if you are interested in policy process then this book is vital.
Washington works differently now, but still a classic account of the legislative process.
May 16, 2012
Sarah
marked it as considering
rec'd by Ferd, for understanding the policy process
A good book if you're the kind of person who likes this kind of book. Seeing as it was about the Tax Reform Act of 1986, I'm going to wager that's no one other than me. Well-written, interesting, and accessible, although sometimes intra-chapter organization is not great.
Weird to think Rostenkowski wound up in jail and Packwood had to resign to avoid expulsion. Also filled with fantastic quotes, some of which are from people who go on to do interesting things.
Weird to think Rostenkowski wound up in jail and Packwood had to resign to avoid expulsion. Also filled with fantastic quotes, some of which are from people who go on to do interesting things.
I'm not interested in tax or anything financial but this book really helped me understand how politics work. If you're bad with remembering names, don't read. It was hard for me to keep track with all the names, but I still grasped the underlining theme.
You can get things done with savvy politicans and right circumstances. Made me want to fly to Washington and control the world. Read it. It will open your eyes to the almighty democracy of U.S.
You can get things done with savvy politicans and right circumstances. Made me want to fly to Washington and control the world. Read it. It will open your eyes to the almighty democracy of U.S.
The book does a very good job at telling the story of the 1986 tax reform. The authors do not leave a leaf uncovered and in doing so probably give more information than what is neccessary. But for a book where one already knows the out come, it reads as a thriller at time. Recommended to anyone interested in politics, policy, or DC in general.
This is a book about tax reform. It is also one of the best examinations of the actual working of government that I have read.
I never would have thought I would have had this much appreciation for a book about a tax reform bill from 1986.
I never would have thought I would have had this much appreciation for a book about a tax reform bill from 1986.
Call me a dork, but I really enjoyed this book. A bit too much name-dropping, but a fascinating inside view on how the Tax Reform Act of 1986 got put together.
A sharp and entertaining look at how lobbyists rule the world, focusing on the tax reform process in 1986.
For an account of the Tax Reform Act of '86, it's a real hoot
One of the best books on how government works I've ever read.
This is a book about taxes. Somehow, I loved it.
May 06, 2013
Herr Slam
marked it as to-read
May 04, 2013
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Apr 28, 2013
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Jul 13, 2008 10:03am