The Economic Transformation of America Since 1865

Book Description

This extraordinary text offers a proven combination of scholarship from an insightful economist and a renowned American historian. It recounts the development of capitalism and the age of machines through the voices of business leaders, working people, inventors, and an unusual cast of presidents, generals, and patriots. Unlike other books in the field of economic history, this text tells a story. While not ignoring statistics and percentages, this narrative focuses on the fact that America's economic transformation is an extraordinary drama--a drama that continues today.

The Economic Transformation of America Since 1865

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The Economic Transformation of America Since 1865
Aaron Singer Robert L. Heilbroner
Manufacturer: Harcourt Brace
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000JV5J0G

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At a time when campaign finance reform is widely viewed as synonymous with cleaning up Washington and promoting political equality, Bradley Smith, a nationally recognized expert on campaign finance reform, argues that all restriction on campaign giving should be eliminated. In Unfree Speech, he presents a bold, convincing argument for the repeal of laws that regulate political spending and contributions, contending that they violate the right to free speech and ultimately diminish citizens' power.

Smith demonstrates that these laws, which often force ordinary people making modest contributions of cash or labor to register with the Federal Election Commission or various state agencies, fail to accomplish their stated objectives. In fact, they have worked to entrench incumbents in office, deaden campaign discourse, burden grassroots political activity with needless regulation, and distance Americans from an increasingly professional, detached political class. Rather than attempting to plug "loopholes" in campaign finance law or instituting taxpayer-financed campaigns, Smith proposes a return to core First Amendment values of free speech and an unfettered right to engage in political activity.

Smith finds that campaign contributions have little corrupting effect on the legislature and shows that an unrestrained system of contributions and spending actually enhances equality. More money, not less, is needed in the political system, Smith concludes. Unfree Speech draws upon constitutional law and historical research to explain why campaign finance regulation is doomed and to illustrate the potentially drastic costs of efforts to make it succeed. Whatever one thinks about the impact of money on electoral politics, no one should take a final stand without reading Smith's controversial and important arguments.

Customer Reviews:

Good at expounding a viewpoint rarely heard, however..........2005-08-17

I greatly appreciate Professor Smith's analysis. If nothing else, the rarely heard opposition to campaing finance reform is set forth clearly in this book. There is, however, some shortcomings in his analysis.

First, take this passage (there are other analogous ones in the book that prove a similar point) from page 71:

"(Steve) Forbes indicated that he would not have sought the nomination had former congressman and secretary of housing and urban development Jack Kemp decided to run. Kemp chose not to run in large part because he did not want to engage in fund-raising. Had Forbes been able to donate to Kemp the $25 million he planned to spend on his own campaign, Kemp might have run and would quite likely have been a frontrunner for the Republican nomination."

It is easy to see that from this bit (and others) that Professor Smith does not wish to gloss over that fact that money in fact DOES affect politics. Later on that same page he entertains a thought experiment in which all campaign contributions were banned to see who would run in such a scenario. He admits that those with the most name recognition (athletes, celebrities, incumbents, succesful business persons active in their community, etc.) would be able to win. And importantly, he says that those who would win in the experiment wouldnt be much different than those who win now. It would seem then, that name recognition or fame also affects politics.

Thus, the following two things Professor Smith does not challenge: money affects politics, and name recognition affects politics. Now, it is also apparent that money affects name recognition (think TV ads). Given that Professor Smith does not argue with these things, an proponent of reform is unlikely to be swayed. For proponents the unconstested fact that money affects politics (and can buy at least some degree of name recognition) is enough to justify contribution limits. So, it would have been better to see Professor Smith adress more directly the proponents onjections.

I also find lacking that Professor Smith does not mention much about spending for state or local elections and how money affects politics in those instances. For example, in the Austin, TX city council elections recently, 4 Democratic candidates with near identical views ran. The election came to a runoff between the two top contenders, both of whom had TV ads while the other two did not. Does this disprove Professor Smith's arguments? No, but it would be better if he discussed local elections as well.

THE BEST.......2003-02-11

I WISH I COULD HAVE GIVEN IT 500 STARS! READ IT! THAT'S MY ORDER! Man I love this book!

Converted Me!.......2002-11-15

This book changing my way of thinking 180 degrees. I was a huge John McCain and Campaign Finance Reform fan, but I read this book just to see what the other side had to say. I am sure glad I did! Smith points out many problems with alleged reform on mulitple levels. If you are interested in campaign finance reform, however you may feel about the subject, I suggest you read this book.

Best Analysis Of The Issue Yet..........2001-07-31

As the best known critic of campaign finance reform, Bradley Smith makes strong arguments not just against the legislation itself but against the philosophy underlying the entire movement. This is important, because many supporters of reform refuse to acknowledge that any case against their rationale exists. Many critiques of campaign finance legislation focus on proving that not nearly as much money is spent on campaigning as the public has been led to believe, or that the proposed legislation would give certain types of grassroots groups an unfair advantage over others. Smith's attack goes much further than that. He demonstrates why, in the long run, strict regulation of campaigns will harm everyone by crippling their ability to channel their talents into meaningful participation in the political process.

The first half of the book serves as a comprehensive survey of arguments brought against reform. He begins by analyzing why the proposed legislation would give incumbents enormous advantages over challengers. From there, he discusses how the term corruption has been expanded to mean anything that a legislator does to respond to the wishes of constituents who helped contribute to her campaign-whether or not a causal link can be established between particular contributions and particular legislation. He concludes it with a section on how limits placed on monetary expenditures made to pay for speech are, in fact, limits placed on speech itself because the expenditure of money to pay for speech is inextricably linked to speech itself.

In the second half, he deconstructs philosophical arguments used to justify reforms and turns them on their heads. He starts by pointing out that supporters of reform typically ignore the fact that most non-monetary means of influencing politicians are not distributed on an egalitarian basis. Thus, simply removing private contributions from our political system will not make everyone equal overnight. He develops this point by discussing the traditional notion of political equality-that "...Citizens are free to use their differing abilities, financial wherewithal, and personal disposition to become more or less active in political life, and to attempt to persuade their fellow citizens to vote in a particular manner." He points out that campaign finance reform is nothing more than an attempt to narrow the pool of individuals afforded this freedom.

He concludes by hammering this point home: "...Because the First Amendment...makes no distinction between the different types of political influence, it allows a maximum number of voters to participate and helps to prevent any one faction or interest from gaining the upper hand in political debate." This Madisonian indictment of the campaign finance movement goes above and beyond merely attacking various legislative proposals as incumbent protection schemes. It cuts through all the political rhetoric and reveals what campaign finance reform really is: an attempt by a coalition of elite groups to cast the rules of political debate on their own terms.

If you're concerned about free speech, read this book. You won't be disappointed.

Freedom!.......2001-06-12

We live in a strange age where advocates for free speech like Bradley Smith are cruxified in the newspaper and those who call for government regulations of speech are lauded.

In this important work, Smith points out the this hypocrisy and others dealing with America's number one feel good issue -- campaign finance reform.

America's staunchest proponents for freedom of the press are also America's strong propnents of regulation of political speech. Smith takes them on head-on with an impressive array of facts, figures and historical example.

In Smith's view, and the view of our Founders, the answer to problems dealing with political speech lie not in government regulation but in more political speech. Too bad American's news media and opinion makers don't take this message to heart.

Book Description

Greece's New Political Economy traces the course of Greece from a postwar developmental state to its current participation in the Euro-zone. Taking an innovative comparative approach, George Pagoulatos examines the political economy of financial interventionism and liberalization, banking politics, relations between the government and central bank, the winners and losers of financial reform, the effects of globalization and EMU, and the implications of the new economic role of the state.

Greece's New Political Economy: State, Finance and Growth from Postwar to EMU

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Greece's New Political Economy: State, Finance and Growth from Postwar to EMU
George Pagoulatos
Manufacturer: Palgrave Macmillan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OURDYC

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Challenge to genocide : let Iraq live / Ramsey Clark and others
Ramsey (1927-) Clark
Manufacturer: New York : International Action Center
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000VZRSQ8

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Challenge to Genocide: Let Iraq Live
Ramsey Clark
Manufacturer: International Action Center
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Economic Conditions | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
International | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Economic Conditions | International | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0965691640

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Jesus saves... and pays his credit card bills!

Debt proof living

Best Budget and Money book out!

This book will change your financial life!

Ideas that work for everyone!

Debt-Proof Living: The Complete Guide to Living Financially Free (Debt-Proof Living (Paperback))
Mary M. Hunt
Manufacturer: DPL Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Budgeting & Money Management | Personal Finance | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Credit Ratings & Repair | Personal Finance | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
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Live Your Life for Half the Price: Without Sacrificing the Life You Love (Debt-Proof Living)

The Complete Cheapskate: How to Get Out of Debt, Stay Out, and Break Free from Money Worries Forever

Everyday Cheapskate's Greatest Tips: 500 Simple Strategies For Smart Living (Debt-Proof Living)

Debt-Proof Your Marriage: How to Achieve Financial Harmony (Debt-Proof Living)

Debt-Proof Your Kids

ASIN: 0976079119

Amazon.com

There are plenty of heavily pedigreed personal-finance experts dishing out good advice, but not many who know what it's like to have to eat ramen all month to make a car payment. On the other hand, there's Mary Hunt, a recovered credit card addict whose free-spending ways landed her family in the middle of $100,000 of unsecured debt in the early 1980s. Pulling herself out of that morass gave Hunt the courage to strike out on her own as a writer, motivational speaker, and the brains behind The Cheapskate Monthly, a newsletter and Web site (www.cheapsk8.com) dedicated to promoting the art of living within one's means, a message that grows ever more urgent as the average American family struggles each year to pay $1,200 in interest alone on revolving, unsecured debt.

While Hunt's previous books have echoed some consistent themes--debt bad, saving good--they've addressed a hodgepodge of different areas: building financial confidence in women and kids, doing Christmas without a stack of credit cards, tips for gourmet cooking at low cost. In Mary Hunt's Debt-Proof Living, Hunt finally puts together a financial primer for all--whether retirees trying to decide when to start drawing Social Security or teenagers ready to sign for their first college loans. Security, according to Hunt, is built with simple tools: tithing, saving, paying off debt, creating a contingency fund for emergencies, driving used cars, owning a home, having insurance.

Although Hunt's "been there, spent that" zeal and warmth have turned her into the Ann Landers of personal finance, she's not just an agony aunt for spendthrifts--business experts will find her a savvy marketer who's using her name and story to build, somewhat ironically, a very effective brand. That doesn't negate her sincerity, however, or the fact that her advice is sound, her formulas work, and her Rapid Debt Repayment Plan has kept increasing numbers of families out of bankruptcy. And finally, Mary Hunt's Debt-Proof Living is just a joy to read--its clarity and lack of condescension make it a perfect gift for anyone just starting to understand the basics of money. --Barrie Trinkle

Book Description

Getting out of debt is only part of the plan. The reader learns how to give, save and build wealth using the Contingency Plan and Freedom Account along with the authors sound and proven principles.

Customer Reviews:

Jesus saves... and pays his credit card bills!.......2007-09-11

There is nothing original in the prescriptions Mary Hunt gives to eliminate debt. On the bright side, it is easy to read and takes almost no effort to understand. On the other hand, I found the references to God and Jesus nauseating. No doubt Ms. Hart loves her religion, but mixing her religious beliefs with the simplistic ideas detailed in this book doesn't add anything. Try "Managing Debt for Dummies".

Debt proof living.......2007-08-24

Everyone should read this book and follow her steps. This is a great way to get out of debt.

Best Budget and Money book out!.......2007-07-16

I first checked this out of the Library but after the third time decieded I needed my own copy. Positive and not degrading like some of the other budget cash only spokes persons.

This book will change your financial life!.......2007-02-24

Pros: Common sense advice that anyone can follow! It WILL help you get your finances in order and help you change your perspective about the monetary side of life. They should make this a mandatory class for high school and/or college students. The website is extremely useful, as well.

Cons: For me, it was disheartening that I could not put the spending plan into immediate action. For someone who is in serious trouble, the advice she suggests may seem too daunting and too difficult to follow. I do not think this is a flaw on Hunt's behalf, but is more an indicator that people with high debt who are spending beyond their means truly need to make more serious and drastic changes to their way of living.

I have posted my personal experience with Hunt's Debt-Proof Living for you if you'd like to read about the positive possibilities that following Hunt's plan offers.

I read Debt-Proof Living two years ago. At that time, we had about $30,000 in credit card debt, we were paying nearly $3000/month on our mortgage, and my husband and I were both driving around in gas-guzzling shiny vehicles. The financial strain was beginning to take it's toll, putting strain on our relationship, our health, and on every aspect of our life. We were living beyond our means, sinking fast, and I reached for this book in desperation.

We were unable to start the spending plan right away because we did not have money to start it with. Every paycheck that came in went right out to keep bills paid just barely on time. As Mary suggested, this was a warning sign that we were living beyond our means and would need to make more drastic changes in order to get to a financially secure place.

First, we traded in my gas-guzzler for about $9000 and I bought a more economical $4000 used car. I still have it, and other than routine maintenance, we have incurred no other cost with it. It also cut our gas expenses significantly. We used the money to make some home improvements so we could put our house on the market. Unfortunately, it took almost a year for our house to sell. All the while we were now falling behind on our mortgage payments and incurring even more credit card debt maxing them all out at $50,000 before it was all said and done.

We finally sold our 3 acre, 4 bedroom, 4 bathroom home last August, we sold a lot our stuff, or just got rid of it, and we moved to a much more modest 3 bedroom, 1 bathroom home, with a small back yard. (I LOVE it!) That cut our mortgage payment by more than half, not to mention cutting my cleaning time by half, too. I took on a part-time job and my husband picked up some extra hours.

This year, we finally got to the place where we could use our tax return to fuel the spending plan suggested by Hunt. It is working like a dream! No more credit cards. We pay cash. If we can't pay cash for something, then we don't get it. We have a savings cushion for unexpected and expected emergencies. This is how it should be. Everyone in my family is happier!

While we are not out of the woods yet with the debt we have accumulated, we can see the light! Even better, if we stick with the spending plan, we will have our home and all of our debt paid off in just 9 years, saving over $100,000 in interest. It will take discipline, but it will leave us with about $40,000 a YEAR just burning a hole in our savings account!

While a total of eleven years, including the two years it took us to get this far, might seem like a long time to get out of debt, had we taken no action, we would have lost our home, and eventually would die of old age and still have the debt! It makes eleven years seem easy!

By following the plan, I have learned just how materialistic and foolish I had been with money. I learned that my family is just as happy, if not happier, with much less "stuff" and space than we had. I have learned to view society in a whole new light, realizing that we are over indulgent and need so much less than we think we need.

What is most important to remember when reading this book is that it is simple, common sense advice for a long term plan. The results that may or may not be seen instantly depending on your individual situation. But ANYONE can improve their financial outlook by following the suggestions in this book.

Ultimately, this book does not give you a band-aid to fix the boo-boos. It gives you a cure!

Ideas that work for everyone!.......2007-01-07

This was one of the first books I read this year as part of my New Year's Resolution to get out of debt. Of all the financial debt books I've read, this one is fantastic. No matter what stage of debt you're in, Mary Hunt's ideas are workable. One of the reasons I liked this book so much is that it gives a simple, easy to follow plan and then backs it up. There are only so many debt books you can read that say: save for retirement! Don't rack up debt! Well, duh. Here's a way to actually deal with it.

Living Check to Check: How to Find the Money You Didn't Know You Had to Become Financially Free

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Living Check to Check: How to Find the Money You Didn't Know You Had to Become Financially Free
Kermit T. Wyche
Manufacturer: K.T. Wyche
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Personal Finance | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0972852301

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Living Financially Free
James L. Paris
Manufacturer: Harvest House Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Public Finance | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Credit Ratings & Repair | Personal Finance | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Financial Planning | Personal Finance | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Personal Finance | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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Living Financially Free: Workbook
James L. Paris
Manufacturer: Harvest House Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Personal Finance | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Financial Planning Workbooks | Personal Finance | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1565074521

Product Description

Customer satisfaction has been trending downward in recent years. We have lost something as a culturea politeness and concern for others. This book is for managers, business owners, salespeople, customer service representatives, operations employees, administrative assistants, and credit department associatespeople at all levels in a company. If you serve people, this book is for you.

Book Description

Globalization and the growing integration of national markets have had profound effects on the operation of markets, not least labor markets. In this book, a range of leading commentators on globalization and labor markets present original contribution on the interaction between these two areas. This book assesses the impact of globalization on trade, cross-border investment, and migration from both a theoretical and econometric standpoint and discusses the possible applications of this analysis for both industrialized and developing countries.

Book Description

Economists have come a long way in understanding the economic growth process since Adam Smith. Economic growth research has not only had a great impact on policy making, it has also generated a large and diverse literature. Designed to facilitate teaching and research on economic growth, this book will help the scholar and student to navigate the literature on determinants of economic growth. The book's opening essay highlights the important theories and empirical findings, while the bibliography includes over 1,200 annotated entries. International in scope, the volume covers individual-country studies, cross-country comparative studies, and cross-continent and worldwide research. With chapters arranged by continent and country, the book enables the reader to quickly find titles of particular interest. Although the focus is on English-language titles, the book includes works in other languages as well. Coverage includes both books and articles. With this book, the reader can navigate through the literature accumulated over 45 years in just a few hours.

Global Economic Growth: Theories, Research, Studies, and Annotated Bibliography, 1950-1997

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Global Economic Growth: Theories, Research, Studies, and Annotated Bibliography, 1950-1997
Lewis-Guodo Liu; Robert Premus
Manufacturer: Greenwood Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OTWASC

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