Book Review:
Posted by ObjectiveAnalyst 11 years, 11 months ago to Government
The Social Engineers:
In the last three weeks I have read three books and started a fourth. Finally some more contemporary authors have made it out of the queue and into my hands. The first was Shaddowbosses, by Mallory & Elizabeth Factor. It was a great expose of the public sector union cronyism that is destroying the integrity of our system. The case was well made and named names. It was well documented and written but a bit repetitive. Next I read Who’s The Fairest of Them All? by Stephen Moore. It was pretty good, and a short read, although I found many typos. One actually contradicted the authors intended meaning. It delved into the taxation and macro economic history of our nation with emphasis on his associate Art Laffer’s “Laffer Curve”. It was full of valuable statistics and graphs. The third book was Ameritopia, by Mark Levin. It was a great read. I loved that he brought all the titans of political philosophy together and let the fur fly! It was good to see quoted so many I have studied over the years. Finally I just started No, They Can’t, by John Stossel. I have read the first four chapters and find it a refreshing and rational approach to our big government problems. Each of these books attack the social engineers from different perspectives, but they all have in common the disdain for governance by people who believe they have the superior intellect and can manage and shape the world to their liking, regardless of opposition or deleterious unforeseen consequences.
“If the natural tendencies of mankind are so bad that it is not safe to permit people to be free, how is it that the tendencies of these organizers are always good? Do not the legislators and their appointed agents also belong to the human race? Or do they believe that they themselves are made of a finer clay than the rest of mankind?” Frederic Bastiat
Regards,
O.A.
In the last three weeks I have read three books and started a fourth. Finally some more contemporary authors have made it out of the queue and into my hands. The first was Shaddowbosses, by Mallory & Elizabeth Factor. It was a great expose of the public sector union cronyism that is destroying the integrity of our system. The case was well made and named names. It was well documented and written but a bit repetitive. Next I read Who’s The Fairest of Them All? by Stephen Moore. It was pretty good, and a short read, although I found many typos. One actually contradicted the authors intended meaning. It delved into the taxation and macro economic history of our nation with emphasis on his associate Art Laffer’s “Laffer Curve”. It was full of valuable statistics and graphs. The third book was Ameritopia, by Mark Levin. It was a great read. I loved that he brought all the titans of political philosophy together and let the fur fly! It was good to see quoted so many I have studied over the years. Finally I just started No, They Can’t, by John Stossel. I have read the first four chapters and find it a refreshing and rational approach to our big government problems. Each of these books attack the social engineers from different perspectives, but they all have in common the disdain for governance by people who believe they have the superior intellect and can manage and shape the world to their liking, regardless of opposition or deleterious unforeseen consequences.
“If the natural tendencies of mankind are so bad that it is not safe to permit people to be free, how is it that the tendencies of these organizers are always good? Do not the legislators and their appointed agents also belong to the human race? Or do they believe that they themselves are made of a finer clay than the rest of mankind?” Frederic Bastiat
Regards,
O.A.
I have read Stossel's No They Can't. quick and to the point as he always is. such a smart guy and a true hero in the journalism world. complete dumbass about intellectual property though.
I have read many things by Laffer. I did not pick up Stephen Moore's book-but he got glowing reviews from people I admire, such as Dr. Sowell. My issue with Moore (and maybe to some extent Laffer) is the preoccupation on tax rates. I have written in here many times about doing away with fed income tax and highest corp. tax rate in the world, etc. but the fact that they are clueless about other economic indicators as key-really irritates me. both are economists. duh! neither have an explanation for the economy's strength during Clinton's higher tax period. The fact is, if the economy is roaring, and economic freedom (fewer regs) is higher, an economy will support higher tax levels.(mortality of the taxes aside). They will not address this in their arguments. therefore, the populace remains ignorant to the devastation laws such as Sarbanes Oxley has done to our economy
Thanks for the input. I am always reading, sometimes three books at a time. Yes, I like Stossel’s work very much. I read his book Give Me a Break when it came out, so I was enthusiastic about this new one. I read a couple more chapters last night. It is quite good as an overall general expression of today’s Libertarian positions. He is generally in line with Reason magazine and I find much difficulty in contradicting their offerings. Given a chance I would question him regarding his positions on intellectual property also. If you are so inclined, could you expand on your primary disagreement?
At the end of Stephen Moore’s book he advocates a flat tax. While I agree this is better than what we have, I am definitely in support of the Fair tax. I do not believe taxing production is conducive to job and wealth creation.
I think my favorite of the books I listed was Ameritopia by Mark Levin. No punches pulled, just what you would expect from “The Great One.” I previously read Liberty and Tyranny when it came out also and I was not disappointed.
I also agree with your perspective on the Clinton era economy. He was lucky he had an expanding economy, and I believe signing welfare reform also helped the expansion, though I would credit much of our economies growth during that time to policies he inherited and the republican congress he had to deal with. It was a good time for my business, and I was still expanding through most of the Bush 43 years until 2006 when congress was lost to the Democrats.
Sarbanes Oxley is bad but when Dodd-Frank regulations are fully written and implemented, we may find bigger problems.
Dr. Sowell is by far my favorite contemporary economist!
Best Regards,
O.A.
I'm with you and a big fan of the Fair Tax. If I remember correctly our current tax system originated as a flat tax. And look what happened to it!
I have read and enjoyed Mark Levin's earlier works, but for some reason got bogged down with "Ameritopia" and did not finish. I need to take another run at it.
Best Regards,
O.A.
I finished Stossel's "No, They Can't" over the weekend. It was pretty darn good. Now it is back to my usual dusty old material, something from the enlightenment period probably. I find the connection and influence they had on the founders “enlightening” :) and their own words in full context are the only way to be sure you know the truth when someone quotes them.
What are you reading?
Carpe diem,
O.A.