Reason: Why Liberals Will Win the Battle for America

In `Reason', Robert Reich labels the current crop of conservatives `Radcons' for radical conservatives. His intention is to differentiate the radical conservatives from tradition conservatives who appear to be a dying breed. The Radcons are recognized by their extremism including a pathologic faith in the free market and supply side economics as well an intense hatred for government safety nets including welfare, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Many Radcons go so far as to encourage tax cheating while the White House Radcons work to de-claw the IRS and SEC. `It's YOUR money' intones George W. Bush but the reduction in tax revenues means a reduction in services and safety nets. As Reich points out this kind of Darwinian, everyone for themselves attitude may work well for a frontier economy but it doesn't work so good for a post modern society. It's also one of the many ironies of the Radcon movement to push extreme patriotism with an utter lack of civic responsibility. As Clinton's Secretary of Labor, Robert Reich it probably most at home discussing business and economic matters and this is where the book shines. Reich is a big proponent of free trade and confesses that when it comes to protectionism the Democrats are as bad if not worse than the Republican's. `Reason' features a great explanation of Supply Side Economics and why it doesn't work. The idea is to reduce taxes on unearned income such as stock dividends and inheritance taxes. Not coincidently these are the taxes paid by the wealthy. The wealthy will then use the extra money to invest in American business causing companies to modernize and increase labor which will then spur a spike in the nations GDP. The problem that Reich points out is that the wealthy tend to have little to no national allegiance when it comes to investing. Another great book on the subject is Neoconomy by Daniel Altman. Altman pointed out that companies don't tend to modernize when they're already producing efficiently and production isn't currently a problem in the U.S. Rather than invest in modern equipment many companies are just creating gigantic golden parachutes for their executive staff. Reich also gives an explanation on how the national GDP can actually be a very misleading indicator of the health of the economy. The point Robert Reich tries to make is that liberals don't just have complaints they have solutions. Globalization is inevitable and the United States needs to prepare for truly stateless companies. There are two routs the United States can take. We can make the United States attractive by offering the world's best infrastructure, a safe environment and a top notch, well trained work force OR we can offer cheap labor. The Radcons have chosen the Wal Mart route. Reich points out that the U.S. will never be able to compete on cheap labor unless we dramatically reduce our standard of living. The liberal answer is investing in education, health and infrastructure and THAT requires a collec

Right on target, bravo! The real threat to the values and traditions of the Republic comes not from liberals, as neo- and radical conservatives would have us believe, but from an alliance of secretive government, timid legislature, judiciary with little respect for constitution and big money controlling what most Americans hear and see every day through the media. "Our rulers will become corrupt, our people careless. A single zealot may commence persecutor, and better men be his victims... From the conclusion of this war we shall be going down hill. It will not then be necessary to resort every moment to the people for support. They will be forgotten, therefore, and their rights disregarded. They will forget themselves, but in the sole faculty of making money, and will never think of uniting to effect a due respect for their rights. The shackles, therefore, which shall not be knocked off at the conclusion of this war, will remain on us long, will be made heavier and heavier, till our rights shall revive or expire in a convulsion."Thomas Jefferson, "Notes on the State of Virginia", response to query 17, (1781).

I have long been a fan of Robert Reich and this book confirms what I've always believed - that the fiscal policies articulated by liberals - which enhance the lives of all Americans, not just the richest ones - are the only hope for our country. Thank you, Robert Reich, for your fiscal vision and your prudent, gracious care for the least of these.