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4.17 AVERAGE
4.17 AVERAGE
Warren makes an argument about the persistent problem of the rich using their wealth to control politics to their own advantage. She supports her argument with a mix of --
1. her own life story as she moves from being a daughter of working class parents to becoming a college student, wife, a working mother, a university professor, and then at the point of the book, a senator.
2. a review of the history in the US between the needs of the working Americans and the forces that are either helping them with education, housing, childcare and medical care (etc.) and the forces cutting these programs in favor of corporate tax cuts or corporate "welfare." showing between the needs of the working Americans and the forces that are either helping them with education, housing, childcare and medical care (etc.) and the forces cutting these programs in favor of corporate tax cuts or corporate "welfare."
3. anecdotes--carefully chosen to show a diverse group of working Americans trying to better their situation but nevertheless living on the edge of poverty.
The tone of the book stays on Warren's brand: she's livid at the inequality, focused on fighting for the average wage-earning American, and she's knowledgeable about how the US government works--including knowing in detail how the rich and powerful seek ways to thwart the aims of a government for the people and by the people.
The review of US history and politics is primarily focused on FDR's programs to save the working people from the ravages of the Great Depression (caused by the greed of the rich and the complicit politicians). Then she moves on to describe the harm Reganomics caused by the false promise of trickle down economics--which further enriched the Haves and increased the number of Have Nots. She then takes a quick tour of more recent examples of how lobbying and legislation benefits corporations more than the "little people."
One of the most salient examples--spanning pages 84-87--describes Warren delivering a presentation on credit card debt to the regulators at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The year is 2005. After vividly describing the nature of the problem (policies that allow the average person to take on too much credit card debt while big banks make big profits on interest rates), Warren asks for legislation to limit banks from profiting off of consumers in this way.
When the government employee says, "No, we just can't do that. The banks wouldn't like it," we see clearly who is being represented in DC (p. 86).
At times, the book's detail on lobbyists and legislation becomes overwhelming, but this supports the idea that Warren knows her stuff. At times the tone becomes exhausting. I actually took a three day break after reading her introduction. I didn't know if I could withstand the intensity of her tone. However, I'm reading campaign trail books by the democratic party frontrunners, so I pressed on. Her attention to detail balances her intense tone. I teach composition and rhetoric, so I was highly attuned to her word choice and imagery, which are often emotional. But I suppose taking on an objective, detached tone while people are losing their houses and lacking medical care would come off as cold. And again, this is on brand for Warren: SHE'S LIVID ABOUT INEQUITIES and SHE'S FIGHTING FOR THE WORKING PEOPLE! Every sentence conveys that aim.
But what is her PLAN?
Although the book covers a number of challenges that people face in trying to do more than live hand to mouth, the book returns to this issues: because of the "Goliaths" exerting undue influence in American politics, the average working American is living on the edge--between employment and lay offs; home ownership and foreclosure; between adequate health care and a slow or rapid decline in health leading to disability or even death; and gaining an education and being stuck in dead-end jobs near or below the poverty line.
If I were forced to assign Warren's book to a single issue, it would be this: the American people need and deserve a living wage so that they are not working 40 or more hours a week and still failing to secure adequate housing, transportation, food, childcare, and medical care. She doesn't focus to one issue, so this is my interpretation, my distillation.
Obviously (the book argues overtly and covertly), Warren is the "David" empowered to redirect American politics (as FDR did) in order to give a hand up not a hand out to working Americans.
I'm not sure yet if Warren has my vote in the primaries, but she has my attention.
1. her own life story as she moves from being a daughter of working class parents to becoming a college student, wife, a working mother, a university professor, and then at the point of the book, a senator.
2. a review of the history in the US between the needs of the working Americans and the forces that are either helping them with education, housing, childcare and medical care (etc.) and the forces cutting these programs in favor of corporate tax cuts or corporate "welfare." showing between the needs of the working Americans and the forces that are either helping them with education, housing, childcare and medical care (etc.) and the forces cutting these programs in favor of corporate tax cuts or corporate "welfare."
3. anecdotes--carefully chosen to show a diverse group of working Americans trying to better their situation but nevertheless living on the edge of poverty.
The tone of the book stays on Warren's brand: she's livid at the inequality, focused on fighting for the average wage-earning American, and she's knowledgeable about how the US government works--including knowing in detail how the rich and powerful seek ways to thwart the aims of a government for the people and by the people.
The review of US history and politics is primarily focused on FDR's programs to save the working people from the ravages of the Great Depression (caused by the greed of the rich and the complicit politicians). Then she moves on to describe the harm Reganomics caused by the false promise of trickle down economics--which further enriched the Haves and increased the number of Have Nots. She then takes a quick tour of more recent examples of how lobbying and legislation benefits corporations more than the "little people."
One of the most salient examples--spanning pages 84-87--describes Warren delivering a presentation on credit card debt to the regulators at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The year is 2005. After vividly describing the nature of the problem (policies that allow the average person to take on too much credit card debt while big banks make big profits on interest rates), Warren asks for legislation to limit banks from profiting off of consumers in this way.
When the government employee says, "No, we just can't do that. The banks wouldn't like it," we see clearly who is being represented in DC (p. 86).
At times, the book's detail on lobbyists and legislation becomes overwhelming, but this supports the idea that Warren knows her stuff. At times the tone becomes exhausting. I actually took a three day break after reading her introduction. I didn't know if I could withstand the intensity of her tone. However, I'm reading campaign trail books by the democratic party frontrunners, so I pressed on. Her attention to detail balances her intense tone. I teach composition and rhetoric, so I was highly attuned to her word choice and imagery, which are often emotional. But I suppose taking on an objective, detached tone while people are losing their houses and lacking medical care would come off as cold. And again, this is on brand for Warren: SHE'S LIVID ABOUT INEQUITIES and SHE'S FIGHTING FOR THE WORKING PEOPLE! Every sentence conveys that aim.
But what is her PLAN?
Although the book covers a number of challenges that people face in trying to do more than live hand to mouth, the book returns to this issues: because of the "Goliaths" exerting undue influence in American politics, the average working American is living on the edge--between employment and lay offs; home ownership and foreclosure; between adequate health care and a slow or rapid decline in health leading to disability or even death; and gaining an education and being stuck in dead-end jobs near or below the poverty line.
If I were forced to assign Warren's book to a single issue, it would be this: the American people need and deserve a living wage so that they are not working 40 or more hours a week and still failing to secure adequate housing, transportation, food, childcare, and medical care. She doesn't focus to one issue, so this is my interpretation, my distillation.
Obviously (the book argues overtly and covertly), Warren is the "David" empowered to redirect American politics (as FDR did) in order to give a hand up not a hand out to working Americans.
I'm not sure yet if Warren has my vote in the primaries, but she has my attention.
If you're interested in the history of financial & corporate regulation in this country, this is the book for you. First of all, Elizabeth Warren is an excellent teacher & she presents the information clearly, with lots of examples. She backs up her examples with sources, located in the 45 pages of footnotes at the end of the book. There is also an index (which I think is essential for all non-fiction books.) Most of the book is extremely depressing, as she shows how we got to this point in history, where corporate lobbyists are writing the bills which concern the government regulation of their industries. But is does get brighter toward the end, where she describes what we can do to change things. This is a book that I wish every voter would read.
A good overview of some of the major economic issues facing America today, but focused too much on the middle class rather than all workers.
Warren does an excellent job noting the history of how we've gotten where we are, significant shifts in the last 30-50 years in how federal politics works, the economic impact of the most recent shifts as compared to how political economics were geared in the 1950's.
I do feel like I need to go back on the section re: FDR to further understand how our country accomplished what it did to come out of the depression and bring up so many people What of what was done then can be done now and how can we encourage, nay demand, that our representatives do our bidding?
While this book is clearly a call to action, I wish there was a bit more specificity about the how, given the complexities and lobbyist strongholds that currently exist. Exactly how can we get our bidding done given this new political landscape? Need a little more concrete help here, Senator Warren. Nevertheless, a stark, somewhat dispiriting review of where our country currently is and how horrifying it is for 95% of the country.
BTW this book does a MUCH better job than Hillbilly Elegy and others to understand why voters went Trump -- they've been crushed by many of these policies, and some of Obama's choices/political picks (and resulting consequences) do not go unmentioned. That said, the slide clearly started during Reagan and you see it play out from there...
I do feel like I need to go back on the section re: FDR to further understand how our country accomplished what it did to come out of the depression and bring up so many people What of what was done then can be done now and how can we encourage, nay demand, that our representatives do our bidding?
While this book is clearly a call to action, I wish there was a bit more specificity about the how, given the complexities and lobbyist strongholds that currently exist. Exactly how can we get our bidding done given this new political landscape? Need a little more concrete help here, Senator Warren. Nevertheless, a stark, somewhat dispiriting review of where our country currently is and how horrifying it is for 95% of the country.
BTW this book does a MUCH better job than Hillbilly Elegy and others to understand why voters went Trump -- they've been crushed by many of these policies, and some of Obama's choices/political picks (and resulting consequences) do not go unmentioned. That said, the slide clearly started during Reagan and you see it play out from there...
I would follow Elizabeth Warren into battle. This book is just her talking about the economic issues that piss her off and why Trump is a punk bitch, and I relate to that deeply.
She makes a clear, compelling case for why we are headed in the wrong direction and what needs to be done to get back on the right track.
Lizzie freaking dubs. The one that got away. Her ability to so clearly outline what's wrong with the country in terms of who the government represents made me so angry in the way that it's supposed to. I don't know how you fight against such blatant corruption every day as a 70 year old and don't have a brain aneurysm or something, makes me respect her strength and compassion even more. God damn it she would've been a good president, screw all the centrists for teaming up and making her look bad. I recommend this mostly to people who think that we're doing fine or think that Trump improves the economy. Really just everyone should read this book so we can all agree on what is factual before figuring out what to do about the world.
If you want more information about how trump was elected, this book is a must read. It definitely leans toward the left, but gives a good perspective.
Some biographical information, some history, some stories of struggling Americans, some mentioning of challenges with government, some complaining and name calling. Better than many others I have read this political season. This one did a little better at describing her priorities than others have.