War on the Middle Class: How the Government, Big Business, and Special Interest Groups Are Waging War on the American Dream and How to Fight Ba

by Lou Dobbs

Book Overview

Prominent CNN host and commentator Lou Dobbs unleashes his manifesto on the vanishing American dream Through his nightly CNN show, Lou Dobbs Tonight, his syndicated radio program, and his monthly magazine column, Lou Dobbs has become one of America?s most visible, popular, and respected voices on business and financial matters. Now, with War on the Middle Class, Dobbs takes an impassioned and rousing stance on the all-out class war that is turning...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0670037923
• ISBN13: 9780670037926
• Release Date: October 2006
• Publisher: Viking Books
• Length: 276 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.4" x 9.5"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Excellent...A Voice for Those Lost in the Middle

I just finished it. Great book. For a long period of time I have been a bit depressed over politics in general. Both parties have been seemingly captured by zealots. The far left continues to advocate virtually any idea the pushes the moral envelope, or has the potential to showcase their "humanity" at tax payer expense. The far right has a basic economic philosophy of rationalized greed and Social Darwinism. To a large degree left without a political party is the middle class. People like me who are married with kids in school, a college graduate, with bills and commitments everywhere. We are just trying to make sure we have a job at a livable wage, all the bills are paid, and perhaps we even have a few of beers left in the fridge at the end of the month. Lou Dobbs speaks to me. His ideas on immigration and trade are dead on. Our basic economic self-interest has been ignored by politicians in favor of grand and ultimately failed intellectual experiments. Illegal immigration devalues manual labor, as does any trade agreement that fosters off shoring of jobs. As Lou put so well illegal immigration is the other side of the same coin as trade agreements such as NAFTA. Simply put businesses and employers who want to do business in a middle class society like America, but do not want to pay a middle class wage. Instead they search for cheap labor then move jobs there. Or in the case of illegal immigration allow the cheap labor to come to them. The bottom line with all of these kinds of policies is more misery in the form of higher taxes, (or increased debt for our kids), and stagnant wages. This for those who play by the rules and try to do the right thing everyday. Nice. The end of the book was perhaps the most thought provoking and uplifting. After sharing his thoughts on reform, he includes a copy of the United States Constitution. Reading it reminded me that generations have come and gone, and with each the social problems of the day have been overcome. As Americans I think we are all are still up to the tasks at hand.

Every American Interested in his/her country should read this

What an eye-opener. You read this book and wonder: Can we save our country? What Lou Dobbs presents is a shocker. True, we may have been aware of most of the problems on a piecemeal basis. But when all the major problems are presented in a very easy-to-understand, concise manner, Lou's book surely must get every thinking man's attention. What I also like is that Lou blames and criticizes both parties--rare in today's political polarization which can destroy our country. Can we get our politicians (unfortunately, not many "statesmen" around) to think country first instead of party? Will corporate America realize that they are contributing heavily to the demise of America with their selfish agendas? It's a must read. Get it! Read it! Recommend it!

We're Losing!

Dobbs begins by pointing out that America has become a society owned by corporations, and its political system is dominated by corporate and special interests. There is no countervailing influence - labor unions are nearing extinction, the media takes the easy way out (equal time to both sides) and doesn't investigate, universities are dependent on the federal government, corporations, and the wealthy, and churches tend to expand their political energy on issues like gay marriage. The middle class is being beaten down by illegal immigration, inability to pay for health care, declining availability of pensions, outsourcing and corporate bankruptcies, an increasing share of taxes, and rising income inequality and federal deficits. Corporate income taxes made up 1/3 of federal revenues 50 years ago - now it is only 1/8. Washington D.C. has over 34,000 lobbyists. Foreign countries and major corporations take large stock positions in media companies to influence reporting. Nearly 50% of personal bankruptcies are the result of illness; a majority of filers had health insurance. Meanwhile, Congress runs up huge deficits and tries to repeal the estate tax, and business creates numerous new lobbying groups cloaked in deceitful language and nomenclature. Trade agreements now incorporate large amounts of international law - violations (eg. "buy American," limits on urban sprawl opposed by foreign investors) would be taken to international court. Corporate taxes are at the lowest level in about 100 years, profits account for the largest share of national income in 40 years, and the share going to workers is at its lowest level in 40 years. We were told that jobs in manufacturing would be replaced by better ones in technology - now white-collar jobs are being outsourced, with technology leading the way. The top seven jobs forecasted as having increased demand in the next decade don't even require a college degree. Northwest Airlines received $250 billion in taxpayer aid to bail it out of 9/11 problems, then offshored maintenance, hired 800 foreign flight attendants to replace Americans on international flights, cut everyone's pay, and bought Airbus planes. The average manufacturing wage in the U.S. is $16.68, vs. $0.57 in China; in addition, there are also benefit and environment savings. The Federation for American Immigration Reform estimates the direct net cost of illegals at about $45 billion/year. The National Academy of Sciences found over 40% of wage losses incurred by low-skilled workers is due to illegals; another study in the 1990's found over 700,000 low-skill workers were jobless because of illegals. Opponents claim it is too difficult to verify legality; (Arizona's governor has required that be done each month for all state employees, and reports "no problems.") Dobbs then goes on to report that our success is also hampered by a high rate of high-school drop-outs (about 1/3, often misstated by educators as something less), and a

America's Precarious Future

Author Lou Dobbs brings up a number of pressing issues in our country that are, for the most part, being ignored by our politicans in Washington. Border security, corporate business outsourcing jobs to other countries, failure in our public schools, and the shrinking middle class while the rich get richer are a few of the subjects that Dobbs tackles. What I find especially frightening is the fact the future of our country is at stake while politicans and corporate America engage in self-interest. Leadership is desperately needed and Dobbs suggests people designate themselves as Independents rather than Republicans or Democrats. Neither party should assume they have our vote. It is something to be earned. Education is woefully neglected while it once was a chance for equalization among students. No one can guarantee success for anyone, but all at least deserve a chance at success. College tuition costs have soared beyond the means of many students. Talented teachers are needed, but teachers are often hired into other higher paying jobs. Discipline in schools has deteriorated due to the breakup of the family. Illegal immigrants are taxing our schools, hospitals, jails, and social services in addition to bringing diseases into our country while the powers that be in Washington fiddle. My bottom line? This is not the time to be a kid in America.

Very well written

An insightful look at the divergence of interests between those that run the country, not just the elected officials but business leaders and special interest groups as well, and the rest of us who live in it. This book is very well researched, elegantly written, relatively objective, and rather deep. It addresses concerns such as trade policy (e.g., NAFTA, GATT, outsourcing), national security (e.g., illigal immigration, border security), social issues (e.g., gay marriage, abortion rights), and a whole lot more. Whether you agree with what's written or not, it really makes you think... The only down side is that it does a bit better job of explaining how we got here than it does on how to "fix" the problem. Since there are no easy answers I'm willing to give it a five star rating anyway. I never thought I'd say this about any book, but everyone really should read this one. It covers important stuff that affects each and every one of us directly and indirectly. It will give you a lot to think about and a few things to take action on at the voting booth and elsewhere. You can vote with your money, your time, and your actions as well as your ballot. Although the author has a conservative bias, by no means does he come across as a "party line" hack. In fact he points out the foibles of both major partys rather even-handedly. Very well done Mr. Dobbs! I'm impressed.