The book explores the contrasting economic landscapes of Europe and the United States during the 1980s and 1990s. While European economies faced secular decline marked by slow growth and high unemployment, the U.S. experienced a strong recovery through strategic tax cuts, deregulation, and tighter monetary policies. This analysis delves into the factors that contributed to these divergent economic outcomes, providing insights into the implications for future policy decisions.
The book explores three pivotal political revolutions in U.S. history: Jefferson's "revolution of 1800," the Civil War, and the New Deal, highlighting their profound impacts on institutional and cultural changes. It poses the question of whether the nation is on the brink of a fourth revolution that could redefine American politics and economics for years to come, suggesting emerging signs that such an upheaval may be imminent.
The book explores the tension between the push for income redistribution by Democratic candidates and progressive economists, and the skepticism of voters towards government intervention. While figures like Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders advocate for policies to reduce income and wealth inequality, public opinion favors strategies aimed at overall economic growth and job creation. Voters express concern about inequality but doubt the government's ability to effectively address it without potentially exacerbating the situation for all.
"Piereson [posits that there is an] inevitable political turmoil that will overtake the United States in the next decade as a consequence of economic stagnation, the unsustainable growth of government, and the exhaustion of postwar arrangements that formerly underpinned American prosperity and power. The challenges of public debt, the retirement of the baby boom generation, and slow economic growth have reached a point where they require profound changes in the role of government in American life"--Dust jacket flap.
The book explores the aftermath of John F. Kennedy's assassination, focusing on the rise of conspiratorial thinking among the American Left. It delves into the transformation of Kennedy into a liberal icon and martyr for civil rights following his death. Additionally, the author analyzes how the assassination contributed to the decline of mid-century liberalism, which had dominated American political thought until 1963, highlighting the complex interplay between historical events and ideological shifts.
Citing the assassination of JFK as a major turning point in American history, a provocative assessment evaluates the assassination's role in reshaping JFK's character as well as the American public's faith in the nation's institutions and way of life.
This collection features ten essays from notable authors, including James Q. Wilson and Victor Davis Hanson, who explore the promotion of liberty and limited government in various contexts. The contributors analyze the interplay of politics, economics, and religion, addressing how these ideals can be adapted to meet contemporary global challenges. Each essay offers unique insights into the importance of these principles in fostering a free society.