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Rating: 
Summary: A campaign book we'd like to see more like
Review: I guess you'd have to call this a campaign book, since Nader was running for president when it was published. But if we had more campaign books like this, presidential campaigns would be much better indeed, because it's a substantive book with real convictions and real recommendations. Nader coined the term "corporate welfare" in 1956, before he became famous for attacking General Motors, and it's been a pet topic of his ever since. It means, basically, government spending of any kind whatsoever that has the effect of benefiting corporations. Some government give-aways are obvious, like the $70 billion in lost revenue from the 1996 Telecommunications Act, when the feds gave big broadcasters a new broadcast spectrum for free, instead of auctioning it off. Nader says this is because broadcasters contribute heavily to political campaigns; and that's the essence of his view, that all corporate welfare is based on campaign kickbacks. But some government give-aways are a lot less obvious. It's impressive how Nader can apply that specific a concept to such a wide array of policy issues. (He can do this successfully because he has spent the last 45 years thinking about little else. When an interviewer asked him what he likes to do with his free time, he responded, "I like to visit a meat-processing plant. Or a coal mine.) The problem, as Nader sees it, is that government giveaways to corporations are repaid by campaign donations, so the politicians who support the corporate welfare get corporate support back for their re-election, and the cycle continues indefinitely. This is what Nader meant when he called Gore & Bush "tweedledum and tweedledee", with no substantive differences between them. When pressed, Nader conceded that Gore & Bush DID differ on the issues, but he says that the only REAL difference is which corporations support Gore versus which support Bush. They both kowtow equally, says Nader, and that's the source of inherent corruption. This book is never going to have the impact of Nader's 1960s classic "Unsafe at Any Speed," which basically gave bith to the consumer safety industry. But it DOES address a resonant chord in the American electorate, as we saw with John McCain's immense popularity. McCain addressed the same basic issues of campaign finance problems (and in fact was one of the few Senate opponents of that 1996 Telecomm Act), but without the deeper underpinning that Nader presents. Some examples of Nader's applications of misuse of government resources on corporate welfare: * Subsidizing defense industry mergers * Pork-barrel highway projects * "Export assistance" to big companies * Tax holidays for sports stadiums * Corporate tax loopholes ....
Rating: 
Summary: Made you think about corporate fat and corruption, but.....
Review: I think Mr. Nader is a little too much of an idealist. There are drawbacks to every system of government and every type of economy. In this book Nader points out a lot of waste that the government participates in and he makes some suggestions on how to clean things up. I don't regret reading the book at all (it was a very quick and easy read), as I feel I have learned a lot from it, but I think that Nader has to realize that we don't live in Utopia. Judging from the current world order, it appears that capitalism is the most successful economic model. But capitalism, like ever other system, is not perfect and Nader wants it to be. An interesting read for those who believe in the American way but want to get a glimpse into some of the negatives that Nader and his guys feel need some improvement. Books like this need to be written because it forces people to take a closer look at some of the government waste and the sometimes shady corporate/government partnerships. But I don't think that Nader's solutions are very practical politically nor will they be easily implemented.
Rating:
Summary: Made you think about corporate fat and corruption, but.....
Review: I think Mr. Nader is a little too much of an idealist. There are drawbacks to every system of government and every type of economy. In this book Nader points out a lot of waste that the government participates in and he makes some suggestions on how to clean things up. I don't regret reading the book at all (it was a very quick and easy read), as I feel I have learned a lot from it, but I think that Nader has to realize that we don't live in Utopia. Judging from the current world order, it appears that capitalism is the most successful economic model. But capitalism, like ever other system, is not perfect and Nader wants it to be. An interesting read for those who believe in the American way but want to get a glimpse into some of the negatives that Nader and his guys feel need some improvement. Books like this need to be written because it forces people to take a closer look at some of the government waste and the sometimes shady corporate/government partnerships. But I don't think that Nader's solutions are very practical politically nor will they be easily implemented.
Rating:
Summary: Ralph Nader is the best man for the job.
Review: Ralph Nader has intelligence, convictions, heart, and character. More of what I can say of Bush and Gore, not sending any sublinibabalbal messages of course. It would sure be nice to see a modern American political have the guts and courage Nader has to STAND UP TO SPECIAL INTERESTS! What a concept! In his book, Nader brilliantly writes about corporate greed and welfare and who suffers??? We do! The working man, the people. Wonder why only 49% of the American people vote? Leaving mostly the poor and lower classes left behind? Could it be that the Republicans and Democrats don't respond to their issues? These book is useful for those of us that love our nation but don't want to see it become the corporate welfare state it is oh so quickly becoming. An excellent read.
Rating:
Summary: Ralph Nader is the best man for the job.
Review: Ralph Nader has intelligence, convictions, heart, and character. More of what I can say of Bush and Gore, not sending any sublinibabalbal messages of course. It would sure be nice to see a modern American political have the guts and courage Nader has to STAND UP TO SPECIAL INTERESTS! What a concept! In his book, Nader brilliantly writes about corporate greed and welfare and who suffers??? We do! The working man, the people. Wonder why only 49% of the American people vote? Leaving mostly the poor and lower classes left behind? Could it be that the Republicans and Democrats don't respond to their issues? These book is useful for those of us that love our nation but don't want to see it become the corporate welfare state it is oh so quickly becoming. An excellent read.
Rating:
Summary: An "El Cid" Causing Change But Maybe Not Fast Enough!
Review: This Pamphlet is the keystone to the author's distress-signal about how corporate welfare can eventually straggle the American Capitalistic System. Nader points out that during this time of prosperity cuts in social service programs, lack of national health insurance, and illiteracy is higher now then in the 1900. Simultaneously, taxpayer's funds are being used for corporate subsidies, business bailouts, investment giveaways, and tax loopholes better known as "corporate welfare." Ralph Nader, the lifelong consumer advocate reminds me of "El Cid" the great 11th century Castilian hero that took Valencia for Alfonso VI by being an excellent organizer. At Valencia the Moor's left a library of knowledge that benefited Spain for centuries. Yet, by the 1490's Spain forfeited much of what it gained. Foreign wars became so expensive and Spanish taxes so high the people became overburdened. The same can be said for defending our interests today. In Spain, although gold and silver from America seemed to make Spain rich for a time, the same riches drove prices so high the wealth was squandered leaving few institutional assets to benefit society. In America, the new wealth in High Tech investments has brought prosperity but at prices so high American families needs two incomes today. All Spanish wealth became concentrated in the hands of the few as economic, individual and religious liberties disappeared making life more wretched for those left behind. By the 15th century this limited affluence made the government more autocratic and corrupted every checks and balances the Spanish people depended upon. Soon the people lost their incentive to work and a welfare state was created from demagogues promising the people any prosperity. As Spain's national spirit dimmed trade losses to foreign competitors reduced Spanish influence in world affairs. Sound familiar? Nader is forewarning us that our system was designed to provide government regulation to protect the people and still permit a person to become wealthy. This is being abandoned as lobbyists fund congress, private companies fund presidential campaigns and lawyers finance Judges into office. In this pamphlet, Nader explains the history and extent of the troubling ideologically oneness of the two dominant political parties being in the pocket of corporate America. He claims the two have similar views on trade, foreign policy and the war on drugs. Meanwhile, Nader offers practical schemes for ceasing this, "corporate crime wave," as described by him. Hence, Nader is calling for a populists movement similar to El Cid's call for peasants to take back Spain from the Moors. Nader is challenging the Democratic and Republican parties on the environment, poverty, racism, workers' rights, defense spending and a morass of other issues. El Cid just before he died accused King Alfonso of betraying the people's trusts similar to how Nader accuses politicians and business of failing the country. As I read Nader's hypothesis here, I couldn't help see a perfect process of societal suicide due to wealth and success. The only question I was left with to ponder was, "Is Nader Too Old And Too Late To Make The Changes Necessary In Our Culture, Just Like El Cid?" I highly recommend this pamphlet for any one looking to understand the obstacles before America in this age of handicapped wonderment.
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