The Vampire State: And Other Myths and Fallacies About the U.S. Economy
by Fred L. Block | Nonfiction | This book has not been rated.
ISBN: 156584193x Global Overview for this book
ISBN: 156584193x Global Overview for this book
Registered by PaperbackPal on 11/12/2004
3 journalers for this copy...
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When you recall that the forces of Newt Gingrich got solidly behind the balanced budget amendment, that it was Ross Perot's embracing of deficit reduction that propelled his original meteoric presidential campaign, and that it is Bill Clinton who holds the title of greatest national debt reducer among post-World War II American presidents, you realize that the notion of balancing the federal books is no longer a conservative shibboleth; it's now the apple pie of economic politics. But Fred Block, a sociology professor, remains a dissenter.
The Vampire State is his brief against the importance of the idea of a balanced budget. Block argues that the demand to balance is based on a faulty metaphor, that of an economy that was once vibrant but has been leeched into weakness by a money-parasitic government. In truth, he holds, there are a lot of other factors for economic health besides the money supply, such as new technology, the ways businesses organize themselves, the quality of the labor pool, and the psychology of the investor pool. Indeed, the U.S. government often spurs the economy by drawing these factors into increased play. And we'd see that, argues Block, if, for instance, we abandoned the received, but pessimistic ways of measuring productivity, inflation, and savings.
Product Description:
The Vampire State is a popular and provocative look at the muddled way we talk about economics in America. In engaging prose, Fred L. Block argues that many familiar metaphors, such as the image of the government as a vampire sucking the lifeblood from our economy, are patently false and based on bad economics. He explains why balancing the federal budget will not solve our economic problems, shows the flaws in the arguments for a global free trade regime, and uses a series of counter-metaphors to suggest reforms we desperately need.
When you recall that the forces of Newt Gingrich got solidly behind the balanced budget amendment, that it was Ross Perot's embracing of deficit reduction that propelled his original meteoric presidential campaign, and that it is Bill Clinton who holds the title of greatest national debt reducer among post-World War II American presidents, you realize that the notion of balancing the federal books is no longer a conservative shibboleth; it's now the apple pie of economic politics. But Fred Block, a sociology professor, remains a dissenter.
The Vampire State is his brief against the importance of the idea of a balanced budget. Block argues that the demand to balance is based on a faulty metaphor, that of an economy that was once vibrant but has been leeched into weakness by a money-parasitic government. In truth, he holds, there are a lot of other factors for economic health besides the money supply, such as new technology, the ways businesses organize themselves, the quality of the labor pool, and the psychology of the investor pool. Indeed, the U.S. government often spurs the economy by drawing these factors into increased play. And we'd see that, argues Block, if, for instance, we abandoned the received, but pessimistic ways of measuring productivity, inflation, and savings.
Product Description:
The Vampire State is a popular and provocative look at the muddled way we talk about economics in America. In engaging prose, Fred L. Block argues that many familiar metaphors, such as the image of the government as a vampire sucking the lifeblood from our economy, are patently false and based on bad economics. He explains why balancing the federal budget will not solve our economic problems, shows the flaws in the arguments for a global free trade regime, and uses a series of counter-metaphors to suggest reforms we desperately need.
moved this book from my permanent collection to this shelf. I find it impossible to concentrate on this book even though the content is interesting because someone has underlined so many passages that it is terribly distracting to me.
Journal Entry 3 by -Steppenwolf- at Library Square, Downtown branch VPL in Vancouver, British Columbia Canada on Friday, January 7, 2005
Released on Tuesday, February 01, 2005 at about 5:00:00 PM BX time (GMT-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada) at Turks coffee house on Commercial Drive across from Grandview Park. Will be inside in the glass enclosed bookshelf. Released in memory of Dan Clune, BX programmer, who recently passed on.
Found at Turks - to be read and released.
