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AudibleInk - 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 Back
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List Price: $15.00
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Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
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FREE SHIPPING on Orders over $25!
Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 351
Format: Bargain Price
Label: Penguin (Non-Classics)
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 288
Publication Date: 2007-09-25
Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics)
Studio: Penguin (Non-Classics)
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Editorial Reviews:
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Prominent CNN host and commentator Lou Dobbs unleashes his manifesto on the vanishing American dream.
Abridged CDs - 5 CDs, 6 hours
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Does Lou Really Care About the Middle Class?
Comment: During the Presidential-election campaigns, I watched a lot of Lou Dobbs. I was solidly for Barack Obama, but I was interested in the points to be made by those who opposed him. Dobbs, of course, tells us that he is a political "Independent," which is fine, but does that really give us anything to stand for? Is that really a direction that will lead us to solutions to our major problems? Is that really a way to implement change or is it more a way just to get people fired up?
To find out more the interworkings of Lou Dobbs, I read his book, "War on the Middle Class." I came away feeling that he is basically a self-centered entertainer more than anything else. But that, alone, does not make the book a bad read.
Dobbs, of course, primarily bases who he is by attacking people, groups and concepts. To its credit, the book does a great job building reasons to dislike Washington lobbyists, those who have promoted our haves-and-have-nots society, greedy CEOs, our huge federal debt, corporations dodging taxes, and the problems with our health care system. The flow of the arguments on these subjects is good, as is the information, much of it very detailed.
But in other areas, I find Dobbs less convincing and shallow, e.g., reforming education, curbing "illegal" immigration, outsourcing jobs overseas, NAFTA/CAFTA, and his urging Americans to consider being politically Independent, rather than a member of one of the two major parties. He also says that "our federal government has become...dysfunctional," which does not lead us with much to build on.
A major problem with Dobbs' credibility is that he is such a part of the establishment, himself. He must be worth a ton of money. He hawks his books on his TV and radio shows to no end. He obviously plays to his audience to try to increase his ratings. The phony polls that he runs on his show have obvious self-serving answers, and most of the e-mails he reads are simply patronizing. "Lou, you are the greatest." "Lou, everyone else is dumb except you." That kind of stuff.
Dobbs will be successful if he gets enough folks revved up about enough stuff, and that he gets the credit for doing the revving. The problem here, of course, is that this is all about Lou, not really about "us." And he has some real boners in the book, in my opinion. One is his defense of Arthur Anderson as a firm in its role in the Enron scandal. Another is when he raves about the talents of our founding fathers, while ignoring, for the most part, their lack of standards for racial and gender equality at the time. He tells us that he "grew up truly believing that the United States was a classless society...." Where and when could he have gained that impression? And, on our huge federal debt, he blames Clinton and George W., but fails to point out that Reagan was the one who really got the debt rolling in the early 80's, with his supply side "voodoo economics."
In one chapter of the book, entitled, "The Politics of Deceit," he tries to make the point that our political system, with its two major parties, has failed. He says, "I can't take seriously anyone who takes either the Republican Party or Democratic Party seriously...." He points out that the approval rating of Congress is only 23 percent (at the time the book was being written). He notes the very high rate by which incumbents are reelected. He points out that the Congress doesn't work many days of the year, that most are lawyers, and that they take money and trips from lobbyists with regularity. But what does this lead us with? What is new with any of this? Is this criticism primarily for entertainment purposes? Where is the beef?
In another chapter, this one entitled, "He says, she says," there must be one hundred "I's" in it. "I sincerely believe...." I hate political correctness...." "I believe that corporate America...." "I take a position...." "I believe that every journalist...." I don't think the chapter adds much to the discussion. Again, it appears to be all about Lou.
And I could go into detail why I find many of Dobbs' positions shallow and grandstanding, but I'll end by looking at his last chapter, which purports to tell "us" about "Taking Back America." He's built his case to this point: American has problems, the rich are getting richer, and the middle class is taking it on the chin. Now is the time to bring it all together and to give us some beef. I think he fails.
"You and I must work to change a social order that is in disrepair," he says. He urges us to read the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence as an intellectual base. Then, he tells us that if we continue to be too busy and preoccupied, "We get the government we deserve." He urges us to register Independent. He praises referendums and initiatives on ballots. He says the minimum wage should be raised to a "living wage," and that we must secure our borders from more illegals. He says that we have only room for one language in our country, he wants bonuses for the better teachers, and he believes that "the people of this country should have access to adequate health care." He is all over the place. But he never tells us how in the world "we" are going to pull any of this off.
He's a man on the podium leading us on. He's at the head of the parade. But do we really believe that he has a role to play in all this, that he really has any chips on the table? No, to me, it's more like he is just playing us for the fools he thinks we are?
I didn't go into reading the book a Lou Dobbs' fan. I don't come out a convert. The value of the book comes in the statistics and information in the areas that make the most sense for reform at the federal level. But, to me, the guy to implement most of these changes and pull much of this off has just been elected to the White House, via our "dysfunctional" political system and via one of the two major political parties. I don't see that Lou Dobbs has a role to play in much of any of that. I think he is more of any entertainer, and a self-centered one at that. He tells us that the "hardworking, taxpaying, middle-class Americans and their families" are the primary victims of the War on the Middle Class. But I don't think that, deep down, he is convinces "us" that he really gives a hoot. I think he convinces us that his is more about making more money and increasing his rating.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A 'Must Read'
Comment: For all those who rated this 5 stars, their assessments are right on. If you are part of the middle class (among which I count myself) you no doubt feel frustrated. This book lends clarity and great insight into what is happening in big business and government in America. While you may not agree with his opinions, Dobbs shoots straight, leaning neither left nor right in discussing all of today's relevant issues. Skip MSNBC and Fox broadcasts this week; read this book instead. Great job Dobbs.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Very relevant to today's problems
Comment: Lou Dobbs is straight on in his assessment of today's financial problems and how they are rooted in Washington.
Customer Rating:
Summary: I hate Lou Dobbs
Comment: This man should not call himself a journalist. Yet another screed by Dobbs to sell books. I wonder if this man really believes what he writes? It seems that this book -- and all Dobb's other books could have been written on the results of a focus group of "angry white middle/working class americans." Can't recommend it in any way.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Someting for the middle class!
Comment: All I can say is READ IT, or better yet, I bought the book on CD and listened to Lou Dobbs read it.
A MUST READ!
Respectfully as Always, Dennis Lloyd
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