The Conscience of a Liberal
by Paul Krugman
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Book Reviews of The Conscience of a Liberal
Book Review: Absolutely Fantastic
Summary: 5 Stars
I have yet to read a more comprehensive analysis of what defines the modern day liberal. Krugman, an award-winning economist, not only identifies the commonalities all liberals tend to share, he also explains how these commonalities work to benefit society. It's refreshing in a world where anyone who believes in taxing excess wealth is demonized as a socialist, anyone who sees more benefit in universal healthcare is demonized as a socialist, anyone who believes that we as a society should follow a path of PROGRESS is demonized as a ...
Well, you get the idea. Krugman lays out the facts regarding the New Deal and how it changed the lives of Americans for the better, then follows through to the eighties where movement conservatism began tearing it apart, creating inequality while preying on white racism in order to push through its initiatives.
Then Krugman goes on to explain exactly how liberals can take the next step, to create our own generation's version of the New Deal by enacting universal healthcare as well as limiting inequality by fairly taxing excess wealth at a higher rate and ensuring a more fair society. Definitely recommended.
Book Review: A Genuinely Important Work, Thoughtful and Well Reasoned
Summary: 5 Stars
It is a cliche to refer to a book as "must read," so approaching this review I have struggled to find a different formulation. But, what the heck... This is a "must read" book if you care at all about politics, economics, and/or social policy. Krugman is a good writer but a devastatingly incisive analyst. His arguments are certainly informed by social awareness but they're anything but fuzzy. Rather, they're delivered with precision and bolstered by meticulous research and analysis.
The Conscience of a LIberal achieves its best moments when it surgically dismantles the tired arguments of movement conservatism, making the reader wonder how any of them were ever taken seriously in the first place. My only quibble with the book is Krugman's reliance on the phrase "welfare state" as a descriptor for the social structure he's espousing. While it's a technically accurate description, its negative connotations, unfair as they might be, will ultimately undermine Krugman's ability to persuade readers. And that's unfortunate because this book has the potential to change the thinking of anyone, even conservatives, who approach it with an open mind.
Book Review: Essential Reading
Summary: 5 Stars
Krugman isn't concerned with narrowly defined economics. This is an historical perspective that incorporates the social and political forces that shape the economy. In fact, his thesis is that the increasing inequality in the United States, a feature which is more and more exceptional to this country when compared to other advanced Western countries, is a result of the policies brought upon by the movement conservatism ideology which took over the Republican Party since Ronald Reagan.
This movement has now (the book was published in 2007) been rejected by the majority of the electorate and it is up to Barack Obama's government the task of implementing a new New Deal that would reduce inequality and deliver a better economic future to the overwhelming majority of America's population.
Given the crossroads where we are now, it is essential to understand the powerful forces that will match each other, the interest groups lying beneath each one, and to see beyond wedge issues that have divided the electorate. Krugman does it masterfully. This is the best book I have read in a long time.
Book Review: The New Dominant Paradigm Fueling Political Momentum
Summary: 5 Stars
The reason we study history is not only to avoid the mistakes of the past but also to follow the trends that inevitably lead us into the future. As evidenced by his latest book, Paul Krugman has a special talent for navigating the economic roadmap of American history. By making comparisons concerning income inequality in the pre-depression era and their relevance to the current era, he discovered the trend that would lead to the crash of 2008. This remarkably persuasive timeline stepped on the invisible hand of the market and foretold of a return to the policies and ideals once celebrated as the New Deal. With the election of Barack Obama as President, Paul's pragmatic progressivism appears to have become the new dominant paradigm fueling political momentum. After combing the fine grains of this clearly defined essay, you'll understand completely why he was awarded the Nobel Prize. It took courage to stand against the heavy winds of propaganda and declare a counterpoint refutation against the conservative powers of our times. By the end of the book I was truly proud to call myself a Liberal.Book Review: The Conscience of a Liberal
Summary: 5 Stars
Although I don't know why Mr. Krugman decided to use this title, since it is already a well known title from the late Senator Paul Wellstone's book, I thorougly enjoyed this read. How comforting to know that we still have unabashed liberals who are willing to lay it all on the line. This book illustrates in deft detail how the middle class was created and then systematically destroyed. It explains the rise of the Gilded Age, it's destruction and then resurrection as a meaner nihilistic manifestation of our greed than ever before. The book illuminates the peculiar phenomenon that finds citizens voting for their aspirations and against their own present self interests. Truly, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Our regressive tax policies have resulted in the destruction of the middle class existence. If one who advocates a "no new taxes" position, can read this book and not feel a sense of shame and regret, they are truly devoid of emotion. Mr. Krugman has thrown down the gauntlet. It is up to all intelligent progressives to respond in kind.