Rebooting the American Dream: 11 Ways to Rebuild Our Country
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In this new work, Thom Hartmann covers 11 straightforward solutions to America's current problems. At the core of each is a call to reclaim economic sovereignty and to wrest control of democracy back from the corporate powers that have hijacked both America and her citizens.What's particularly unique about Hartmann's solutions is that all have been proven to work. Every single one of his 11 steps either was historically part of what built America’s greatness in the past (such as enforcing the Sherman Act and breaking up big corporations or returning to a tariff-based trade policy), or has worked well in other nations (like a national single-payer healthcare system —Medicare Part "E" for "Everybody"—or encouraging the growth of worker-owned cooperatives like the $6 billion Mondragon cooperative in Spain).Hartmann's solutions are essentially nonpartisan. Virtually all have been promoted at one time or another in American history by both political parties, although today most (but not all) fall into the realm of "progressive solutions." Both Ralph Nader and Pat Buchanan will find broad areas of agreement with this book.From addressing the problem of a warming globe to the death of America's middle class to the loss of our essential liberties, Rebooting The American Dream shows how America can reclaim the vision of our Founders and the greatness we held both at home and abroad for over a century. Publishers Weekly Nationally-syndicated radio host and bestselling author Hartmann (Screwed) takes up his progressive cudgels once again. His theme this time: the need to turn back the clock 30 years and undo the legacy of Reaganomics. Turning the clock back further still, he recounts a story about how George Washington had to have an American suit specially made for his Inauguration because, even after the revolution, fine clothing (and much else) was still imported from Britain. Unlike many who argue the need for a return to protectionist policies, Harmann doesn't fault China for skirting rules of free trade, but rather applauds their successful adoption of Hamiltonian economics, which in his opinion made America great. While many of his 11 points are broadly accepted by progressives (a carbon tax, for instance) his take on corporate reform is unique. Not only does he support strict regulation of corporate lobbyists and disavow the belief that the First Amendment endows corporations with rights, he suggests the U.S. replace large corporations with cooperatives and adopt a shareholder-free "social-capital" model; profits not used for reinvestment would be divided between employees and the community, avoiding "the pitfalls of both modern capitalism and old-fashioned communism." (Oct.)
Introduction: Back to the Future 1Chapter 1 Bring My Job Home! 17Chapter 2 Roll Back the Reagan Tax Cuts 33Chapter 3 Stop Them from Eating My Town 51Chapter 4 An Informed and Educated Electorate 65Chapter 5 Medicare "Part E"-for Everybody 81Chapter 6 Make Members of Congress Wear NASCAR Patches 97Chapter 7 Cool Our Fever 123Chapter 8 They Will Steal It! 139Chapter 9 Put Lou Dobbs out to Pasture 153Chapter 10 Wal-Mart Is Not a Person 169Chapter 11 In the Shadow of the Dragon 191Conclusion: Tag, You're It! 199Acknowledgments 203Notes 205Index 217About the Author 229
