Sample review
"In this look at the highly contentious political landscape that now exists in the US, which had electoral consequences in 2010 and can be expected to continue in 2012, the author suggests that the grossly irresponsible meltdown of Wall St in 2008, combined with the tremendous costs over an entire decade of our Iraq and Afghanistan misadventures, the huge tax breaks showered onto the rich by GW Bush, accelerating entitlement payouts, and greatly reduced federal revenues, has resulted in a politics of austerity and resentment, where the long-simmering divide between haves and have-nots has come rushing to the fore.
In the great expansion of the US economy in the decades following WWII, concerns about distribution of economic gains were largely relegated to the background. But the author notes that beginnings of the politics of resentment can be seen in the rise in the 1960s and 70s of those claiming rights: women, blacks, the poor, etc. At that time an unchallenged US economy had the means to adopt many programs to compensate for the disadvantages that those groups often faced in the marketplace. But the huge deficits and the un- and underemployment beginning in 2009 have completely undermined the mild tolerance for such programs among the "haves," and transformed to a widespread attitude of resentment in 2012.
Using data from several polls and voting choices, the author clearly establishes that the "haves," that is those older, whiter, and richer, now largely find those dependent on government assistance of all forms to be mostly undeserving. And the vast majority of those have some connection with the Republican Party and its mania for cutting taxes and government spending despite the consequences to both the economy and to individuals. But the author also contends that the election of Obama in 2008 added to the uniting of conservatives and Republicans, who have become rather alarmed at the rising political power of a constituency dependent on the state and the tax resources largely supplied by the "haves." They certainly resent indirectly supporting, through government payments, a substantial percentage of the Democratic constituency.
The author captures the alarm of conservatives and their unwillingness to budge from their positions due to their perceptions of scarcity. They see a last opportunity secure their privileged place in America. However, Republicans are well aware that non-Hispanic whites will be a minority in America before mid-century. Hispanics and blacks, who largely vote Democratic, will experience considerable growth in the same period. In addition, there are significant differences within the Republican constituency - most are not ultra-rich. In fact, a substantial percentage of them are dependent upon the very government entitlement payments, in the form of Social Security and Medicare, that they so decry for others. Just how far will they be willing to go in a politics of austerity?
The author scarcely conceals his feelings that this new rise of conservatives based on the resentment of others is unduly harsh, ignores some very obvious realities, and could be leading America down a path of rapid decline. For example, resentment against those who cannot find employment conveniently ignores the massive transfer of jobs to overseas subsidiaries. More than just a little hypocrisy is evidenced when haves are quite willing to accept more in SS payments than they have contributed - the shortfall made up by the taxes paid by the ethnics that they have so little regard for. The author observes that when elites of a society distance themselves from broader social concerns - the overall well-being of society, most obviously by failing to contribute adequate resources (taxes), that such a society will inevitably decline. Even more alarming is the attitude among elites that society is fair game for predation - how else can the Wall St debacle of 2008 be explained.
The book is sobering. It can't be said to be particularly revelatory. However, the detailing of the increasing resentments of those already with a leg up in this era of scarcity is disturbing. A lot of anger and ignorance is now driving American politics, which does not bode well for our future. Some hoped that the election of Obama would be a breath of fresh air in American politics, but it seems that was only fuel for the fires of resentment.
Comrade Stalin
