Archive for July, 2010

Socialist Trash...
Yet another screed against free markets. It's too bad that the average rant of this variety neglects that we haven't had free markets for a very long time. What could be more important to a so-called "free market" than the price of money? In order for a free market to exist, interest rates would need to float freely, not be set by the Fed. The Fed "sets" (translation: rigs) interest rates which causes economic dislocations and malinvestment. What we've had is crony capitalism and rigged markets for large corporations and the Federal Reserve Banks. Government isn't the solution - individuals need to keep what they earn so that they don't need to borrow money and be played by banks and vote-buying politicians.

Not a "Liberal" Rant
I have recently read Henry Hazlitt's "Economics in One Lesson." In that book, Hazlitt argued that government intervention in the economy is disastrous and will be the eventual cause to our downfall. I did not wholly agree with Hazlitt. Therefore, I hoped that "The Case for Big Government" would refute Hazlitt. I was pleased to find that it did.

Madrick contends that for some reason the public believes there used to be a period in American history where a truly laissez faire economy existed without the intervention of the federal government. Madrick states this is simply not true. The public has forgotten how the federal government was responsible for the selling of land in the 1800s, Jefferson's purchase of Louisiana, the implementation of tariffs to protect domestic manufacturing, subsidies for the development of railroads, laws enacted to protect civil rights, etc. Those events only occurred in the 19th century though. Many more took place during the 20th and 21st centuries.

Besides the brief history lesson, Madrick provides specific evidence of how government involvement does not curtail economic expansion. One quick example includes the income tax. Madrick writes that in 1913 the income tax was two percent of GDP. In 1942, it rose to 15 percent. There should be evidence of a reduced rate of economic growth, if one believes that increased income taxes decrease economic growth, but there is no supportive evidence. Madrick provides many more examples which support an increased governmental role.

In the final part of the book, Madrick presents an agenda that the government should adopt. This includes a universal pre-k program, college subsidies, universal healthcare, investment in infrastructure/energy, unemployment expansion, social security solvency, etc. [...]

The book is about redistribution of wealth, which are words that are rarely spoke in the U.S. However, Madrick provides a solvent plan and evidence to support his thesis. This is not a liberal rant. Madrick is harsh on both republicans and democrats. If you are interested in an increased government that supports equality, read this book.

historical perspective bought up-to-date
Jeff Madrick presents an historical outline of an active U.S. government and how it must maintain an active role if we are to continue our prosperity through a mainly capitalist economic system.

a big argument for sane political discourse
Republicans seem to be in denial that we already have a huge government. the difference is that Republicans support big govt. for the sake of the warfare state, while demos for the welfare state. what about statistic that 80% of R&D at universities is supported directly or indirectly by the Pentagon? Americans need to understand that all the investment in the military produces end products that either are destroyed (bombs, bullets) or wear out (trucks, guns). that investment if applied to civilian life would produce permanent end products such as houses, infrastructure improvements and the like. your statistics on income disparity and stagnation are very sobering. i left america to move overseas after college in 1982 and returned in 2005. hardly recognized the nation. people work much harder for much less. quality of life plummets. nature of media is like a vast dumbed down propaganda machine. impression that the country is one vast intellectual prison camp. it also seems to me that the debate on health care and the refusal to seriously consider the single payer option used in many european countries indicates that americans no longer have a sense of social contract. the mass media also is so corporately driven that it is able to shape the debate on any particular issue according to the dictates of wall st. and the financier class. our country has become in all but name a third world nation of gross social and economic inequality.



The only things I found disappointing in your book were:



a. your discussion of globalization. your proposal that the US pressure its trading partners to improve their wage structures and environmental efforts seems hopelessly naive, especially since US wages are so regressive themselves.

b. your failure to address the perceived corruption of the federal reserve central banking system. since the release of aaron russo's film America from Freedom to Fascism, there is a growing perception among the public that the federal reserve is an elitist system that serves the narrow interests of the financier class to the detriment of the public as a whole and that serves to concentrate greater levels of wealth into Wall St. institutions. there is a sense that the Fed is a massive disinformation program designed to dupe the public. there even is a spreading belief that the entire fractional reserve banking system is hopelessly corrupted and permits the banks to obtain obscene profits and to dilute the money supply. (consider that for every 0691123314 paid out by banks in interest payments to savings account holders, they accrue in interest revenues from loans. this is perhaps the highest profit margin (1900%) of any industry on earth!) there also is outrage that the original income tax amendment provided for taxation of corporate profits but not personal incomes and that this too has been disregarded. your book fails to address any of these rising concerns.

c. your failure to consider the problem that history indicates that no ruling class ever willingly surrendered its powers. there is a growing sense in the nation that only armed revolt will enable the kinds of reforms your book discusses and suggests. your approach is far too passive and optimistic.

No case, just revisionist history and logical fallacies
Madrick would be better served arguing for his case for moral legitimacy rather than efficiency and growth, but even then he would fail due to logical fallacies.

Great Book to keep on your business shelf
Very informative and reminded me of things I had forgotten. A good book for people just starting a business.

Not exactly what I expected, but helpful
Half of this book deals with the technology of organizing your own business. While that would have been very helpful in 1994, it is outdated now. If you are new to technology you may still find some good advice in those sections dealing with computer hardware, software (desktop, information management, and accounting). I just skimmed those sections to make sure I wasn't missing anything.The other half deals with the organization and structure of accounting. I found the first chapter on getting organized particularly helpful. There is also a chapter on dealing with the IRS as a self-employed individual. The remaining few chapters address accounting and bookkeeping. The accounting information is very good for anyone who knows very little about accounting. However, I found the same level of detail and instruction at the Small Business Administration website. I was hoping to find a little bit more of a how-to guide to setting up my business' accounting structure.This book is an overview of all the recordkeeping issues that a self-employed person should be concerned with. However, it just didn't give me enough detail to feel secure that I was making the right decisions for my particular type of business. I just may have to use an accountant or tax attorney to get that.I checked this book out from the library, but I wouldn't purchase it. It just doesn't have the longevity of advice that a true reference book would offer.

Clarifies accounting the way wheat is separated from chaff
Written for business people who want to be accounting and computerized accounting systems literate. No longer does one have to be in awe of the professionals who spout jargon and keep the business person dependent on their supposed expertise. This book represents liberation for the formerly fiscally challenged.

It makes accounting understandable and business easy!
Mr. Fox has a great understanding of the profession and was able to make good sense of a subject that is hard to understand.

Well written but miss titled
I felt the book was well written and he does know his stuff.... but the book was more about the history of computers than a book to learn Accounting principals, which is what I thought I had bought:( What he does write about he does well and you will learn from it A more appropriate title might be "The History of Computers and Chips" with a touch of "Accounting"

Business and Democracy promote one another
"What we are arguing is not that democracy is the inevitable outcome of successful capitalist development, but that such development is a necessary prerequisite of democracy..... We are also saying that authoritative regimes rarely meet the conditions under which business can optimally flourish." In the book, Business and Democracy, Cohabitation or Contradiction?, edited by Ann Bernstein and Peter L. Berger, this statement is well proven: business and democracy do not work to promote one another. Rather, the externalities/pressures of one are a benefit to the other. The editors pull numerous short articles together to support their thesis and then use examples of several developing or transitioning countries in the last half century. In the short term, business can thrive in an authoritative regime but will inevitably lead to "Crony Capitalism". However, eventually pressures for reform and independence will weaken the state ruling institution. In contrast, democracies have continued to be successful when a free market system was already established. The editors have made an excellent case for the cohabitation of Business and Democracy. Business Associations and the thickening of civil society are in the best interests of democracy and visa versa. It allows for a reduced size of government, eliminates excessive taxes that discourage investment, and creates stability. Government still has control with the ability to take power away from the association, but the alternative would be a large expensive government and "Crony Capitalism." It is in the best interest of all society for government and business to work together. The increase of civil liberties and the standard of living are the externalities we all gain from the cohabitation of Business and Democracy.
This book is a must read for those who wish to better understand the role of business and the development of the third world. I would also recommend this book to anyone who wishes to discourage a capitalist system.

Fantastic service!
My package came promply and was packed nice and tight. I'm very happy with the level service.

The Service
I was very pleased with the shipping service of this item. This book was shipped before another book that I had ordered by expedited shipping. I am very pleased with the service. Thank you.

Influential communication
The contents of this book will assist all who use it to eliminate the common errors associated with daily communication. Great advice on e-mail brevity, selecting the proper word etc. Well worth reading.

Great Book for Business Professionals
This is the one book every business professional should have on (or near) their desk. It's concise nature lends itself to a perfect reference for writing and speaking in a very polished manner. Also especially helpful are the "do's and don'ts" of business grammar.