Customer Reviews

The Big Ripoff: How Big Business and Big Government Steal Your Money

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3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

An important book, particularly before election time. Carney uncovers the millions (maybe billions) of dollars that go directly to big business, compliments of our elected officials (of both flavors), and how big business lobbies government to protect its interests at the expense of smaller business and individuals. It's one thing for government to tax people to provide for the needy, but I don't see how Boeing can ever be described as "needy." Maybe government gets too much money from taxpayers, and politicians need a reminder that they are there to serve and protect -- individuals. Not to take our money to give to the likes of Boeing and ADM and other big companies! You will be shocked, as we all should be. Hopefully this book will inspire some action on the part of voters.

For those who always thought business was a supporter of free-market policies - get ready to have your eyes opened. Mr. Carney does a great job of connecting the dots between polices that seem, on the surface anti-business, but instead help one or two major institutions (usually ones that have a long standing relationship with those in power). After reading this book it makes you want to standup - go over to a window and yell "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!!"

Many times I complain when I see a large portion of my paycheck stripped of income. Occasionally I declare in a frustrated tone, "where is my money going?". As shown in Timothy P. Carney's book The Big Rip off, our money lands in the pockets of big business from our government through our tax dollars.

Before reading The Big Ripoff, I discovered the largest supporter of the Kyoto Protocol was Enron. I began wondering if this was good for our environment, or was it just making a select few rich. But not having the time to research the subject I let my curiosity simmer.

Carney has taken time to research the age old question "what does the government do with my tax dollars?". Carney will open your eyes to many corporate welfare programs and abuses of eminent domain by politicians for the benefit of companies. Furthermore, you will learn that big companies are the most adamant supporters of more government regulation because it restricts smaller less powerful companies from entering their field.

I suggest everyone should read this before they vote in the next election. You will learn that the piles of cash the government gives to big corporations is not determined by the political party, but by the political system itself.

If you wish to discover how and why your hard earned tax dollars are sent to these large companies, you need to read this book. You will be shocked in what you learn. You will also be delighted to find a bibliography helping you discover resources for your own research.

I was drawn to this book becauase I saw Robert Novak's Foreword. I was blown away how honest and fair Carney was in The Big Ripoff. One thing is apparent after reading this book. People for big government will not like this book because he calls for an end to government regulation of businesses. Carney's thought process can be illustrated like this: less gov't= better business practices. I loved his points that show a blatent intent to profit by businesses by supporting government regulations or protocols. For instance, Enron supporting the Kyoto protocol because it would give them a chance for more business. Then business lobbyists working with Congress. Dare I say Jack Abramahoff.

Carney also attacks the myth that Republicans are the party of the rich. Carney accomplishes this by facts and scenarios outlining contributions. Carney also shows that both parties deal with Big Business. The only reason Republicans have been in the news more goes back to who is in power.

The rest of the book shows some interesting ties between certain companies and big business. If you want a book that shows the truth and also makes you feel helpless then get the Big Ripoff. His stories of the companies are enough merit to purchase this one.

I've read the book and it's hard hitting and very close to the truth. Today I saw Tim Carney with CSPAN's book review. Very interesting and this is a book that should be on your reading list for the month. However, Tim is dealing with the obvious SYMPTOMS of corruption and collusion on the part of government and big business. The real CAUSE is deeper. As a companion book to this I would HIGHLY suggest reading G. Edward Griffin's: Creature from Jekyll Island. Then you will find out the cause. But congratulations to Tim for helping expose "The Ripoff" to the American Taxpayer. Nothing like using the middle class to have CEO's Million Dollar salaries subsidized by the overtaxed American worker, including small business owners. After the reader has read these two books they need to start asking some deep questions and take action. That means getting involved politically and sadly it's not with our two, bought and paid for political parties anymore. Wait until the reader finds out this coupe occured almost a hundred years ago and is now beginning to strangle the nation economically, morally and now imperils our civil liberties.

My son Tim looks at it from the right. I look at if from the left but Tim is on point. Regulation ends up supporting the regulated rather than the consumer or the small competitor.
jfc

There is a misconception by many that:

- Big business wants free markets
- Government protects us from big business
- Government regulations are intended to restrict big business
- Big business is more aligned with the political right than the political left

This book meticulously chronicles the mechanism by which big business partners with government in order to:

- subsidize its operations
- create its own government customers, both foreign and domestic
- eliminate the free market, and replace it with a corrupt one
- tilt the playing field so that small business has no chance
- control who wins elections

By the end, you realize that the government's primary function is to redistribute wealth from the middle class to the corporate class. You also realize we don't actually live in a free market. In a free market, the businesses that succeed are the ones who customers decide are providing value. In our system, the businesses that succeed are the ones who effectively suck money from taxpayers via the government, regardless of what they provide to the health of society.

This book is important because its message is unique. It is not the same tired old republican theories about trickle down economics or left-wing theories about the evils of the market. Thank you, Tim Carney, for advancing the debate past the usual left/right myths.

The Big Ripoff really explains why big companies go along with programs that are clearly detrimental to who they are and what they do. As an example; The Whiskey Rebellion of 1794 was prompted by the federal government's tax on whiskey. Who were the biggest supporters of that tax? It was the large distillers. Why? Who was the biggest supporter of the penalties and fines imposed on the tobacco industry in the law suit by the various states attorneys general? Phillip Morris! Why? Why is Warren Buffett one of the biggest supporters of death and inheritance taxes? Find these out and you begin to understand why companies are so hot to go "green".

Does anyone think that big businesses just want to be left alone by the government? If so, Mr. Carney's book should be an eye-opener.

Many corporations have found it to their advantage to troll for government subsidies and favors, to accept regulation of their industries on terms that will give them a competitive advantage, and even to support tax increases that will fuel the growth of government (particularly if someone else will bear the brunt of the increase).

Politicians welcome the support of wealthy contributors and are willing to do favors to get it. The characterization of one party being for big business and the other for the downtrodden is quite misleading.

These themes are illustrated by numerous examples - corporate welfare, regulatory schemes that deter new entrants, the tobacco settlement, etc. - that ring true and are convincingly documented. The final section about environmentalism for profit is particularly well done.

Enron, which some have cited as an example of private enterprise run amok, was quite adept at adapting to and profiting from government rules and policies. The company's accounting scams were designed to survive SEC scrutiny (short sellers were the first to notice that something was awry), it raised gaming the energy regulations of California to an art form, and it favored ratification of the Kyoto Protocol in hopes of becoming a player in the resulting cap-and-trade system.

Archer Daniels Midland has long benefited from government mandates and subsidies for ethanol, yet corn-based ethanol takes a lot of energy to produce (perhaps more than it provides) and the asserted environmental advantage over gasoline is illusory. The CEO is quoted as saying, when being pressed about acceptance of government aid, that "people who are not in the Midwest do not understand that this is a socialist country."

Other companies (e.g., General Electric and DuPont) hope to profit from "going green" in the future. They do not figure to make much progress without government support, however, and their motives are not necessarily altruistic.

Overall, The Big Ripoff leaves one with the perception of being victimized. I believe this impression is overdone, i.e., that many people in the business and government worlds are trying to contribute to the good of society even if their efforts fall short at times. It might also have been helpful if the author had offered some suggestions for making the situation better.

A must read for voters in this country. Find out how our President will get more money from Big Business than the republicans, yet claim the republicans are in bed with big business.