Customer Reviews

Class War in America: How Economic and Political Conservatives Are Exploiting Low- And Middle-Income American Families

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Even as a life-long Republican, I find it hard to disagree with many of the arguments in this obviously Liberal writing. I highly recommend the book.

If the book fails anywhere, it is in providing direct examples of the transfer of wealth that takes place -- from the taxpayers to campaign contributors -- as a result of our public electoral system being financed by private money.

Superb & succinct account of the rise & rise of the plutocracy, using mostly quotations from the BIG FIVE US financial news organs. The most appalling thing is that the book was published in 2000, BEFORE the installation of the most rapacious Administration since the 19th century, perhaps ever.

For all our sakes, Bush & his pack of gold-plated curs must GO! The PEOPLE MUST VOTE at all levels and for all branches of government. It is the first responsibility of citizenship, not just a right that can be forfeited with impunity.

Economic conservatives speak in this title, which uses quotes from the Wall Street Journal and other publications to show the intention of the conservative establishment to benefit corporations and investors at the expense of the lower classes. After outlining problems, Kelly offers some solutions for combating conservative agendas.

This was a very interesting book to read and I agree with the points he makes. It was easy to read and kept my interest. I would recommend this book to everyone.

In the author's words, this book serves as a "guided tour of conservative America's financial values and strategies."

The book lives up to it's promise!

I can identify with Charles Kelly's reasons for advocating being a populist. As a former conservative Republican, I can't argue with his points. Especially when he repeatedly quotes conservative media sources for his evidence.

Mr. Kelly describes the meaning behind buzz words like "wage inflation" and "wage price spiral". When someone uses those words they are looking to keep wages down so the investors and other folks at the top can enlarge their riches. The first priority for the financial elites is corporate profits and their own personal incomes. That is the main cause of outsourcing, wage stagnation, and the decimation of the middle class.

On who the government protects, Mr. Kelly was prescient when he wrote that it is wealthy investors and their bank accounts.

The recent Wall Street bailout confirmed his point!

"The new world order was designed for investors, at the expense of of all who work." - page 80.

He casts blame on both parties and advocates seriously considering liberal Democrats and independent Populist candidates over Republicans and conservative Democrats.

He poses the question of just how long "unmanaged trade" would last if CEOs, economists, and bankers jobs were susceptible to outsourcing? Like he writes- it "would die in a heartbeat".

There is a wealth of quotable material in this book and Mr. Kelly writes in a style that would be humorous if the subject wasn't so sobering.

Mr. Kelly documents his sources throughout the book and also offers some ideas for solutions.

I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to understand conservative politics and its real view of the middle class.

An aspect of this book that struck me while I read it is this- the book was copyrighted in 2000 and it is still so relevant for today. We are still on the same course, only further down the path.

This one is a keeper, and my personal favorite on the subject.

Two other books I recommend are:

The Global Class War: How America's Bipartisan Elite Lost Our Future - and What It Will Take to Win It Back

Screwed: The Undeclared War Against the Middle Class - And What We Can Do about It (BK Currents (Paperback))

This is a pretty easy book to read, and professor Kelly does a very good job of pointing out how economic conservatives, along with big business have waged class warfare against working people, while running their own propaganda machine, and buying off the political system in the process.

I noted this book was flawed, and there are two primary reasons. While any classic "liberal" may rejoice at many of Kelly's thoughts, those who may be open minded conservatives, or on the fence, may be turned off by several tactics he uses. One is that he continually hammers home article after article, note after note, on why his point is right. But after a while it becomes a bit numbing, like you are being faced with a one-man counter-propaganda machine. While this may not be true, because he is so incessant it comes off that way. Second, the current major politician whose ideas are closest to Kelly's is John McCain, a moderately conservative Republican (I do not consider Ralph Nader a politician, and Bill Bradley is retired). Supporters of McCain's philosophy (whether they use him as their icon or not), who are looking for enlightenment may find that this book pushes so hard, it pushes them away.

Again, those flaws are not going to keep me from telling you to not read the book. If you think, even wonder, that Kelly may be right in that the Enron's and WorldCom's of the world are colluding with many politicians to stick it to the working man, Kelly will show you just how right you are. And his argument is quite compelling.