Taking a close look at the dense fabric that our government weaves between war, state power, and economics, this collection of essays reveals the growing authority—and corruption—of the American state. Covering topics from the Lyndon Johnson presidency to the provocatively titled article “Military-Economic Fascism” on the military-industrial-congressional complex, it argues that the U.S. government consistently exploits national crises and then invents timely rhetoric that limits the rights and liberties of all citizens for the benefit of the few, be they political leaders or various industrialists in the areas of defense and security. As its title suggests, this book presents a clear narrative of trends and events—from the United States’ entry into World War II to the origins of income tax—causing individuals to question whether those in power are truly blind to the effects and causes of their policies.
Delusions of Power
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About the Author
Robert Higgs is senior fellow in political economy for the Independent Institute and the editor of the Institute’s quarterly journal, the Independent Review. He is also the author of several books, including Against Leviathan, Competition and Coercion, Neither Liberty Nor Safety, Resurgence of the Warfare State, and The Transformation of the American Economy 1865–1914, and the recipient of numerous awards, such as the Gary Schlarbaum Award for Lifetime Defense of Liberty and the Lysander Spooner Award for Advancing the Literature of Liberty. He lives in Covington, Louisiana.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Tom
Format:Paperback
Higgs traverses the history of American crises, both military and economic, and explains the resulting growth of governmental influence. This book is an excellent addition to his already impressive collection on the subject, as Delusions of Power goes further to explain the men and decisions behind the leap in government. Higgs gives a clear and pointed criticism of the hubris of men in power, both those who think that they can solve the world's problems with the stroke of a pen, or worse, those who care nothing for the world's problems and seek only to use them to grab more power. For any who want to better understand the nature of the growth of government, this book is a must read.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
When I started the early chapters I wondered if I was reading a screed against any kind of government and favoring total anarchy. That is probably too strong an impression. Higgs makes bold and unequivocal statements about the overreach of governments throughout history and his points are for the most part well taken. Having worked in aerospace during the early part of my career I empathize with his observations about the military-industrial-congressional complex and the absolute theft engendered by cost-plus-fixed-fee contracts. I also certainly agree with his points about unnecessary wars and the total waste that they inflict on societies. He even makes a good case (as have many others) that the US participation in WW II was unnecessary and led to many bad unintended consequences.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Robert Higgs book, Delusions of Power, is a collection of essays written by the author over the past several years. Over its 309 pages, the book covers various topics cocerning the nature of government and the harm that it has caused in recent history. The first part of the book covers the nature of the state and its policymaking. The most controversial chapter in this part was the essay on the how slavery and government rest on the same rationalizations. Some these rationalizations include that without a master a slave dies and without government the citzen dies and that both slaves and the people are incapable of taking care of themselves thus they need slavery and government respectively. A very sobering essay to say the least. Higgs also writes a chapter about how people should be blamed for allowing crooked politicians to rule over them. Higgs remarked "...people have been so massively miseducated, propagandized, cowed, and treated with cynical disregard of their rights for so long that for the most part not only have they lost the capacity to stand on their own feet, but worse, they have in most cases come to love the Big Brother whose boot is grinding their faces."
The next part of the book focuses on key actors and critical events. Some of the chapters include remarks on how we were led by FDR into World War II and how the Great Society has caused great harm to our country. The third part covers economic analysis, war and politicoeconomic interactions. Included in this part is how the military indutrial complex (MICC) has corrupted government. The final part of the book is filled with Dr. Higgs' reviews of various books including New Deal or Raw Deal by Burt Folsom, The Pearl Harbor Myth: Thinking the Unthinkable by George Victor and Pat Buchanan's book on Churchill, Hitler and "unnecessary war."
The essays are well-written with plenty of footnotes; however, there was a little too much use of citing Wikipedia which is a pet peeve of mine. There is also an index, but no bibliography. Dr. Higgs is one of the foremost champions of freedom in a good way. I have found through my readings of history that the State has caused grave harm to people throughout the ages and that the expansion of the state over the past century has caused untold misery. A fine effort by Dr. Higgs and I highly recommend everyone get a copy for his of her reading; five stars
The next part of the book focuses on key actors and critical events. Some of the chapters include remarks on how we were led by FDR into World War II and how the Great Society has caused great harm to our country. The third part covers economic analysis, war and politicoeconomic interactions. Included in this part is how the military indutrial complex (MICC) has corrupted government. The final part of the book is filled with Dr. Higgs' reviews of various books including New Deal or Raw Deal by Burt Folsom, The Pearl Harbor Myth: Thinking the Unthinkable by George Victor and Pat Buchanan's book on Churchill, Hitler and "unnecessary war."
The essays are well-written with plenty of footnotes; however, there was a little too much use of citing Wikipedia which is a pet peeve of mine. There is also an index, but no bibliography. Dr. Higgs is one of the foremost champions of freedom in a good way. I have found through my readings of history that the State has caused grave harm to people throughout the ages and that the expansion of the state over the past century has caused untold misery. A fine effort by Dr. Higgs and I highly recommend everyone get a copy for his of her reading; five stars
