Free Lunch: How the Wealthiest Americans Enrich Themselves at Government Expense (and StickYou with the Bill) [Abridged, Audiobook] [Audio CD]

David Cay Johnston (Author, Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 27, 2007

The bestselling author of Perfectly Legal returns with a powerful new exposé.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The U.S. government is serving out a free lunch, but, alas, it's a feeding frenzy for those already fat on cash cows. As big businesses continue to reap the benefits of government subsidies--many unnecessary and unjustifiable--Americans are throwing away billions of tax dollars every year to make these companies richer. Through a variety of anecdotal but quite expansive evidence and legitimate research, Johnston reveals that the true dividing line in Washington is between the corporatists and "peopleists," that is representatives who bend over backwards for businesses and those who want to protect citizens. As a narrator, Johnston's passion is evident just as much as his annoyance and frustration with the current state of affairs. While overall his performance keeps listeners engaged, often his discussion of numbers (particularly when discussing shifting percentages of different levels of class income over the past 40 years) can easily confuse the reader. Simultaneous release with the Portfolio hardcover (Reviews, Nov. 5).
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From AudioFile

Here's a shocking novel with an amazing plot. Donald Trump, Ken Lay, and George Steinbrenner all conspire to siphon billions of dollars from the American middle class. Wait--it's not a novel! It's all true! Hang on to your wallets as NEW YORK TIMES reporter David Cay Johnston documents the various "corporate welfare" ploys used by sports franchises, retailers, megacorps, and anybody else who knows how to parlay a bad balance sheet into political patronage. The rich don't just get richer--they get way richer. Johnston narrates his own work with a newscaster's tone and perspective. His direct tone keeps listeners engaged throughout. R.W.S. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Penguin Audio; Abridged edition (December 27, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0143142968
• ISBN-13: 978-0143142966
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 5.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #230,875 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars so that's where all my money is going...., March 11, 2008

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abcdefg "abc" - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Free Lunch: How the Wealthiest Americans Enrich Themselves at Government Expense (and StickYou with the Bill) (Audio CD)

And you thought old Sam Walton built his empire mostly through good honest American hard work and cunning...think again! Subsidies given to corporations, by the government, equate to what David Cay Johnston says is "Corporate socialism". It is also called "Corporate welfare". And it happens all the time.

He talks about how other business entities steal property from people, and other businesses, through mis-use of eminent domain. One example he gives is the Bush/Texas Ranger stadium that ruined people's lives by stealing their property...houses and businesses...where the stadium was built.

The "wealthy elite" propaganda machine keeps right-wing minds spinning with the specter of sleazy poor women, with 10 kids, getting welfare checks every month.....doesn't even come close to what it costs the taxpayer to support "corporate socialism". Socialism is a bad word that has been pounded into our fears...left over from the bad old "Duck and Cover" days of the cold war. Talk about Psy-Ops....and they are still at it.

Our government gives tax incentives to corporations to send our jobs overseas. Then the profits from these overseas entities get stuck into off-shore accounts which "hides", and avoids, US taxation. The little guy gets stuck with all the taxes. And the IRS goes after the little guy because he is relatively defenseless because he can't afford the lawyers like the big boys can. Besides, they're all in on it...the banks, the corporations, the politicians.

Now that our economy is in shambles, so many people have lost their jobs to offshore, etc., who is going to pay the taxes? Not those without a job. Who is going to buy all of the goods or services....not those without a job. I wonder what new trick for screwing the people the wealthy have in store for us now that there is no one left to pay the taxes...except them? Oh yes, there is always "Soylent Green"!

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FREE LUNCH, November 23, 2008

By 

Joyce "Living Free" (Bellingham, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Free Lunch: How the Wealthiest Americans Enrich Themselves at Government Expense (and StickYou with the Bill) (Audio CD)

Free Lunch is full of documentation and examples that show how the very wealthiest politicians, corporations,and other individuals have milked US tax payers by using and abusing US Law, using subsidies for great profit. Sam Walton, George W., Enron, and many others are cited for a great fleecing of America. Through intimidation and finagling, The wealthiest have enriched themselves.

I ask: How long will American taxpayers put of with this abuse and misuse of our tax dollars? Does anyone in America even have a conscience? Who will stand up for what is right? Who will demand what is right and just?

Like many jobless people: I don't want a bailout, I just need work. And even if I did get a bailout, I wouldn't party with it.
What is wrong with people? How can they be so very selfish and ruin America with their greed and lack of principles?
The wealthiest don't get it. How much do they even contribute to charities to help others? How do they sleep at night, knowing that their greed has contributed to the economic downturn?

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars It's about greed. Let's see. How much did Sam Walton take, September 3, 2009

By 

JOHN GODFREY (Milwaukee ,WI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Free Lunch: How the Wealthiest Americans Enrich Themselves at Government Expense (and StickYou with the Bill) (Audio CD)

with him when he died? How about "Kennie Boy" Lay? How much does Dick Cheney plan to take with him? Criminal, greedy politicians, lawyers & business executives, further staining forever those noble professions. Lots of entertaining stories of unchecked avarice. Railroads, utilities, real estate & the list goes on. Maybe a few years ago this might have been shocking. No more. Now it's just sad. Dick Cheney, the most visible, goes to the head of the list. Not only is he greedy, he's mean. And a liar. A mean, nasty liar. The author, David Johnston, becomes lazy about 3/4th of the way through. He starts spouting statistics like he's reading the census. The top 10% of the top 10% of the top 10%. Yeah we get it. His conclusion? The rich get richer & the poor get poorer. Wow. Who knew?