Customer Reviews

Why Government Doesn't Work

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I read this book back in 1996, when Harry Browne was using it as his campaign book when he was running for U.S. President as a candidate of the Libertarian Party. Browne talks about the U.S. Constitution and the rule of law, and about what are and are not legitimate functions of the federal government. This book should be a real eye opener for most Americans, who really have no idea that throughout most of our country's history, the federal government was much smaller than it is today. The founding fathers never wanted the federal government to "take care" of people, or to "protect" them from their own mistakes. During most of this country's history, there was no social security, medicare, medicaid, welfare, food stamps, public housing, or any other federal program designed to "help" the poor; nor was there any federal involvement in education; nor were there any laws which outlawed any kind of drug. And during this time, the U.S. became the richest, most prosperous country that the world had ever known. Before drugs were outlawed, there was no gang or mob activity or violence associated with the buying and selling of drugs. During this time, the federal government stuck to only those things which were authorized in the Constitution. Oh, and there was no income tax, either. We didn't need an icnome tax, because the excise taxes and tariffs gave the federal govenment enough money to perform all of its legitimate, Constitutionally authorized activities.

Contrast this to how things are today. Today, the primary activity of the federal government consists of taking money from people who earned it, and giving the money to people to whom it does not belong. In addition, the massive growth of the federal government has created the insane war on drugs, which is a major threat to our freedom. Before the federal government got involved in education, there was no "education crises." Before the federal government got involved in health care, there was no "health care crises." Browne wants to restore the federal government to its Constitutionally authorized size.

Article 1, section 8 of the U.S. Constitution lists all of the powers of the federal government. The 10th amendment says that the federal government is only allowed to do those things which are mentioned in the Constitution. There is noting in the Constitution giving the federal government the power to spend money on social security, medicare, medicade, public housing, welfare, food stamps, farm subsidies, or corporate welfare; nor is there anything in the Constitution giving the federal govenment the power to outlaw any drugs.

This book is a great intrroduction to the ideas of the Libertarian Party. I voted for Browne in 1996. He's running again this year, and I will be voting for him again.

Reading this book made me feel very glad to vote for Browne 4 years ago. I can honestly say that I voted for a candidate whose ideas and principles I believe in and agree with.

A first reading of the book jacket and you would think Harry Browne is a top republican, and you would be wrong. Harry Browne is a Libertarian and this book is an unbelievable work of what the government hasn't or failed to do.

Browne's attention to details and a well throughout plans on how to fix Social Security, reduce the deficit, and eliminate federal tax and makes the government smaller and smarter is a real pleasure to read. While I think that they might be a little ambitious, I also think they are achievable.

The book shows how social programs started out with the best of intentions and have become and overburden to society. Browne's how the government has and is failing in so many areas and they ways we need to go about changing them in order to make a brighter future for everyone.

Browne conveys all of these ideas, once again proving that without the government we can save money. I must admit, I was a little skeptical about this book, but Harry Browne has convinced me that things can be brighter with a little work - well done!

I loved this book. Its light weight but well thought out. It convinced me to become a Libertarian and vote for Harry in the last presidential election. This book will give you a different point of view on what government is. Maybe you'll agree and maybe you won't but at least you'll have spent some time thinking about the function of government, and no matter what you decide that will be time well spent.

Harry Browne, the author, is a Libertarian candidate for President. He lays out a radical agenda for restoring traditional American freedoms. An example is the repeal of social security with claim holders paid off with the sale of land assets of the the U.S. Government. He calls for an end to: public schools, public support for agriculture, the war on drugs, and most other government programs. He proposes an end to the income tax and abolition of the IRS. He gives examples of why all the well intentioned programs of govenment have unintended consequences, almost all of which are negative. The book is written in short, easy to read chapters so that the reader has time to ponder the exciting and novel ideas contained in each. I have read the book twice and intend to read it again.

Great book! Harry Browne is able to sum up most of the major problems with our society, and get to the root cause of those problems - government. It would be great if more Americans would open their minds to Libertarian ideas. Unfortunately, Americans have become so brainwashed and apathetic that they don't even think about what role the government should play in our lives. Rather, they just complain and feel that there is nothing to be done. I'd like to buy a copy of this book for every American.

One of the finest books I've ever read, Harry Browne exposes all the chaos big government has created from the Civil War through today. He highlights federal agencies that are in extreme need of change to the point of abolishment. Browne is a firm believer in scaling our government to its constitutionally mandated form. He reinforces the principle of Libertarianism with firm belief that his goals will be accomplished. Although his book was written in 1995 and since then several issues have happened in our nation, all the more reason to read his book because all our (Libertarian) principles should be applied today more than ever. "Why Government Doesn't Work" encourages the reader to listen/read Media messages in an active manner and when the reader does this, he can unravel all the subtle messages in the press and news.

The Libertarians don't have me convinced on every issue, but they sure make a lot more sense than most pundits out there. This book is down to earth, easy to understand, and straightforward. It does an excellent job pointing out the fallacies of that insidious slippery slope we put ourselves on when we ask government to do for us that which we can and should do for ourselves. This book takes a good look at many issues from an angle which is usually overlooked in the media and in politics. It's one of those books that every American would do well to read.

It is nearly impossible to read a book on economics. All of them are not "user friendly". The authors assume that one knows certain areas of knowledge and has an I.Q. of 500. An exception is Milton Friedman's "Freedom to Choose". The other is "Why Government Doesn't Work". I'm voting for this gentleman again. He ran for president in 1996. And now he will again in 2000. This is a must read. You simply must read this book. It is essential for yourself, your family, your neighborhood, and your country. WHY? Harry would help the homeless. Harry would help the poor. Harry would help the elderly and handicapped. Harry would help you. If government would please get out of the way and we could all do as John Lennon sang "Come together". This book is absolutely brillant. While reading it, you will realize what a dream world we have fabricated for ourselves in thinking that we are helping our fellow man. As a presidential candidate, we are only saying what John Lennon also sang, "All we are saying, is give Harry a chance (or words to that effect)." This book is simple, concise, and illuminating. I am sure that the reader of this review considers themselves a good person. I would like to think that I am. Then buy this book and question your assumptions which Harry deals with in this book. That more police will reduce crime and make it safer for your children. That only the government can help the poor because nobody else will. That drug laws will keep our children off the streets. That a strong military will keep our country safe from foreign threats. Since this book was published, the four countries with the LEAST amount of poverty have the LEAST amount of government. The United States, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and Switzerland. They are also the most prosperous in the world. Why? Read this book. It's not long. 245 pages. And it's highly understandable. Put in a few reading hours (3?) and you will be more politically aware than 99% of the population. AND, you can relax during the coming election. Because all of the politician's nonsense will still not be understandable simply because it was never intended to be. It was marketed to sell. Buy this book, vote for Harry, and then enjoy life. My best wishes.

During the last half of the 20th century, we as Americans have been brainwashed into believing that the federal nanny-state is good, eternal, and absolutely necessary.

Harry Browne breaks down the myth of the benevolent "Big Brother," with common-sense and historical references.

This is a shorter book but has served as a wonderful starting point in my quest for the truth about the federal government and our country's history.

To all you PRO-BIG GOVERNMENT types: This book will produce strong emotional reactions. You will read truths and references to points that go against your belief system. You can either reference Harry's book and research those points on your own, or continue to believe that freedom and capitalism are enemies of "the people."

Some people are able to find the simplest solutions to the largest problems and present them in ways that we can all understand. Harry Browne is one of these people. WHY GOVERNMENT DOESN'T WORK is filled with examples of how modern American government has gone wrong time and time again and the ways we can fix it. Every law, tax, and other political action has an equal or greater opposite reaction. Stop committing charity, get our troops home and out of other nation's affairs, end the insane war on drugs, and END the federal income tax. This is government the way our founding fathers envisioned it, and is presented in terms which would work today. No matter what political party you follow, READ this book.