Killer Politics: How Big Money and Bad Politics Are Destroying the Great American Middle Class [Hardcover]

Ed Schultz (Author)

Book Description

Release date: June 1, 2010

The middle class, where the greatness of this nation is rooted, is under siege by an increasingly unethical system, managed by economic vampires who are sucking the lifeblood out of the American family and ripping the heart out of democracy itself. Big money—and the politicians who are swayed by it—play both parties against each other, using this false battle to distract most of us from the real war, which is a war against the American family.

This is it, folks . . . the moment of truth. This will be the moment historians will look back upon and either say it was the moment this great ship of state corrected its course, or the moment it sailed completely away from its democratic ideals.

To succeed, we have to reach back and rediscover our greatness. Progress may not come as fast as we, in our impatience and impertinence, demand. But if we are patient and persistent, it will come.

All good things in life require a heavy lift, so roll up your sleeves. We are not done yet.

--from Killer Politics

According to a 2008 Pew Report, more than half of all Americans self-identify as middle class—but the actual number of Americans with middle-class incomes is declining. The middle class is going away. As increasing numbers of Americans are faced with obstacles to education, health care, jobs, and equity, the middle class as a financial bracket is being replaced by the middle class as little more than a state of mind. The richest Americans are growing exponentially wealthier, while the rest of us struggle to bear the financial and emotional burdens of an increasingly broken system.

In Killer Politics, Ed Schultz pulls the wool back from our eyes, shows us what the state of the middle class really is, and gives us the tools we need to fight back.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ed Schultz was the first Progressive talker to hit 100 affiliates, both satellite networks and the Armed Forces Radio Network. Schultz has won three Eric Sevareid Awards and has managed and been lead talent for a broadcast team that has won two Marconis and a prestigious Peabody Award. Ed has been named one of the top ten radio hosts in the country by Talkers Magazine in each of the last two years. In 2007 Ed Schultz was nominated Syndicated News/Talk Personality of the year by Radio & Records. Schultz is a graduate of Minnesota State University Moorhead, and he and his wife Wendy have six children.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion; 1 edition (June 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401323782
• ISBN-13: 978-1401323783
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #898,597 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Ed Schultz is the host of The Ed Show, a daily news program on MSNBC, and The Ed Schultz Show, a nationally syndicated progressive talk radio show. A thirty-year veteran of broadcasting, Schultz was the first Progressive talker to hit one hundred affiliates, both satellite networks, and the Armed Forces Radio Network. He has won three Eric Sevareid Awards and has managed and been lead talent for a broadcast team that has won two Marconis and a prestigious Peabody Award. Schultz is a graduate of Minnesota State University Moorhead, and he and his wife Wendy have six children.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

80 of 94 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars It's about time May 31, 2010

By Dusty VINE™ VOICE

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

In one of the Star Trek movies, the captain is talking about the Borg and he vehemently states: "The line must be drawn here! This far and no further! And I will make them pay for what they've done!" The captain was speaking of the relentless conglomerization of all sentient entities. Everyone was slowly being assimilated into servitude to the military backed/corporate entity that was "the Borg." Funny how art imitates life, no?

This book has balls. Period. The author holds nothing back. This book points at what has been going wrong, and what can be done to correct it. Ed provides answers; solutions, and whether or not you agree with his ideas, you have to admit that his presentation of the facts shows how corporate profits have in large part replaced national pride as the defacto standard in the upper echelon of global politics. Ed shows us the shell game that is being played; and if you think this is all sensationalism, just wait a few decades and you will wonder whatever happened to that great country we used to call home. The standard argument we hear from the middle class Republicans is that the people with the money provide the jobs, and therefore we need to give them more money. The facts are that America was founded on the individual earning his place in the world, not a corporate feudal state which merely replaces the titles "nobility" and "serf" with "upper management" and "labor."

It's about time someone on the left stopped apologizing, stopped mamby-pambying, and "grew a pair." Ed seems to be that person. Read this book with hi-liter in hand (um... unless you have the Kindle version. I almost marked up my screen already). It's time, no matter what "side of the fence you are on" to decide what is more important: corporate profits or a functional national political system that HONESTLY reflects the will of the masses.

As always, thanks for reading.

UPDATE: Here is a video of Steve Wynn accusing America (Washington DC--which is the capital of America: "government of the people, by the people, for the people" and installed BY VOTE of the people--that is about as American as it gets) of being less stable than China, and seemingly inferring that is bad for business, which is why he is moving is headquarters to Macau, and focusing his efforts on China. (In all fairness, he does clearly state that he will continue to make money in Las Vegas, which is also "America.")

[...]

Fair-play to Mr. Wynn. I don't know the guy personally, and I have always admired him; but this is what I meant when I said that corporate profits are FAR MORE IMPORTANT than any "loyalty" to America. Watch him say it in his own words. You decide what it means. There are no "trick edits" here. He is just going on and on. I don't disagree with what he is saying. I am just listening dispassionately to him speak his mind, but this is pretty obvious that "America (Washington: see above) is bad for business" is the writing on the wall, and that many corporations feel free to make money from the United States and return it to assets who actively the United States; but that teh U.S. government **must not** stand in the way of any corporation's right to make money.

I am a former United States Marine. I served. Period. When you say that the government of America is the enemy, that is bordering on treason (IMHAO). Free speech is one thing. Sedition is far beyond that.

(This part has nothing at all to do with Mr. Wynn and is completely hypothetical, after all, what right-wing conservative would ever want to make government so small it could be destroyed--"drowned in a bathtub"--by anyone who wants to take over the United States to dismantle and recreate in their own image? What ultra-rightie has ever publicly blamed "Washington," or "the Government" for the woes of the American people?)

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Hot book from a fired-up pundit (4.5* = 5*) January 11, 2011

By Phil S.

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I expected to read just a print version of Shultz's show - which wouldb have been okay with me. But I found a very readable and insightful, plain spoken text - the kind of book to read on a plane, or in a fast food restaurant...a private moment.

Ed goes back to his Conservative beginnings and provides a neat timeline to the present. He refers to himself as a "Liberal", although I find him a Left of Center Independent.

"The Nation" paper has cited at least one powerful TV episode from 2010 from this Host.

Particularly moving is his condemnation of the use of a commercial cable station -Foxnews - as a political/idealogical battering ram. ES can be rough, too, but he convinces us his roughness is not borne of any agenda from the station "suits".

This book was written obviously before his 2010 tour (to promote the book) when he encountered the "99-ers", those he sees as victims of politics, Americans with a great work ethic but a shrinking arena to *work in*. Still, this tome, addresses the Bush II era shift upwards (in financial support) and away from the Middle Class and recommends sane remedies.

41 of 55 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Truth and Light always have dominion over lies and darkness June 5, 2010

By H. White

Format:Hardcover

In reading the reviews for this book, I noticed an astonishing fact. Those that like the book provided facts and points to back up their claims in a more objective and enlightening way (i.e. light). In contrast, those that did not like the book made only subjective statements with no substance whatsoever (i.e. dark). In conclusion, those that seek out the truth will point out the facts; while those that hate the truth will try to hide the facts and point out other unrelated issues in an attempt to misdirect and deceive people into believing a lie. Those that hate the truth (or light) want others along with themselves to live in darkness and fear. Those that hate the truth and don't want to accept it will try to twist the truth. One thing for us all to remember is that truth is like light and lies are like darkness. In the midst of an infinite number of lies (or darkness) it only takes one truth (or light) to illuminate all. This is why those that hate the truth have very little to say in defense of their lies; simply because you can't defend a lie but you can defend the truth. When speaking truth, don't allow others to distract you from stating the facts. Truth and Light always have dominion over lies and darkness. Good job Mr. Ed Schultz, a much needed book and continue to fight for truth.