PSEUDO-CAPITALISM [Paperback]

Stephen Bindman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 9, 2008

PSEUDO-CAPITALISM=SOCIALISM FOR THE RICH A social and economic critique of the current, covert state-managed US economy by Dr. Stephen Bindman, psychologist and Senior Research Fellow of the Council of Hemispheric Affairs. Mortgage System Collapses...Banks Broken... Hostage of Oil Producers...Devalued Dollar...Recession...Government Bail Outs...US Military Broken and Overextended...Phony Economic Statistics... Critics of our current economic order say we are becoming a socialistic economy. Rich banks have to be bailed out by public funds from the government. If the companies are then successful, the CEO type managers keep the profit. If they fail again, the citizens are billed for their bankruptcy. Meanwhile some individuals make huge profits from their derelict supervision of so-called public companies. This ripping off of FDR's legacy of government protection of the welfare of the average citizen is being done by a new elite class: CEO's, financiers, and other predators that have ignored their responsibilities to shareholders, employees, and their country. They have been allowed to buy the influence of politicians and have been granted protection by their fellow managerial elitists in Washington and Wall Street. This is the "greed is good" mentality of the new Super Class and its attendants. It mocks the egalitarian goals of the old socialist movement - although it is a [covertly] government planned economy. In truth is this era's form of class rule. - Stephen Bindman

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Xlibris (October 9, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1436368324
• ISBN-13: 978-1436368322
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,293,454 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Economics 101 for everyone!, July 1, 2009

By 

Peter R. Naughton "Post Autistic Peter" (Palm Springs, CA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: PSEUDO-CAPITALISM (Paperback)

Thanks Dr. Bindman for this brilliant book.

In a world where an economic meltdown has happened because society at all levels became infected with false beliefs regarding the nature of economic reality, Dr. Bindman;s book PSEUDO CAPITALISM is a most welcome arrival.

Having graduated in Economics from a reputable school of economics myself, I am aware that the primary sources of this infection are the theories perpetuated by "neoclassical" or "mainstream" textbooks long used in introductory economics courses in universities throughout the world. In his very readable book, Bindman has brilliantly highlighted that the mass mis-education by which these theories deprived academic clubrooms of any hint of reality back in the seventies, finally festered into a fungus that choked society of the moral and intellectual capacities it needed in order to maintain the support systems required by our modern market economy..

The beauty of this book is that it uses the author's unique background as a professional analyst in psychology and economics to highlight the stages by which our modern market economy outstripped the financial profession's understanding of what was happening. With unerring accuracy and almost journalistic flair, Dr. Bindman points out the turning points in the saga. It certainly reads as good as any whodunnit I have read..

The author does not maintain the existence of a creator or creative force responsible for the appearance of our dire economic circumstances, and so he does not assign labels to any party. This is one reason why I feel the book invites each reader to experience a vision of their own. Neither does Dr. Bindman pursue the knowledge contained in this book through beliefs founded on reasons. Instead he uses active inquiry in a way that almost entices one to look around at the world for oneself and find that, almost without knowing it, one has been given the lenses through which a Brave New World can be clearly seen without any need for a guide!

While it is not my own view, I can imagine the likes of N. Gregory Mankiw rushing to characterize this book as a form of Orwellian mysticism. I think that Dr. Bindman's vision of current economics cannot be affected by such characterizations. Pseudo Capitalism neatly sidesteps the trap of taking sides with any school of theorists. Dr. Bindman does this intellectual footwork by stating very clearly that his goal is to provide his readers with a simple tool to make their own inquiry into current economic conditions and not to enlist him or her for any particular side or ideology..

We all know that it is up to each individual to see through the campaign of disinformation which led to the current economic meltdown. More economic catastrophes will befall us and our children if we do not demand that this deception ends now. The question is how do we make that demand?. Dr. Bindman has provided a clearly written, easy to understand script for the ordinary person to play their own part in getting the needed reforms underway. and shows when, where and how to act that part.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Plain talk from plain sources, June 30, 2009

By 

Carl Hoppe (Marina Del Rey, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: PSEUDO-CAPITALISM (Paperback)

In "Pseudo-Capitalism," Dr. Bindman puts into plain words the deceit of the phrase "American Free Market." Using widely available news sources and recognized books on economics, Bindman clearly illustrates how the American "Free Market" has for decades acutally breen carefully regulated by means of manipulating interest rates, military spending, and other governmental interventions. With equal clarity he illustrates how American "Capitalism" has become disconnected from its shareholders as interlocking boards of directors exchange favors without having to answer to a combination indifferent investment fund managers, whose only interest is in short term gain. After reading this I can never again view my American "Free Market" or capitalism itself in the same way. This in an eye-opener, clearly written -- an easy read about significant difficulties with our Aerican system.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Food for thought and fuel for action!, June 28, 2009

By 

Michelle Summers "philosopher and poet" (Venice, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: PSEUDO-CAPITALISM (Paperback)

After reading "Psuedo-Capitalism: Socialism For The Rich", I experienced a series of emotions: Shock, Anger, and a determination to participate more fully in the democratic process. Dr. Bindman's carefully crafted book helps to lift the veil over the corrupt practice of escalating corporate handouts by our elected officials, the privatization of public property for personal profit, and the rampant decline of economic fairness in Washington. I look forward to his next book which will hopefully expand on his plan to change the current political trend of favoring the rich through the exploitation and impoverishment of the working class in the name of a "free" market economy. This book is both food for thought and fuel for action! A must read manual for the new millenium.