Customer Reviews

The Power of Progress: How America's Progressives Can (Once Again) Save Our Economy, Our Climate, and Our Country

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Anyone looking for a compelling narrative to promote and defend the progressive movement could do no better than John Podesta's historical track of our achievements. As a self described 'progressive' I have a 'know it when I see it' definition of what it means to be one. Mr. Podesta's book was not only informative and interesting read but excellent fodder for my over the back fence debates with my neighbors about what it means to be a modern day progressive.

Gary Nichols

This book by John Podesta is truely a remarkable blueprint for vital public policy solutions to what ails the U.S. The book is in 2 parts. Part one starts with a very interesting personal history of Mr. Podesta's immigrant roots and the history of the various Progressive movements in the U.S. Part 2 details very specific and vitally important federal programs that WILL solve the pressing issues we face; education, energy, security, global warming, economic strength, health care. The solutions are specific and the results attainable. (note their are 2 interesting chapters that compare the Bush and Clinton administartions). This book should be required reading for ANYONE who is invloved in governmental policy and EVERYONE who cares about the future of our country.

In a time when the country is divided over labels to the extent that not enough positive action takes place, John Podesta's book moves past the name-calling among self-decribed conservatives and liberals and gets down to the brass tacks of how to fix things. After a compelling narative of his own background (that disallows the painting of this self-made hard-working man as some elite intellectual), he provides specific public policy solutions which, regardless of party affiliation, deserve to make their way into the public debate. An informative and enjoyable read.

John Podesta gives a unique perspective of the real meaning of The Progressive Movement. His explanations are clear and have a pragmatic approach: PROGRESSIVENESS = SOCIAL JUSTICE. The historical background of the work done by Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and most recently the Clinton Administration illustrates not only with words, but most importantly with action what needs to be changed to live in a better world. John Podesta is one of the symbols and leaders of this modern era of Progressivism, and his wise concepts will help change USA and the rest of the world.

An excellent book.

i'm sure that some people out there consider the term 'progressive' to be a dirty word of sorts. Podesta makes the case in this book not only that the progressive movement is the key to ensuring a prosperous, sustainable future but also frames progressives in such a way that everyone would want to aspire to their ideals. to say that you don't stand for universal human rights, equality, and a government that helps its citizens is condemnable; to say you do stand for these things means you are a progressive. Podesta offers a clear vision and most importantly practical suggestions for the national agenda from this perspective. it is ambitious, maverick, and refreshing that someone who worked on the inside of the highest levels of government has such a vision; we would all do well to listen.

I just re-read this book, and it speaks to our current political situation more than it did even when it was published 18 months ago. Podesta anticipates the questions that are rocking both parties right now: what should government, at all levels, do for its citizens; how much government is too much (or too little); and how can a progressive approach to politics work for our nation's different political parties. One can see that the Tea Party movement's answer to these questions is "a plague on both your houses." Podesta's response is reasonable, measured, compassionate, and grounded in the American Constitution. Read it again.

John Podesta's The Power of Progress attempts to do two things: describe the history of the progressive movement in America, and lay out ways in which progressive leadership can move America forward. In a measured and calm way, Podesta lays out past accomplishments under a progressive agenda, and uses that foundation to show how the principles of progressivism can be applied to today's challenges. Those who disagree with President Clinton's former chief of staff will find plenty of ways in which he overstates his case; those who agree with him will find examples to bolster their opinions. Either way, reading The Power of Progress adds to the information a reader can have on hand to participate in an informed dialogue about what can work for Americans today. Podesta injects his personal story on these pages and that helps humanize the basis for his political persuasion.

Rating: Three-star (Recommended)

I really enjoyed this book. I had a chance to read the entire book while traveling and, since I had to travel back, I reviewed parts of it again. A great resource and a book that I will loan out to friends with the expectation of having it returned. I was very pleased. Put this on your "must read" list.

Political books today seem to turn into a left or right wing rant. For the most part, Mr. Podesta has avoided this in The Power of Progress. He gives a history of the progressive movement, describes the Clinton and Bush administrations, and then proposes solutions to some of today's problems.

He does idealize the Clinton years, and blames Bush for more than he was actually responsible for. This center section does succumb to the left wing rant, though not as bad as many books.

The facts are slanted in favor of Mr. Podesta's interpertation of progressivism. I'll just give a couple examples.

- Mr. Podesta feels progressives favor equal rights, gay rights, etc. and downplays early progressives who were racist or anti semitic.

- In his discussion of solving global warming, he bemoans the fact that oil consumption rose 3% since 2001 (under Bush). He neglects to mention that it rose 14% under Clinton. From that standpoint the Bush years seem to be doing pretty well.

Overall, a useful book, especially today since Mr. Podesta's Center for American Progress is said to have a lot of influence in the Obama administration. But as with any book with an agenda, don't expect a balanced discussion.

The author claims the following:

- Claim: Progressive reformers led the U.S. to "victory in the Cold War".

Gee, and I thought it was Ronald Reagan. The last "progressive", Jimmy Carter let the USSR expand all over the world in the 1970s and led an anemic country that constantly apologized for the U.S. Reagan won the Cold War, not Carter.

- Claim: Bill Clinton's "progressive politics" led to the biggest boom in the U.S. economy in history (1992-2000).

Reality: Bill Clinton presided over the boom created by deregulation under Reagan. Clinton did attempt a very "progressive agenda", until Republican Alan Greenspan in 1994 forced him to move right on economics. Also, Clinton adopted many traditional GOP themes such as "welfare to work". So much for leftwing economics.

- Claim: "Progressives stand with people not priviledge":

I disagree with this. The Left is made up of special interests and public city unions and their clients and politicians who back them, and the role of the "progressive" politician, in my view is to protect and defend these priviledges (i.e. blocking merit pay for public school teachers, defending the trial lawyers against tort reform, etc). The notion that liberals hate priviledge is totally inverting reality. Gun control in big cities: liberals give their buddies gun permits that the average Joe or Jane is denied. Another example.

- Claim: Global warming needs to be fought with public resources: let's throw trillions of dollars at cooling the world by 0.05 degrees so that we can feel good. Meanwhile, millions of Africans are dying of AIDs and malaria. Bush gave $ 15 billion in AIDs help to Africa, dwarfing what Clinton gave.

- Foreign policy/security: The Clinton Justice Department spent about 8 years fighting "deadbeat dads" (men who don't pay child support). Meanwhile, the Israelis were warning the U.S. about the growing Islamic terror threat. When Northwest Airlines tried to set up a potential terrorist tracking database, the Clinton administration shut it down (didn't take the idea up) because it would have "profiled" young Arab men. Clinton's actions against Bin Ladin: a pathetic missile attack that killed some mules in Afghanistan, and blew up a pharmaceuticals factory in the Sudan (i.e. a "show").

- "Correcting the excesses of individualism": what does that mean ? I guess the idea of "national service", which Obama wants to make mandatory (even in the communist countries with their young brigades, service was not mandatory).

- Chicago: the author mentions it often in the book. And yet, to me, it is an example of the dangers of the liberal Democrat "Machine", in which votes were cast for people long dead, and corruption reigned. If only we could make America more like Daley's Chicago !

- All People are Equal / Common Good: And yet, we really do value diversity and want people not to be just Americans, but hyphenated Americans ("African American"). To me, that seems like the opposite of the common good. Al Gore once got the national motto wrong, stating it as "out of one, many". Oops !

- "Clinton represents moral principles". Wow. And yet, he used his power of office to have sex with a woman who worked for him (imagine if a Republican had done that). When the Clinton's left office, they pardoned some criminal friends of theirs and their staff stole and vandalized the White House. Nice morals.

"Progressive" politics looks good on paper. But if you really want to know what it leads to in reality, watch the HBO series "The Wire" and see what "progressive" public schools look like and what progressive social policies really look like. Isn't it funny how most of the country really can mostly run itself, and the pockets of our nation that are controlled by the "progressive" elites are ridden with crime and poverty and despair ?