Why government doesn't work [Hardcover]

Harry Browne (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1995

This is the Libertarian presidential candidate's manifesto for change. Why Government Doesn't Work is Browne's summation of his platform--a provocative mix of ideas that will speak to the millions of Americans who feel ripped off and frustrated by big government, whether Democrats or Republicans are in charge.

--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Harry Browne, the Libertarian Party candidate for President in 1996, outlines his views on government and lays out his platform. According to Browne, just about everything from rising healthcare costs to our collapsing morality is the fault of a government that differs from organized crime only because it "has flags in front of its offices." The answer to all our ills, he says, lies with free enterprise, which should be put in charge of such tasks as national defense and education. Among the things he promises to do if elected: pardon anyone ever convicted of violating federal weapons-control laws, and sell the country's national parks. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Review

Harry Browne ... has a game plan for shrinking the federal budget. -- The New York Times Book Review, David Diamond --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 245 pages
• Publisher: St. Martins Press (January 1, 1995)
• ASIN: B00005X6SN
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (50 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,737,418 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great introduction to Libertarian ideas., July 15, 2000

By 

grundle2600 "grundle2600" (Pittsburgh, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Why Government Doesn't Work (Hardcover)

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.

27 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Harry knows what he is talking about., November 28, 1999

By 

Michael J Woznicki "Michael J Woznicki" (Holland, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Why Government Doesn't Work (Hardcover)

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!

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The book that made a Libertarian out of me, July 11, 2003

By 

Eric P. Medlock (Charlotte, NC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Why Government Doesn't Work (Hardcover)

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.