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Losing Ground: American Social Policy, 1950-1980 Paperback – Unabridged, March 10, 2015
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Purchase options and add-ons
- Print length352 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherBasic Books
- Publication dateMarch 10, 2015
- Dimensions6.13 x 1 x 9.13 inches
- ISBN-100465065880
- ISBN-13978-0465065882
- Lexile measure1300L
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Editorial Reviews
Review
There's no better proof of the adage that ideas have consequences than Charles Murray's Losing Ground: in its argument, and in the fact that it changed the world.”
Newt Gingrich
One of the pivotal books around which American history turned.”
David Frum
One of the outstanding works of the pioneering era of conservative thought.”
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : Basic Books; Unabridged edition (March 10, 2015)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 352 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0465065880
- ISBN-13 : 978-0465065882
- Lexile measure : 1300L
- Item Weight : 15.8 ounces
- Dimensions : 6.13 x 1 x 9.13 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #657,975 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #367 in Poverty
- #735 in Social Services & Welfare (Books)
- #2,522 in History & Theory of Politics
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Charles Murray is a political scientist, author, and libertarian. He first came to national attention in 1984 with the publication of "Losing Ground," which has been credited as the intellectual foundation for the Welfare Reform Act of 1996. His 1994 New York Times bestseller, "The Bell Curve" (Free Press, 1994), coauthored with the late Richard J. Herrnstein, sparked heated controversy for its analysis of the role of IQ in shaping America's class structure. Murray's other books include "What It Means to Be a Libertarian" (1997), "Human Accomplishment" (2003), "In Our Hands" (2006), and "Real Education" (2008). His 2012 book, "Coming Apart" (Crown Forum, 2012), describes an unprecedented divergence in American classes over the last half century. His most recent book is "By the People: Rebuilding Liberty Without Permission" (Crown Forum, 2015).
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An astute observer will note that the reviews are concentrated at the extremes, perhaps in what Murray would call, a "U" curve. This is often the case when partisanship fuels the debate. It becomes a battle of numbers between supporters and haters. The good thing is that I don't have to take such things into consideration when reviewing this book. It is an excellent, well-argued, lucidly written, exhaustively and meticulously researched account of the American Welfare project and the "War On Poverty". Murray is measured and reasonable; however, he is no moderate. Take that for what it's worth. While his is fair-minded and not dogmatic, his opinions are not in the general stream of contemporary American politics. Of course, if you want mainstream opinion, listen to whatever talk-radio host you agree with 99% of the time. If you think "mainstream opinion" is a lot of inane, predigested codswallop and would prefer a factual and thorough account of things that cuts through the gibberish and the BS, read Charles Murray.
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Money and status are the most influential rewards that society uses to manage behaviour. The book explains in detail the point that the welfare state reduces the economic penalty of not working by providing an income to non-workers. It also goes on to look at the often overlooked point that the welfare state has eroded the status benefits to working as well. There used to be moral approbation associated with self-reliance and to be a recipient of welfare was degrading. As the number of people on welfare has risen the stigma attached to welfare and the status benefit of working have both decreased. We have similarly lost the useful distinction between the deserving poor and the undeserving poor.
Although the book was written in 1984 it remains relevant today. The number of people claiming welfare benefits continues to grow despite economic growth, so we are still losing ground.
The book does not cover workfare. For a discussion of workfare from the 1980s see Beyond Entitlement by Laurence M. Mead.
Im ersten Kapitel beschreibt Murray, wie sich die gesellschaftliche Einstellung in den USA im 20. JH verändert hat. Bis in die 50er galt das System als selbstkorrigierend und Arme wurden als keine eigene Gruppe angesehen, weil jeder arm war. Das entwickelte sich zu „hand, not a handout“ und das wiederum zu bedingungsloser Generosität. Abhängig zu sein war kein Stigma mehr, sondern jedermanns gutes Recht.
Anfangs war Veraagen jedermanns eigener Fehler, nach der Great Society Reform der Johnson Regierung war das System schuld.
Im zweiten Kapitel beschreibt er die katastrophalen Folgen, die dieser Gesinnungswechsel und Transferzahlungen hatten. Arbeitslosigkeit, laborforce participation, Unehelichkeit, Teenager-Geburten, Kriminalität, Bildung und Familienzusammenhalt. Allesamt Statistiken, die seit Jahrzehnten Jahr für Jahr besser wurden. Sofort bei Einführung stoppten diese positiven Entwicklungen und verschlechterten sich wieder. Manchmal für die Weißen, selten für Reichen, aber IMMER für die schwarzen Armen. Heute weiß man, was Murray 1980 nicht wissen konnte: der Sozialstaat hat die schwarze Familie komplett zerstört. 70% der Kinder werden in Familien ohne Mann geboren, mit desaströsen Folgen.
Ab dann zeigt Murray in verschiedenen, sehr gelungenen Gedankenexperimenten, wieso staatliche Transfers gar nicht funktionieren können. Besonders das Beispiel mit einem Versuch, Zigarettenkonsum zu reduzieren, ist beeindruckend und erinnert mich an Hayeks Erkenntnis, dass der Mensch viel weniger lenken kann als er sich anmaßt.
Insgesamt ein grandioses Buch, das man gut an einem Wochenende lesen kann. Murray schreibt verständlich. Er verwendet tolle Grafiken und originelle Argumente. Ich habe viel gelernt und erkenne vieles von dem, worüber auch Sowell schreibt, in Murray’s Buch wieder. Mit Sowells Brillianz kann sich niemand messen, aber Murray bietet sehr spannende Einblicke in eine Idee, die toll klingt, aber sich in Realität als fatal entpuppt hat.












