by Jeffrey D. Sachs
Audiobook
(c) 2016.
I voted for Hillary Clinton twice in 2016. She beat Bernie Sanders in the first race, only to lose to Donald Trump in the second in a close race. Bernie Sanders relied on Sachs’ economics advice. Therefore, I find it important to educate myself on the issues in this democracy and to read this book to illuminate my ignorant mind.
Sachs lays out a powerful and persuasive case for engaging in new challenges for America. In particular, he suggests that we move investment away from the militarism that has consumed our deficit-laden budgets since 1980 and towards domestic challenges.
Some will surely label Sachs’ plan as socialist. But if you get past that word and delve into the arguments and data, Sachs has very good points. In fact, the happiest and most prosperous countries today (and America is not among them) are socialist in their orientation. Surely, we in America can learn from these situations instead of engaging in a red fear.
My main concern with Sachs’ plan is that it moves too quickly too soon. History teaches that too much reform can be the enemy of true reform as much as obstructionism. We must pick a few hard challenges to engage in and focus. Unfortunately, hyperpartisanship in Washington is crippling our national leadership. The easy part is identifying challenges. Even finding solutions is somewhat easy these days. The challenge is working together with the other, whether that other be a protester or an evangelical, someone who watches Fox News or someone who watches MSNBC. We must learn to work together again. I’m left wanting to hear Sachs’ ideas on that.