Unmasking the System: Uncovering the Power Structures that Rigged It and How We Can Work Together to Create a Fairer Future

Hilary L: Robert B Reich shows how rich corporations have a stranglehold on politics and ordinary people. Also, he shows how Trump plays his cards to enable the stranglehold to continue, to the detriment of the people who vote for him.

United Kingdom on Sep 27, 2023

Business consultant: The book, The System – Who Rigged it, How We Fix It, by Robert Reich is an excellent book that accurately describes the rigged system in which America has become an oligarchy controlled by a wealthy minority and is not a democracy in which the government should respond to the majority vote of the people and deliver equal justice for all. However, Reich offers no plan for fixing the rigged system other than voting and offers no suggestions for the government to describe a plan including better support of innovation required to address major problems impacting the economy including global warming.

Demonstrating that democracy doesn’t exist in America, Reich cites a study published in 2014 by Princeton professor Martin Gilens and Northwestern professor Benjamin Page that analyzed policy issues being considered by Congress and determined the relative influence on legislation of economic elites, business groups, unions, and average citizens. The study concluded that the preferences of the typical American have no influence at all on legislation emerging from Congress or public policy. Politicians respond only to those who give them large campaign donations. As Reich noted on...

United States on Jul 17, 2023

Book Shark: The System: Who Rigged It, How We Fix It by Robert B. Reich

“The System” is a critique of our current political/economic system and what we can do about it. Robert B. Reich is currently Chancellor’s Professor of Public Policy at the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley, and the author of seventeen books. In his latest book, Reich examines what is wrong with our current system in a clear and direct manner. This provocative 225-page book is broken out into three major parts: PART I. Democracy vs. Oligarchy, PART II. The Road to Oligarchy, and PART III. Overcoming Oligarchy.

Positives:
1. Engaging and well-written book that is accessible to the masses.
2. Thought-provoking and critical look at our political and economic system.
3. Reich sets the tone in the Introduction. “First, forget politics as you’ve come to see it as electoral contests between Democrats and Republicans. Think power. The underlying contest is between a small minority who have gained power over the system and the vast majority who have little or none.”
4. Defines important topics with clarity. “The word “oligarchy” comes from the...

United States on Jan 19, 2023

Cole: Ich habe das Buch nach dem russischen Überfall auf die Ukraine begonnen zu lesen. Keine gute Idee. Vollkommen neu für mich, aber mit zahlreichen Beispielen belegt, zeigt Reich die Ähnlichkeit des russischen politischen Systemes und der USA auf. Hier wie da eine Oligarchie. Wenige Superreiche setzen ihr Vermögen auf unterschiedlichste Art und Weise ein, ihren Wohlstand zu mehren und sich den Staat untertan zu machen. Dabei sind Verlautbarungen und Handeln oftmals diametral verschieden. Allerdings scheint mir das notwendige Bewußtsein für die Situation und ein Gegensteuern demokratischer Kräfte deutlich unterentwickelt, so dass ich den Ansatz ".. how we fix it" eher in Frage stellen würde.
Für mich in jedem Falle eine ganze Reihe neuer Perspektiven und was kann ein Buch mehr leisten

Germany on May 01, 2022

Ash: Those who are working class and see something wrong with the world must read this. Reich unveils a pattern of behaviour from the American elites and how they have bent the American political system to their will and have done the same around the world.

They say the right words about injustice and inequality, but deny that any government (including one's for everyday people) can fix things. Reich provides a strong case for why we should care about politics and why we ought to be participating now more than ever.

Canada on Feb 11, 2022

Kewal Singh Negi: Recommended for everybody to know the truth about rigged system made by capitalist class and ceo to make profits from by making system rigged and dyfunctional

India on Dec 01, 2021

FP: Good read.
Explains why market fundamentalism flawed and how Trump managed to get elected. Great insight into how we got ourselves here.

Canada on Nov 07, 2020