Breach of Trust: How Washington Turns Outsiders Into Insiders [Hardcover]

 

 

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The subtitle provides more than a clue. Political outsiders wind up in the House of Representatives and then they are under tremendous pressure to conform, to play the game, to scratch backs and make deals. As a reader, I'm reminded of that scene in Casablanca: I"m shocked!..shocked! Rick...there is gambling going on in this place!
Tom Cogburn's an MD who goes to congress as one in a group of spirited, idealistic conservatives, hatched and spoon-fed upon Reagan era ideas about the expenditure of taxpayer money. Think of the David Stockman budget cuts and government internal clashes and shutdowns in the 1980s. This book updates us, brings us to a close-up of the 90s budget struggles. Clinton's the president and the economy is buoyed up by a stock market boom cycle. The U.S. is experiencing the benefits of a bankrupt Soviet Union, the Democrats are crowing about something called a "peace dividend", and there is large-scale military downsizing. Meanwhile, Republican ideologues are hard at work downsizing the domestic services bureaucracy. A classic liberal vs. conservative fiscal battle is taking place. Cogburn's culminating event is the 1997 budget battle between President Bill Clinton and the Republicans led by Newt Gingrich and a vast team of bright-eyed spending conservatives united in the single purpose of saying no to spending increases. The spending conservatives are the children of the "Reagan Revolution" and they've all taken the primary oath of self-imposed term limits.
During one of the longest and most protracted government shutdowns, Republican veteran Bob Dole says enough is enough! Dole chastizes his idealistic Republican confreres for what appears to be a prima donna obstinacy. Cogburn is incensed, chastizing old guard senators like Dole for "caving in" at the critical moment. If they'd held out, he believes, the budget cutters would have triumphed.
One problem with the book is that Cogburn sees term limits as the panacea for most of the governmental ills. I'm not sure that's true. Term limits do not account for that rare professional politician-statesman (statesperson?) who is prepared to sacrifice popularity for principle. On that score, Dr. Cogburn certainly practiced what he preached, and kept his word to return to medical practice after significant frustrating political defeats in the House of Representatives.
Another problem, for me, is that Cogburn feels that the only way to cut spending in government is through the budget process. Though the budget process is a significant sure way of cutting expenses, it often disguises underlying porkbarrel manipulations and tacked on amendments often made by staffers without knowlege or consent of the member.
I've always felt that many congress members have too little understanding and interest in the operational habits of government agencies. Here's the money, they say, spend it. And the agencies do, knowing that if they don't, their budgets will be cut when the next budget is processed. Many government bureaucrats do not want to buck the system, the stead flow of power, money, and paper, by passing cost-cutting suggestions upward to their bosses. Though middle-level government operations managers give lip service to cost cutting during meetings with underlings, public employees know that most of it is for show and self-promotion purposes, very much like the already forgotten Gore Campaign to Reform Government, when he was vice-president.

In addition to Cogburn's primary themes, there's a lot of innuendo and insider gossip, and some interesting short digressions into religion, medicine, and teen sex. This is an entertaining and informative book for John Q. Public. For a much deeper probe of term limits and similar topics, I would recommend RESTORATION, by columnist George F. Will. But then Will is a professional writer, whereas Cogburn's book is ghosted by John Hart, who lends it a sprightly writing style.
Reviewed by Moeursalen (Amazon nom-de-plume)

Dr. Coburn is armed to the teeth with facts, figures, and behind the scenes stories that the main stream press avoids or ignores. While it would be easy to become disillusioned with the entire political process after this candid view of Washington, he actually projects a tone that is surprisingly optimistic. The author is the complete opposite of a partisan hack. He goes after Democrats and Republicans alike. He is equally supportive of those few principled politicians in both parties. Dr. Coburn is truly a patriotic American and this book should be required reading for virtually EVERY high school civics class and college political science class. It would trigger a new American revolution. Don't miss this book.

In Breach Of Trust, Tom Coburn recounts some of his experiences as a 3 term US congressman. His efforts to help limit the runaway spending in Washington put him at odds with his own party and with the Washington mindset - where winning elections is the priority of both parties, and responsible policy is the casualty. A major theme is that term limits would be a good method to end careerist politics and permit individual members to vote their conscience. He tells of specific instances where party leaders compromise the best interests of America to present an electable image in the respective home districts. His insights ring true. Dr. Coburn does not pretend to be perfect, and freely admits his own mistakes. His honesty, tenacity, and candor are examples we all should aspire to. I recommend this good book to all fiscal conservatives and anyone interested in the way that Washington works - and why it usually fails.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Dr. Coburn is a true Citizen Legislator
Excellent book for those interested in the workings of the Beltway. Dr. Coburn explains why term-limited politicians are better than 'careerists'. Read more

Published on Oct 1 2003 by CTS

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