- Paperback: 196 pages
- Publisher: Broadway; Reprint edition (Dec 29 1997)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0767900391
- ISBN-13: 978-0767900393
- Product Dimensions: 14 x 1.3 x 21.6 cm
- Shipping Weight: 249 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
#135,372 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #63 in Books > Nonfiction > Politics > Political Parties
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Amazon
Charles Murray first got famous for his book Losing Ground's argument that welfare programs actually hamper the progress of poor people. Then he got even more famous for saying (along with his co-author Richard Herrnstein) in The Bell Curve that genetically-based IQ deficits also hamper their progress. This little book is worth the read because we get to see what he thinks the government should really do about all this: not much. On the plus side, Murray is a very clear writer. So we get, for instance, a nicely drawn discussion of the nature of public goods. But although this book is offered in the spirit of the Revolutionary pamphleteers, when it gets down to cases, Murray comes across as a man who's lost his common sense. For example, he claims that if all businesses were allowed to opt out of the current government regulatory scheme, provided that they display prominent signs saying UNREGULATED, "just about every small business will want to be unregulated. ... No more building inspectors, elevator inspectors, or restaurant inspectors. Owners of unregulated small businesses will have to answer to no one but their customers." He doesn't seem to notice that those customers will be running at top speed away from those clearly marked buildings, elevators, and restaurants.
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
From Publishers Weekly
Murray (coauthor of The Bell Curve) is a skilled polemicist, and his manifesto for a radically downsized government should both gather adherents and challenge opponents. He argues from two basic points: freedom (associated with responsibility) is our birthright; and in most cases, government intervention has been ineffectual. While Murray allows for some level of state and local government, he recommends scrapping most federal agencies that deal with domestic policies. Arguing that civil rights laws have actually retarded progress against racism, he cites evidence that discrimination against Jews and the Irish declined without legislation; but this ignores the special stigma of race. Murray advocates a $3000 education voucher for each child and suggests optimistically that medical patients paying full fees will subsidize the costs of the indigent; but this says nothing about those in between?the majority of the population. Welfare and Social Security payments should end, to be replaced by individual saving and community support from voluntary associations. Murray's proposals posit a more responsible populace?a worthy goal?yet they also assume a neighborly concern that may be lacking in our increasingly fragmented society. Moreover, his schema fails to address international comparisons (Canadian health care) and does not acknowledge how government has shaped an unequal status quo (e.g., mortgage interest deductions but little money for public housing). $100,000 ad/promo; author tour.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great complement to libertarian library,
By
This review is from: What It Means to Be a Libertarian (Paperback)
This book constitute a quick primer on libertarianism and tell how the libertarian political and economic view applies to solve the problems of education, health care, sex, drugs and the environment. The book lack coverage for other important topic such as what happens to the poor and unemployed, failing to mention charities and other self-organized entities. Loved it.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Free markets and free men,
By Eugene A Jewett "Eugene A Jewett" (Alexandria, Va. United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: What It Means to Be a Libertarian (Paperback)
Murray writes as a true libertarian thinker when he expresses disdain for government intervention into the affairs of men while concommitantly advocating sharp curtailment of its involvements. His solutions and alternatives for these interventions include businesses advertising their lack of regulation in return for minimal government oversight. I find it humorous when one critic suggests that consumers will run from these businesses (who tout their unregulated status) while alternative medicine has grown like Topsy under these same circumstances. Kudos to Murray.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Primer /,
By "gardenhose" (www.1492.ws) - See all my reviews
This review is from: What It Means to Be a Libertarian (Paperback)
Charles Murray addresses the core philosophy that drive libertarian issues. It's a good book to pass along for those not familiar with our purpose and vision.
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