Back to Work: Why We Need Smart Government for a Strong Economy - Hardcover

Clinton, President Bill

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0091944139 ISBN 13: 9780091944131

Publisher: Hutchinson, 2011

Synopsis

In Back to Work, Bill Clinton addresses the urgent economic challenges facing the United States and offers a plan to get America "back into the future business." He details how to get out of the current economic crisis and lay a foundation for long-term prosperity, offering specific recommendations on how to put people back to work, increase bank lending and corporate investment, double exports, restore the manufacturing base, and create new businesses. He supports President Obama's emphasis on green technology, saying that a change in the way we produce and consume energy is the strategy most likely to spark a fastgrowing economy and enhance national security. Clinton says that it is strong economy and smart government working together that will restore prosperity and progress. He demonstrates that whenever the US gives in to the temptation to blame government for its problems, it loses its commitment to shared prosperity, balanced growth, financial responsibility, and investment in the future. Some things have to be done together. For example, he says, "Our ability to compete in the twenty-first century is dependent on our willingness to invest in infrastructure: we need faster broadband, a state-of-the-art national electrical grid, modernized water and sewer systems, and the best airports, trains, roads, and bridges. "There is no evidence that we can succeed in the twenty-first century with an antigovernment strategy," writes Clinton, "with a philosophy grounded in 'You're on your own' rather than 'We're all in this together.'" Clinton believes that conflict between government and the private sector has proved to be remarkably good politics, but it has produced bad policies, giving us a weak economy with few jobs, growing income inequality and poverty, and a decline in our competitive position. In the real world, cooperation works much better than conflict, and "we need victories in the real world." "I wrote this book because I love my country and I'm concerned a

About this title

Review:

"There's an upbeat, front-foot tone to Back to Work that is welcome at a time of despair. Love him or hate him, he hasn't lost his touch." (Telegraph)

"Shrewd and convincing. To say that Bill Clinton possesses superb political instincts is like saying that Paul McCartney has a good ear; he is probably the best natural politician of his generation. His skill at framing an argument is without peer and that he does so without demagoguery is to his lasting credit . . . informed, high-minded, intelligent and persuasive" (Observer)

"Through the sheer number and range of his ideas, Mr Clinton manages to convey a badly needs sense of hope." (Economist)

"This book is a well-timed and serious contribution to the debate that will go a long way towards deciding next year's election - the debate on what America's government is for." (The Times)

"Essential reading on the global economy from former American president Bill Clinton . . . A major contribution to the political debate ahead of the 2012 presidential elections" (GQ)

Book Description:

Essential reading on the global economy from former US President, Bill Clinton

About this edition

• Publisher: Hutchinson
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 0091944139
• ISBN 13: 9780091944131
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 208