Back to Work: Why We Need Smart Government for a Strong Economy (Random House Large Print) - Softcover

Clinton, Bill

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0307990737 ISBN 13: 9780307990730

Publisher: Random House Large Print, 2011

Synopsis

President Bill Clinton gives us his views on the challenges facing the United States today and why government matters—presenting his ideas on restoring economic growth, job creation, financial responsibility, resolving the mortgage crisis, and pursuing a strategy to get us "back in the future business.” He explains how we got into the current economic crisis, and offers specific recommendations on how we can put people back to work, increase bank lending and corporate investment, double our exports, restore our manufacturing base, and create new businesses. He supports President Obama’s emphasis on green technology, saying that changing the way we produce and consume energy is the strategy most likely to spark a fast-growing economy while enhancing our national security.

Clinton also stresses that we need a strong private sector and a smart government working together to restore prosperity and progress, demonstrating that whenever we’ve given in to the temptation to blame government for all our problems, we’ve lost our ability to produce sustained economic growth and shared prosperity.

Clinton writes, “There is simply no evidence that we can succeed in the twenty-first century with an antigovernment strategy,” based on “a philosophy grounded in ‘you’re on your own’ rather than ‘we’re all in this together.’ ” He believes that conflict between government and the private sector has proved to be good politics but has produced bad policies, giving us a weak economy with not enough jobs, growing income inequality and poverty, and a decline in our competitive position. In the real world, cooperation works much better than conflict, and “Americans need victories in real life.”


From the Hardcover edition.

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

Edition details

• Publisher: Random House Large Print
• Publication date: 2011
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0307990737
• ISBN 13: 9780307990730
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 242