Lou Dobbs; War on the Middle Class

[SFG75]

I checked this out during my last library visit. Dobbs hosts a show on CNN that beats the drum of anti-illegal immigration and corporate malfeseance. His book takes a very confrontational tone and has a ton of numbers to document the moving of U.S. jobs to overseas areas. Dobbs criticizes U.S. politicians for destroying a well-paid manufacturing base in our country, which also leads to horrendous trade imablances. He does do a brilliant job of pointing this out and how free-trade economics falls short in terms of counting the cost of trade imbalances and the fact that the "new" jobs that will replace those that leave American shores, pay a lot lower and have fewer benefits. I don't agree with his chapter on illegal immigration. I would personally like to see some kind of program where a fine is paid and then we swear in the immigrants. It is a crime, but it isn't like killing someone-the punishment should reflect that.

Politically, Dobbs is an independent who bashes McCain and Obama with equal opportunity and force. Politically, I don't see his arguments gaining a lot of traction, though I think his economic views are dead on. It is a depressing book and really gives a gloomy "us against them" mentality. I give the book two stars out of five:

 

[joderu95]

I haven't read it, won't be and your synopsis sounds pretty much like what I would expect. Dobbs simple-minded populism bores me to death.

 

[SFG75]

I haven't read it, won't be and your synopsis sounds pretty much like what I would expect. Dobbs simple-minded populism bores me to death.

A great parody of Dobbs and his scare tactics

Lou Dobbs Hosts Moneyline From Window Ledge | The Onion - America's Finest News Source

:lol:

Though perhaps we'll all be on the ledge in a month or two

 

[Peder]

Hi Scott and thanks for the clear and insightful synopsis. Without having read the book I shouldn't really say anything negative against it, or even run the risk of appearing to take a different view than you who have read it. This may be the rare book for the genre that I would find generally informative, but in general I avoid books of political commentary for being completely closed-minded and one-sided. Plus I can't stand the screaming. Lou Dobbs is no doubt a cut above the out and out politicians and candidates, who are absolutely the worst, but the polemical atitude is still too much for me and I give it a wide berth. But, good review! :flowers:

 

[joderu95]

A great parody of Dobbs and his scare tactics

Lou Dobbs Hosts Moneyline From Window Ledge | The Onion - America's Finest News Source

:lol:

Though perhaps we'll all be on the ledge in a month or two

That's pretty good. I neglect The Onion for months at a time. I should check it out more regularly. I should add that I don't always disagree with the guy but I just find his constant appeals to the Plebians distasteful to my Patrician snobbery.

 

[speedmaster]

Thanks for the heads-up on this book. I haven't read it, but have read some of the author's comments over the last couple of years. I think he misunderstands economics and how trade works.