The United States has been spending its way deeper and deeper into the red, and saddling future generations with the mess--but who's paying attention? To answer that question, the companion book to the critically acclaimed documentary I.O.U.S.A. talks with some of the most revered voices in the nation, including Warren Buffett; former Treasury Secretaries Paul O'Neill and Robert Rubin; Pete Peterson, CEO of The Blackstone Group; Congressman Ron Paul (R-Texas); and bestselling Empire of Debt author Bill Bonner. Armed with these interviews, historical references, and damning statistics, the book takes a lively and entertaining romp through the four deficits the nation faces: the budget deficit, the personal savings deficit, the trade deficit--and what former U.S. Comptroller General David Walker, who resigned abruptly in 2008 over Congress's lack of action, calls the "leadership deficit" in Washington. Defiantly non-partisan, the empowering solutions outlined in these pages are a must-read for any American who wants to help change "business-as-usual" in Washington as a new administration heads towards the Oval Office. "We the People" can get our politicians to stop spending, promote responsible economic programs, and hand our children and grandchildren the secure future they deserve.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 3.5 / 5.0
Heard most of it by now, but still worth a look This book was written right at the cusp of the current financial mess, making it very timely for those seeking one explanation as to why things are the way they are, and why they may not improve. The trouble is, anybody who reads Addison Wiggins web site (Daily Reckoning) or similar sites would already know most of what's in this book. Those who don't would still have heard most of the story by now. Most of the explanation part is contained in the front half of the book. The US owes tons of money, social... more info
Hope is not a strategy The authors "reverse engineered" this book from the documentary film I.O.U.S.A. that debuted (first cut) at the Sundance Film festival in early 2008 and opened (final form) at theaters around the country on August 21. The film was in turn conceived of as a way to publicize the message of an earlier book, "Empire of Debt: The Rise of an Epic Financial Crisis," William Bonner and Addison Wiggin, John Wiley & Sons (2006). See my review, which was lukewarm because the authors offered no solutions for... more info
I Owe Who? An Agenda in the Making! While there is some interesting information here, I found the book sketchy and ominous in more ways than one. It offers an "objective view from all sides," which in the U.S. today means from far right to right to center right. Who is to blame for our debts? Oh, politicians, of course. There is no mention of the "starve the beast" doctrine of intentionally bankrupting governments. No mention of the many well-connected financiers eagerly manufacturing and pushing debt. There are no liberals or leftists to... more info
Can't wait to see the film documentary DVD The powerful people interviewed in this book really astounded me. It is a case of 'what do we do now' after reading this book and essential reading to really understand how America got to its current financial turmoil today.
