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With the words, "We have a responsibility that when somebody hurts, government has got to do more," former President George H.W. Bush effectively ended the Reagan era. His son left office with a $1 trillion deficit, much of which was entitlement spending. America's Way Back explains how and why the U.S. has returned to runaway entitlement spending and what needs to be done to stop it. Donald J. Devine states that despite massive stimulus spending, federal takeovers, The solution lies in a "Federalist vision" of divided power and a loosening of the federal stranglehold that crushes freedom. A mix of libertarianism and traditionalism, basic tenets of Ronald Reagan's philosophy, are the guide to restoring America. The author recommends a synthesis that combines tradition and freedom by "first leaving it to the individual to act, then to the family, then to the community, local government, regional government, and only to the national state when there is no other way." During the last century there was a belief that the same efficiency of scale that led to business success would work in government. But even corporations have "decentralized," and changed to more "localized autonomy," having realized it is more effective. Unfortunately, "welfare statism" has left "government experts" to handle the problems of individuals, even though most Americans do not like government interference. America's Way Back suggests that national solutions are not as effective as local solutions, that appropriate resolution of problems lies with those closest to the problem, and that local responders are more likely to listen to citizen concerns and to find effective answers. The author states that another reason that "progressive centralization" must be undone is that the U.S. "is divided on most important values questions, so centralized decisions are either forced on dissenting minorities or compromised into irrationality." The conservative core must be reenergized not only in the face of those who say all will be well if only we grant government more power, but because of them. (ISI Books, 2013, 283 pp., $29.95) |
and a recession that supposedly ended in 2009, the current economic recovery looks more like "longterm stagnation." Although economic collapse looms, the necessary cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and other entitlement programs can't even be discussed politically. "Welfare state progressivism has so corrupted modern political thinking," writes Devine, that Democrat and Republican party leaders can't even discuss, let alone resolve the situation.
