在线阅读本书
For years, a pervasive belief has reigned in American politics that two of our most recent presidents had drastically opposing views of our economy and our world. Historians and economists alike have explored, extolled and criticized Ronald Reagan s presidency, particularly the theory of Reaganomics, which affirmed that big government was the cause, not the solution, to our problems. In public, President Bill Clinton positioned his approach as the antidote to Reaganomics. But in reality, his governing philosophy was the logical corollary to the Reagan Revolution.
Clintonomics explores how Clinton s presidency marked the return of fiscal discipline and the end of big government. Political scientist Jack Godwin reveals how Clinton succeeded where Reagan failed and how Clinton s ability to demystify, but not simplify, the world around us made him one of the most successful politicians of all time. He shows how Clinton succeeded by repairing the flaws in Reaganomics and then presenting a governing philosophy appropriate for the 21st century and equal to the powerful forces of globalization. Controversial and insightful, this book will redefine how we see the legacies of these two leaders and the forces that helped define their influence on the world.
From the Inside Flap
With a presidency marked by rancorous, sometimes crippling bipartisanship that twice brought Congress to a standstill, Bill Clinton elicited strong feelings in friends and foes alike. But often overlooked amid the heightened emotions was the fact that Clinton s ideas and policies uniquely bridged the chasm between left and right to form a new worldview supporting fiscal responsibility, global connectivity, and ethnic diversity.Clintonomics is the first book to go beyond the colorful biographical details to thoughtfully and meticulously analyze the powerful blend of liberal/conservative thinking that defined Clinton s presidency and preserve his legacy. By merging the best ideas from both the left and the right, Clinton was able to accomplish what his Republican predecessors had not: balancing the budget, reducing federal bureaucracy, reforming the economy, and positioning the country to compete in a global economy, while avoiding the cynical government is the problem attitude of the conservative movement. He even achieved pet GOP goals, such as reforming welfare and reducing government regulation, while still actively ensuring a level playing field and empowering all citizens to fulfill their potential.
Packed with original research and steeped in a rich historical perspective, this insightful book explores how Clinton s presidency marked the return of fiscal discipline and the end of big government, and thus served as a logical corollary to the Reagan Revolution. It traces the evolution of Clinton s political thinking and governing philosophy from his years as governor of Arkansas to his eight-year tenure as U.S. President, including chapters that:
Set the stage by outlining the ideas of the major political economists of the past centuries, from Adam Smith s invisible hand to Friedrich Hayek s ideas on limited government to John Kenneth Galbraith s writings on the social balance.
Review the legacy of the Reagan years, with its emphasis on lower taxes, reduced spend ing for social services, minimal government regulation of the economy, and major increases in military spending all of which built a false prosperity on a mountain of debt.
Examine Clinton s Third-Way principles, including pro-growth economic policy that fosters close ties to the private sector; a balanced budget with a smaller, less bureaucratic federal government; and reduction of economic inequality through investments in education and technology.
Look at specific ways that Clinton set out to solve looming challenges, including healthcare, immigration, welfare, trade, and education challenges that continue to demand our attention and national will to resolve.
Clinton transcended the simplistic idea that liberals want to expand government and conservatives want to starve it to death. His Third Way is a political hybrid of right/left thinking that embraced the complexities and opportunities of a globalized, interlocked world. Clintonomics serves as a blueprint of potentially success ful strategies for the twenty-first century, and a model for future administrations to study and emulate.
From the Back Cover
“This book is a must read for those struggling to figure out the present economic crisis. As the author makes clear, the key contribution of the Clinton presidency was to reposition the American economy for the 21st century. The failure to adhere to lessons of fiscal responsibility, limited government, investments in people and global leadership has badly weakened our economy and our stature in the world.”
—Leon E. Panetta, former Chief of Staff to President Clinton
“Reading Clintonomics is like going on a journey to rediscover the great ideas and great principles that have guided us for more than two hundred years. It is not a nostalgic look at the nineties, but a governing philosophy for the global era.”
— From the Foreword by John Garamendi, Lt. Governor of California
Though many insisted Bill Clinton’s politics were the polar opposite of Ronald Reagan’s, and Clinton himself declared Clintonomics to be the antidote to Reaganomics, political scientist Jack Godwin argues otherwise. His book Clintonomics explores the intriguing idea that Clinton’s governing philosophy was the logical extension of the Reagan Revolution, and provides compelling evidence of how Clinton transformed classic conservative ideas, such as welfare reform, into his own hybrid, Third-Way policies.
Clintonomics rejects the frequent complaint that Clinton failed to formulate a coherent political ideology—and thus failed to earn a place in the pantheon of presidential greats. Instead, the book argues that Clinton’s political ideas were clearly articulated and firmly grounded in the realities of globalism, and that his relentless pursuit of fiscal discipline and a smaller, more efficient bureaucracy brought him the kind of success not achieved by Reagan.
Controversial and insightful, Clintonomics will redefine how we see the legacies of these two leaders—and the forces that helped define their influence on the world.
| 出版社 | Amacom |
|---|---|
| 作者 | Jack Godwin Ph.D. |