Screwed

Starting with Ronald Reagan and accelerating under George W. Bush, American policy makers have waged an assault on the middle class, the very foundation of American democracy, as seen by the Founding Fathers. Hartmann's book chronicles this assault and suggests actions people can take to end it. Anthony Heald is perfect as the narrator. His voice is steady as he discusses economic theory, delivering key concepts clearly and often slowing his pace so listeners can absorb the points. But he lets the emotion in his tone rise as he reads about inequities. When the author points out obvious irrationalities, Heald adopts a tone of incredulity. It could have resulted in caricature, but Heald adopts just the right level, which nicely fits the material. R.C.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine

September 4, 2006
Beginning with the Reagan administration, the U.S. government has steadily instituted policies and legislation that favor corporations over citizens, argues Air America host Hartmann (The Ultimate Sacrifice). Analyzing the rhetoric and policies of the current administration's "compassionate conservatism," Hartmann goes on to detail the ways in which safety nets for working people (from progressive taxation to antitrust legislation to Social Security) have been steadily weakened, and argues that an empowered, educated middle class is crucial to a functioning democracy. Chapters detail the ways in which what gets called "the free market" is not really free (for good reason, he notes), how "We the People create the middle class," how the policies of the Founding Fathers and figures like FDR still have a lot to teach us, and ways for "Leveling the Playing Field." Though far from comprehensive, and despite its sensationalist title, Hartmann's latest is an intelligent critique of the contemporary plight of the middle class.