Free Lunch: How the Wealthiest Americans Enrich Themselves at Government Expense (and StickYou with the Bill)

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Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
The bestselling author of Perfectly Legal returns with a powerful new expose.

Customer Reviews: Read 86 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

How 1% of Americans Take From the Other 99% and Why We Tolerate It January 3, 2008
237 out of 244 found this review helpful

The author has written a well documented and detailed account of how less than 1% of Americans are getting rich of the backs of the other 99%. And, it isn't just individuals who are reaping millions of dollars from taxpayers...it's also corporations.

Some of the items presented in detail in the book include how one of the largest baseball teams in the country destroyed a public park for a new stadium, had it paid for by the citizens, and then gave payback to politicians who helped.

Or the two major hunting and fishing chains that got millions and millions in tax subsidies to build stores based on false and unsustainable promises, and continue to try to rape the treasuries of communities across the country with more false promises.

Or the company who built a call center in Buffalo using tax subsidies and sold it to the public through a newspaper owned by the same company.

These are just several examples of the material detailed in the book. In addition to showing who is taking, and how, the author details who is fighting back and how they are trying to in an era when the courts and politicians are held by corporate interests.

The book is well written, and well documented. In addition, the author took what can be a very dry subject and made extremely readable. This book should be read by every American, particularly in light of the upcoming presidential elections. Some familiar names will pop out at you as individuals who made their fortunes off our backs.

5 out of 5 stars

Excellent Analysis January 3, 2008
97 out of 111 found this review helpful

This book is an excellent analysis of corporate socialism. Johnson clarifies how profoundly industry has taken all the profits in a growing economy, taxing the citizens to do it. This a powerful political wakeup call. Highly recommended.

5 out of 5 stars

feeding at the public trough January 3, 2008
96 out of 103 found this review helpful

How can our government be so expensive, yet so ineffective?

Showing it's no accident that our political institutions too often serve the interests of the rich and powerful, Mr. Johnston "follows the money" -- the money that buys special favors, and the money that's siphoned out of our pockets to pay for them.

This is an eminently readable and informative book, that deserves a large audience. But be warned -- being informed can produce outrage!

Eric Alan Isaacson

5 out of 5 stars

A deafening silence January 4, 2008
60 out of 69 found this review helpful

David Cay Johnston has been writing about this topic for years.
Question to all: How come no Dateline or 60 Minutes investigation hasn't exposed this ongoing scam?
How come newspapers just won't harp mercilessly on the politicians about that?

THAT is the real tragedy that shall cost this country its very preeminence. A non-informed citizenry is prime material for being robbed of their money and freedoms.

4 out of 5 stars

Much-needed investigative work January 3, 2008
56 out of 81 found this review helpful

I am basing my review on the author's NPR interview on "Fresh Air" January 3 (probably available via podcast.)

Mr. Johnston spoke clearly and compellingly, concisely outlining his research & findings. His subject matter delves into very contemporary topics & illustrate how wealthy private individuals & corporate interests have figured out ways to mine wealth from local communities' fiscal treasuries.

Their schemes include tax-increment financing for big-box retail development, special taxes to build professional sports stadia and even local police resources dedicated to responding to private burglar alarms, the vast majority of which are false alarms.

He also examines how recent deregulation and privatization of electric power utilities permit them to play rate games ala Enron that greatly disadvantage their customers.

Finally, he outlines a mechanism capable of stopping politicians and corporate lobbyists from continuing to drain the taxpayer's cookie-jar.

Any citizen of the U.S. desiring a fair & just society should be concerned with the subject matter on which Mr. Johnston writes.

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