by Robert B. Reich, 2018
Adam saw this book over at Ben’s house so I got it from the library. Mom read it first and said, “This was an excellent read. I sense a slipping away of everyone in the U.S.A. focusing on ‘me!’ and self only.” It’s true and he gives three reasons for this: The whatever-it-takes-to-win politics (mainly started by Nixon and the Watergate scandal), whatever-it-takes-to-maximize profits (businesses used to care about their employees, their communities, their customers, and now it’s screw them, just make money. He uses Michael Milken and Jack Welch as examples of this ‘whatever-it-takes-to-maximize profits’ attitude). And the whatever-it-takes to rig the economy is the third reason we’ve lost our sense of the common good. He attributes this to Lewis Powell’s memo, Tony Coelho’s bargain, and the Wall Street bailout.
He says this is not a book about Trump. Trump is not the cause; he is a consequence of the loss of our sense of the common good. He lists and describes 52 incidents that have occurred since the mid-1960s that showcase the decline. Here is the one that gets me the most:
2016 Price-gouging by Mylan Pharmaceuticals. The firm ratchets up the price of its EpiPen emergency injection kit, containing only about $1 worth of the drug epinephrine, to $609 a box. Mylan has an effective monopoly on the lifesaving product. The company’s revenue skyrockets to $11 billion. In 2016, Robert Coury, Mylan’s chairman, receives compensation of $98 million (including vesting of prior stock options, $160 million).
from page 62 in the chapter entitled, “Exploitation”
He starts the book with John F. Kennedy’s quote to ‘ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.’ Over the past 50 years, the attitude has changed drastically and we’ve become divisive, cynical, distrustful, anxiety-ridden and we don’t care to work together for a common good.
He does mention the Old and New Testaments and Jesus as where we get our ideas of caring for the common good.
Because of the relaxing of antitrust laws, “We have the most expensive and slowest broadband of any industrialized nation.” Comcast, AT&T, and Verizon are the only companies providing it.
When the game is widely seen as rigged in favor of those at the top, others view cheating as acceptable or fear they’ll become chumps if they don’t cheat.
from page 98 in the chapter entitled, ‘The Decline of the Good in Common’
Our best chance of reversing whatever-it-takes politics is through political leaders like John McCain who demand that politicians attend to the common good rather than win by undermining it–and who help educate the public about the importance of doing exactly this. This is the essence of political leadership.
In 2017, Arizona senator Jeff Flake demonstrated similar leadership (what is it about Arizona?) when he castigated his fellow Republicans for their failure to stand up to Trump.
from page 116 in the chapter entitled, ‘Leadership as Trusteeship’
Modern America seems to have misplaced honor and shame. We often honor people who haven’t advanced the common good but have merely achieved notoriety or celebrity, or amassed great wealth or power.
from page 132 in the chapter entitled, ‘Honor and Shame’
Why doesn’t the United States, as does Britain, issue honors to a thousand citizens each year who have made significant contributions to the common good?
from page 143 in the chapter entitled, ‘Honor and Shame’
We must also ensure that every American has sufficient education to differentiate truth from falsehood, and to think critically about what they read and see.
from page 158 in the chapter entitled, ‘Resurrecting Truth’
As the 2016 presidential race heated up, Leslie Moonves, CEO of CBS, said the Trump phenomenon “may not be good for America, but it’s damn good for CBS,” adding, “Who would have expected the ride we’re all having right now? The money’s rolling in and this is fun. . . . I’ve never seen anything like this, and this is going to be a very good year for us. Sorry, It’s a terrible thing to say. But, bring it on, Donald. Keep going.”
from page 166 in the chapter entitled, ‘Resurrecting Truth’
We have a responsibility to educate ourselves and others about how to find the truth, and how to assess the news we receive thoughtfully and critically. We need to learn better how to recognize lies so we can refrain from sharing them and warn others.
from page 171 in the chapter entitled, ‘Resurrecting Truth’
For starters, every child should gain an understanding of our political system, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, separation of powers, checks and balances, and federalism. …Immigrants have to pass a civics test covering the organization of the U.S. government and American history.
from page 177 in the chapter entitled, ‘Civic Education for All’
Two years of required public service would give young people an opportunity to learn civic responsibility by serving the common good directly. It should be a duty of citizenship.
from pages 179-180 in the chapter entitled, ‘Civic Education for All’
We need the Word of God now. It is ultimately the ONLY answer to this downward spiral. It is the ONLY TRUTH. “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” 1 Timothy 6:10. We need to be cleansed and renewed by the Word of God. The Holy Spirit will give us discernment to know truth from lies. Romans 12:2, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Have mercy on us, dear God, as a nation and as a people. We have lost our way. Be with us, guide us into Truth, renew our minds, fill us with your Love. Thank you, Jesus!