Posts Tagged ‘System’

‘The System’ by Robert Reich

March 19th, 2020

WHO: Robert B. Reich

WHAT: THE SYSTEM
Who Rigged It, How We Fix It

WHEN: Published by Knopf March 26, 2020

WHERE: The author lives in Berkeley.

WHY: “Robert Reich is a passionate and profound advocate for the financial rights of all Americans.
“One can ‘game the system’ or ‘buck the system,’ but what, exactly, is the system that is, as Reich avers, so rigged? And who, exactly, is doing the rigging?
“When economic and political infrastructures intersect, those in power tend to be those with the most money. Since the onset of the Trump administration, the term ‘oligarch’ has catapulted into the American lexicon. Most people associate the term with Russians of extraordinary wealth who run the country at Putin’s bidding and to their own great benefit.
“Can’t happen here, right? Wrong, says Reich, who uses JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon as the poster child for American oligarchy. These uber-rich moguls have an outsized influence on government influence which actually puts democracy at risk, as they advocate for corporate practices that promote profitability, while penalizing workers and undermine the economy by sending jobs overseas and profits offshore.”
—Carol Haggas, BOOKLIST

“Much-needed, readably concise political and economic analysis.”
—KIRKUS REVIEWS

. . . . . .

FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE BOOK:

Millions of Americans, whether on the left or the right of the political spectrum, know something has gone profoundly wrong. “Right now, we have a system that favors those who can pay for access and outcomes. That’s how you explain an economy that is rigged to corporations and to the very wealthiest,” said Beto O’Rourke at the first Democratic presidential candidates’ debate in 2019.

“When you’ve got a government, when you’ve got an economy that does great for those with money and isn’t doing great for everyone else, that is corruption, pure and simple,” said Senator Elizabeth Warren at the same forum.

“Big business, elite media, and major donors are lining up behind the campaign of my opponent because they know she will keep our rigged system in place,” said Donald Trump in his acceptance speech at the Republican convention in 2016.

“If solutions within the system are so impossible to find, then maybe we should change the system itself,” said sixteen- year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg.

Jacket photo

Media Resources:
About the book and author | Read an excerpt | Author tour | Download the jacket | Download the author photo

Knopf.
224 pages. $24 ISBN 978-0-525-65904-4

To interview the author, contact: Erinn Hartman | 212-572-2345 | ehartman@penguinrandomhouse.com