THIRD WORLD AMERICA (Arianna Huffington)

In a third world country, the government works for the benefit of special interests and the rich rather than for the good of the majority.  Huffington does a brilliant job of analyzing the long downward spiral of the middle class lifestyle, a spiral precipitated not by reckless spending and irresponsibility of average Americans, but by years of legislation  riddled with loopholes that favor the monied top tier of our economic hierarchy.  Did you know that Washington lobbyists outnumber legislators by almost 26 to one?  Did you know that on average $6.5 million in contributions goes to each of our legislators from these lobbyists?  Did you know that many of the bills designed to help middle class citizens actually hurt them?  Did you know that many of the top government financial regulators used to work on Wall Street and still have strong connections there, that the teachers union has more clout in Washington than several of our largest compnaies combined, and that the top 1% of our citizens own 35% of the wealth?  The middle class is disappearing, but there is hope. 

Huffington's book is scary and depressing.  With each of the first 4 chapters I found myself feeling that our country was, indeed, heading toward destruction, that our days as the place where anyone can achieve success with hard work and a just little luck are truly behind us.  In the final chapter, however, Huffington introduces a glimmer of hope, with anectdotes about Americans who have used their bad luck to become better people, who refuse to accept that unemployment or even losing their home is the end of their dreams.  She talks about philanthropy and America's spirit of giving.  She and her colleagues take action themselves, transferring their money from the "big banks" and depositing it instead in local banks and credit unions, where it benefits communities instead of big business.  When I finshed reading, I was disgusted with politicians of both parties, but infused with new hope for our country and our economy.  This book is about politics, but it is most definitely NOT a political book.  Read it!