The Hidden History of Neoliberalism

How Reaganism Gutted America and How To Restore Its Greatness

Thom Hartmann

• Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers
• Year: 2023
• Print ISBN: 9781523002320
• eBook ISBN: 9781523002344
• Topic: Politics & International Relations
• Subtopic: Economic History
• Index: Politics & International Relations

A progressive radio host and author reveals how neoliberalism became so prevalent in the United States and why it's time for us to turn our backs to it.
With four decades of neoliberal rule coming to an end, America is at a crossroads. In this powerful and accessible book, Thom Hartmann demystifies neoliberalism and explains how we can use this pivotal point in time to create a more positive future.
This book traces the history of neoliberalism---a set of capitalistic philosophies favoring free trade, low taxes on the rich, financial austerity, and deregulation of big business-up to the present day. Hartmann explains how neoliberalism was sold as a cure for wars and the Great Depression. He outlines the destructive impact that it has had on America, looking at how it has increased poverty, damaged the middle class, and corrupted our nation's politics.
America is standing on the edge of a new progressive era. We can continue down the road to a neoliberal oligarchy. Or we can choose to return to Keynesian economics and Alexander Hamilton's American Plan by raising taxes on the rich, reversing free trade, and building a society that works for all.
 
"The destabilization [neoliberalism's] policies have wrought have left our generation with the task to rebuild; and Hartmann's book shows the way." —Leila Conners, founder and Director, Tree Media and Need to Know (N2K)
"Thom Hartmann makes it crystal clear how neoliberal free-market economics benefits monopolistic big business and the ultrarich while impoverishing our country and everyone else." —Earl Katz, progressive activist and Emmy-nominated documentary film producer
"This compact handbook nimbly recapitulates the political effects of neoliberalism as it percolated through world history." —George DiCaprio

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Foreword
• Introduction: The Plot to Save the World
• 1. Save Us from the Utopians
• 2. The Birth of Neoliberalism
• 3. Neoliberalism’s Fathers: Mises, Hayek, and Friedman
• 4. Neoliberalism Goes to Work
• 5. Worldwide Neoliberalism Experiments
• 6. Milton Friedman Hearts General Pinochet
• 7. Neoliberalism Comes to America
• 8. Bill Clinton Hearts the Neoliberal Revolution
• 9. George W. Bush Pushes Neoliberalism Even Further
• 10. Neoliberalism Blows Up in Bush’s Face
• 11. Obama Rescues Neoliberalism from Itself
• 12. Trump Attacks Neoliberalism
• 13. Biden Challenges Neoliberalism’s Core Concepts
• 14. How Neoliberalism Changed America in 40 Years
• 15. Privatizing the Commons
• 16. Destruction of Democracy
• 17. Breaking with 40 Years of Neoliberalism
• 18. #TaxTheRich
• 19. Rebuilding a Middle Class Gutted by Neoliberalism
• 20. Trade: Returning to Alexander Hamilton’s American Plan
• 21. What Is Real Wealth?
• 22. Hamilton’s 11-Step Plan Worked for 188 Years
• 23. Tariffs Built America
• 24. But What About the Cost of American-Made Goods?
• 25. How China Escaped Neoliberalism
• 26. America Adopted Neoliberalism, and All I Got Was This Made-in-China T-Shirt
• 27. Neoliberal Trade Policy Rejected by South Korea
• 28. Reverse Privatization of Core Government Functions
• 29. Break Up the Monopolies
• 30. Progressive Populism to Replace Progressive Neoliberalism
• 31. Standing on the Edge
• Notes
• Acknowledgments
• Index
• About the Author