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For the past several decades, politicians and economists thought
that high levels of inequality were good for the economy. But
because America's middle class is now so weak, the US economy
suffers from the kinds of problems that plague less-developed
countries. As Hollowed Out explains, to have strong, sustainable
growth, the economy needs to work for everyone and expand from the
middle out. This new thinking has the potential to supplant
trickle-down economics the theory that was so wrong about
inequality and our economy and shape economic policy making for
generations.
In Re-Union, David Madland explores how labor unions are essential
to all workers. Yet, union systems are badly flawed and in need of
rapid changes for reform. Madland's multilayered analysis presents
a solution—a model to replace the existing firm-based collective
bargaining with a larger, industry-scale bargaining method coupled
with powerful incentives for union membership. These changes would
represent a remarkable shift from the norm, but would be based on
lessons from other countries, US history and current policy in
several cities and states. In outlining the shift, Madland details
how these proposals might mend the broken economic and political
systems in the United States. He also uses three examples from
Britain, Canada, and Australia to explore what there is yet to
learn about this new system in other developed nations. Madland's
practical advice in Re-Union extends to a proposal for how to
implement the changes necessary to shift the current paradigm. This
powerful call to action speaks directly to the workers affected by
these policies—the very people seeking to have their voices
recognized in a system that attempts to silence them.
In recent years, interest in religion and politics at the national
level has surged while extensive activity at the state level has
gone largely unnoticed. Yet, with state government budgets
increasing exponentially over the past three decades, churches and
religious organizations are focusing tremendous energy and
resources toward influencing the ways states are spending their
money and governing their populace. In this groundbreaking
collection, Edward Cleary and Allen Hertzke bring together nine new
essays that provide the first systematic, comparative view of
religion and politics at the state level. These essays take an
in-depth look at the pressing issues facing states across the
nation and how religious lobbies and organizations are addressing
them. By examining the responses of different denominations and
their rationales for involvement, the contributors explore the
enormous diversity of interests being represented at the state
level. As highly controversial programs and laws continue to divide
state governments, Representing God at the Statehouse provides an
important look at the current state of religion and democracy.
As witnessed in the 2004 elections, Americans feel the influence of
interest groups today more than ever before. In races for the
presidency, Congress, state legislatures, and even local school
boards, interest groups help-in both major and minor ways-elect (or
reelect) candidates who support their views. Interest Groups in
American Campaigns is the only book to focus specifically on the
role of interest groups in elections. Rozell, Wilcox, and Madland
show that communication channels-from monetary donations to
candidates and web pages for citizens-are the bedrock of interest
group leverage on political parties, individual candidates, and
voters. This second edition goes well beyond a straightforward
update and spotlights the major changes in the way interest groups
are now active in modern campaigns. Continuing the tradition of the
first edition, the authors draw on interviews with interest group
leaders, coverage of campaign finance filings, and election surveys
in their extensive analysis. In addition to current data and
updated examples and cases throughout the book, new coverage
includes: the effects of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of
2002, the first finance reform package in a generation the rise of
527s in campaign advertising in light of campaign finance reform
restrictions the successes and failures of George W. Bush and John
Kerry to woo powerful interest groups
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