The Conservative Nanny State

How the Wealthy Use the Government to Stay Rich and Get Richer

By: Dean Baker

Narrated by: Sandra Swafford

Length: 6 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

In his new book, economist Dean Baker debunks the myth that conservatives favor the market over government intervention. In fact, conservatives rely on a range of "nanny state" policies that ensure the rich get richer while leaving most Americans worse off. It's time for the rules to change. Sound economic policy should harness the market in ways that produce desirable social outcomes: decent wages, good jobs, and affordable health care.

©2006 Dean Baker (P)2006 Polity Audio LLC and Creative Commons

This book is a communist propaganda in disguise

I rarely write book reviews, but this book really rubbed me the wrong way.
This book is a communist propaganda in not very good disguise. It's upward distribution of income is not different from what Marxism calls ruling class, buzhuazia, or exploiters.
The author further promotes the idea of equalizing incomes by getting rid of copyright laws, allowing non-US licensed professionals from third-world counties to come and practice in the US without proper training and certification that matches national standards. He further recommends Government run health care and Internet.
I do agree that Government-run entities should compete with private entities on the event plain field.
The entire attitude to the Western social structure is derogatory hence "the Conservative Nanny State". I am from the former USSR and easily recognize this rhetoric.
It is unfortunate that while benefiting fully from the culture and political system of this country, the author rerates it. If one decreases incentives to invent and get quality education leading to higher licensure and income, why would one study and work hard? For the fear of a concentration camp? For the belief in communist ideal while leaving in the dorm next door to the person who never really work a day in his life? The history already taught us all these lessons in Althea greatest experiment. Communists caused the deaths of over 100 million people and it is just some never learned from them.

And by the way, the computer voice performance is also marginal.

The world according to a

Let’s see if I can word this right to reflect the contentions of this book:
The conservative nanny state has joined with the conservative nanny press to make sure that the conservative nanny doctor gets paid more than the poor put upon dishwasher. Then by means of the conservative nanny protection of copyright and patent laws is guaranteeing the conservative nanny business person to be protected from me selling what he has patented, which I should be able to. All this also guarantees that the conservative nanny state keeps the government from efficiently and with great care providing health care for everyone and world peace for the downtrodden masses of the world.
Well, at least they are consistent by giving this book away. Usually I have enjoyed the books that I have gotten for free from audible, but this drivel is the exception. In this case, you get what you pay for.

The reviewers who disagree with Baker...

... are unable to tell us why. If the book is "so full of holes", you would expect them to at least point one out.

Dean Baker has been consistently right about matters economic, and this book tells you why.

Brilliant clarifification of policies

This book is a serious economic policy assessment of what conservatives actually do in exact contradiction to what they say. The narrative is coherent, consistent and very clear. The book is an excellent defense against the most outrageous lies that conservatives keep telling the American people. The solutions the book proposes are very positive and necessary if we are to restore equality or genuine democracy.

Computerized voice makes for a hard listen

The computerized voice is only a small part of it. The fanciful claims with no facts to back any of it up makes this book a laugh. The laughing only lasts for so long. Eventually the comedic relief of ridiculousness because as wearisome as repetitive, juvenile humor does and a person starts feeling just a little dumber for each second of continued listening.

An Alternative View

...on protectionism and welfare for the rich. Important and deeply connected to a wealth of publicly available evidence. May take a second listen to fully reveal the gems locked within. The journey, however, is well worth the effort.

Annoying and Painful

I started the book expecting to share in a lot of the perspectives. I’m a libertarian, so I know full well the ways in which conservatives restrict the free market and help the rich.

However, I found the majority of Baker’s points to be rather irrelevant. He doesn’t seem to have a solid understanding of the free market (and therefore calls things “interventions” which aren’t) and many of his points are shaky at best and it seems like he’s just stretching out for any political-hackery argument he can.

Like I said, I’m well aware that conservatives do, indeed, benefit the wealthy in many ways (most of the time it’s bipartisan overlap, though, which Baker himself would also be in support of, such as expansionary monetary policy, tough regulation keeping out competition, etc). However, I found Baker’s arguments to be terribly misguided and annoying.

total rubbish

What disappointed you about The Conservative Nanny State?

everything

Would you ever listen to anything by Dean Baker again?

no, he is an idiot.

Would you be willing to try another one of Sandra Swafford’s performances?

probably not.

What character would you cut from The Conservative Nanny State?

the book was terrible from start to finish. had to return it.

Any additional comments?

none

absolutely Loved

I love to read but am rarely moved to review a book. It really has to have 5 stars on Amazon and make me feel something.
This book really made me happy (and sad). The story is pretty implausible and yet so real. The characters are quirky and perfect, some of the truths of the book made me want to cry

An eye opening book

A clear and direct book that points out flaws in conservative policy and suggests possible alternatives. This book addresses issues such as protectionism for certain professions, unnecessarily high CEO pay, medical insurance, language tricks used by conservatives to promote their agenda (e.g. "free trade" agreements such as NAFTA and CAFTA are not designed to promote free trade), and many others. Assertions made in the book as supported by a large number of studies noted in the reference section. The book (including figures and references) is also available for (free) on-line reading at the book's website: http://www.conservativenannystate.com/

This is a "must read" book for anyone who wants to understand the deeply rooted reason for many of the current political and economic problems.