Cronyism: Liberty Versus Power in Early America, 1607-1849

De: Patrick Newman

Narrado por: Scott R. Pollak

Like Rothbard before him, Dr. Newman has authored a book that is masterfully researched and captivatingly written. Even the most voracious listener of American history will never see some of America's "Great Men" the same way again.

Cronyism: Liberty Versus Power in America 1607-1849 describes the evolution of political favor seeking in early American history, from the colonial era to the Mexican War. Newman argues that cronyism emerged from the perennial clash between the forces of liberty and power. When the interventionist Federalists, National Republicans, and Whigs controlled the government, special-interest policies - central banking, protective tariffs, businesses subsidies, territorial expansion, and so on - drastically increased. However, after the libertarian Jeffersonian Republicans and Jacksonian Democrats assumed the command posts, cronyism only moderately declined before resuming its upward march. “Power,” Lord Acton teaches us, “tends to corrupt,” and slowly but surely the proponents of limited government turned into the privilege granting parties they previously despised.

This important work shows the neglected side of history the mainstream consensus doesn't want you to know: How politicians routinely dipped their hand in the public trough to benefit themselves and their supporters. Newman leaves no corrupt dealing unexposed, tracing the path of who lobbied for what legislation and how they profited at the public's expense.

©2021 Ludwig von Mises Institute (P)2022 Ludwig von Mises Institute

So important. . .

No matter your political beliefs, this book lays out things you never learned in American History Class and things American Politicians don't want you to know.

The Themed Overview I've Been Needing

I've been needing a good link from Colonial America through the pre-Polk, antebellum period. Other than a Biographical thread, I love a good Theme that ties together several decades (or in this case, Centuries!) through a unique historical perspective. Commerce is the story of America, and so this book is on par with the classic Rothbard tomes that never failed to connect the monetary and trade-regulatory elements of the topic on the pages. Looking forward to the next Newman odyssey of American monetary policy & the saga of Individual Liberty in a Corrupt World ever since the American Civil War period. Hopefully, we get his new book BEFORE the next domestic falling out.

Nice work, Mr. Newman

Nice work, Mr. Newman. Keep up this great work with the Mises Institute. Thank You.