No, They Can't

Why Government Fails - But Individuals Succeed

By: John Stossel

Narrated by: John Stossel

Length: 9 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

The government is not a neutral arbiter of truth. It never has been. It never will be. Doubt everything. John Stossel does. A self-described skeptic, he has dismantled society's sacred cows with unerring common sense. Now he debunks the most sacred of them all: our intuition and belief that government can solve our problems. In No, They Can't, the New York Times best-selling author and Fox News commentator insists that we discard that idea of the "perfect" government - left or right - and retrain our brain to look only at the facts, to rethink our lives as independent individuals -and fast.

With characteristic tenacity, John Stossel outlines and exposes the fallacies and facts of the most pressing issues of today's social and political climate - and shows how our intuitions about them are, frankly, wrong:

• The unreliable marriage between big business, the media, and unions
• The myth of tax breaks and the ignorance of their advocates
• Why "central planners" never create more jobs and how government never really will
• Why free trade works - without government interference
• Federal regulations and the trouble they create for consumers
• The harm caused to the disabled by government protection of the disabled
• The problems (social and economic) generated by minimum-wage laws
• The destructive daydreams of "health insurance for everyone"
• Bad food vs. good food and the government
• Intrusive, unwelcome nanny sensibilities
• The dumbing down of public education and teachers' unions
• How gun control actually increases crime

. . . and more myth-busting realities of why the American people must wrest our lives back from a government stranglehold.

Stossel also reveals how his unyielding desire to educate the public with the truth caused an irreparable rift with ABC (nobody wanted to hear the point-by-point facts of ObamaCare), and why he left his long-running stint for a new, uncensored forum with Fox. He lays out his ideas for education innovation as well and, finally, makes it perfectly clear why government action is the least effective and desirable fantasy to hang on to. As Stossel says, it’s not about electing the right people. It’s about narrowing responsibilities. No, They Can't is an irrefutable first step toward that goal.

©2012 JFS Productions, Inc. (P)2012 Simon & Schuster

John will open your eyes to long thought beliefs

What did you love best about No, They Can't?

The handbook for those who wonder what Libertarian-ism really is.

Who was your favorite character and why?

N/A

What does John Stossel bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His pause after you believe that yes this is how it should be. . . then turns the table and says how it really should be.

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

I had no idea that John struggled with stuttering but fought it head on. He also affirmed that because you don't see the cost because the bills go to the insurance companies, that the cost of healthcare is too high because of the difference of how it's handled today compared to my childhood, where you paid for everything directly except catastrophic things handled by insurance at the hospital.

Any additional comments?

I wish more in school would be exposed to these thoughts as they start to form ways in their mind to mature into adulthood and self reliance.

Brilliant book

Just get it and listen to it. Common sense no nonsense arguments to how our government should be run!

enlightenment

I am a big John Stossel fan, this is my first read from him, thoroughly enjoyed it. great ideas and great insights on today's overgrown government

Timely

In a time of people arguing over which party will save you, this is a refreshing and empowering book.

Easier when heard in his own voice lol

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

I could have gotten away with success if it hadn't been for those meddling governments. Overall that is the message, and as a fellow Libertarian I agree. John always does a great job of outlining ways that the government gets in our way. Sometimes in areas that we dont always notice.
If you already believe that competition and free market are good, but aren't sure just how much we need to be let to experiement and grow then this book is for you. If you already agree and just like hearing more about what you believe like me, then this book is still for you. Great quotes for when debating politics ;)

A great barometer for a persons political bias

I can talk about the ideas in this book for hours. In fact, I just finished my maybe 6th or 7th listen to this book because the arguments are, in my mind, very convincing. Mr. Stossel puts things in such an easy-to-understand, compelling way, only someone with an incredibly ideological bias (*cough-leftists-cough-the media-cough-cough*) would have difficulty understanding the premise of this book. Now that Obama is out out, and Trump is in, Republicans should take pause to consider more free market ideas as discussed in this book. The clock is ticking, guys.

enlightening

Where does No, They Can't rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

One of the more engaging books I've ever listened to.

Any additional comments?

Makes you realize how misleading your own intuition can be. It's hard to argue with much of what he has to say.

Sigh, actual solutions we'll never see implemented

Any additional comments?

Here is a handbook on how problems are best solved locally and directly by the people they effect or people who choose to get involved. My mind was racing as I thought through the potential of actually implementing the ideas from this book. It was very uplifting....

If only we looked to ourselves for the solution. Regrettably, more government is always the solution to the issues created by large government and we the people can't be expected to be held responsible for our own lives when there exists at least a percentage doing better. We have all become VERY generous with other people's money. "Let the government or the rich solve that" is now the default solution to every problem. What an eye opener.

Great Book, Must Listen

What did you love best about No, They Can't?

John narrates the book which makes it easy to listen to and very enjoyable. If you believe in free markets and capitalism you have to listen to this book. If not, still listen and I'm sure you will change your mind.

Thank you for this informative book.

John Stossel clearly with unique simplicity puts holes in supposed well meaning government agendas.  Those willing to open their mind with new ideas and listen without prejudice (right or left) can catch the bigger picture.  We Americans need something better.  Government works best when less complicated and less of.  Let common sense and accountability set the standard and we get a bonus. A balance budget and more citizens living and enjoying the pursuit of happiness.