Marc Boyajian

Though not in my normal reading genre I found this book to be very interesting. Boyajian brings forth 12 different areas in which he believes the U.S. is faltering on many issues such as immigration and health care. On many of these points I believe Boyajain's arguments are very much valid and are things we do need to work on.
Just picking out the problems is not enough, we need ways to fix these problems. Boyajain follows through and offers some seemingly simple solutions to these problems. However there are really no simple solutions, and I believe this is the one area in which Boyajain falters. Perhaps some of his responses would bring good, and I respect him for not just stating problems without solutions, but there is really no such thing as a simple solution to such complex subjects. For example Boyajain suggests that to prevent illegal immigration better we should fine the immigrants increasing amounts per violation starting at $500. However if the illegal is unable to pay they should be forced to work for Streets and Sanitation at the rate of $1. He believes that this would greatly decrease the illegal immigrants in our country. However I feel that many, welcomed into the country to work off the fine, would merely just consider this just a new way into America.
All in all I thought it was a well written book, but was just not all that I hoped for.… (más)

The author has many good ideas and he talks about things that I believe many of us have worried about as we look at America's future. He talks about the problems with our health care system, our broken democracy, terrorism, foreign policy and many other national concerns. With each topic that he brings up, he proposes a solution. But it is in these solutions that I found it very hard to like the book. For example to the problems that the US has encountered in Iraq, he proposes that the president offer $15,000 per family on the condition that they hand over their arms and hold elections. Huh?... does bribing people really work?Also what happens to the families that are not gun toting(as I am sure that not every family in Iraq is armed and dangerous), do they go out and find some arms just so that they could get their $15,000?

He believes that the US and Europe have lost jobs to China through their own fault. He believes that our loss of jobs is caused in part by the fact that we overtax our companies causing them to raise prices, that there are too many laws and regulations controlling businesses and these factors make it hard for them to do business. Also he states that unions while good for the worker, are detrimental to businesses and worker benefits while seen as great recruiting tools are a burden to business. In everyone's rush to praise and exault China and India's ascent, has anyone considered the cost to the local population? Thomas Friedman in his book , The World is Flat, also exaults current economic might and growth over the human cost. Can any of us really believe that businesses on their own would be responsible if they are not held to a higher standard in the form of regulations and laws? His gripe with benefits is also hard to swallow, how are we to save for our retirement? Though not a member of any union, I personally can see their benefits. I am sure that there are problems with the ways in which their duties are performed but I see the presence of unions as invaluable to the working class. Please let us not count China's current economic growth as a raving success on all fronts. What about the pollution and environmental damage that's being done all in the name of success?

He also believes that unemployment insurance though a good idea needs improvement. I think many of us will agree with that sentiment. However, he lost me when he says "anyone who cannot find a job in two to three months, is either not looking in the right places or committing fraud due to an agreement with the employer where they collect unemployment benefits while working for the same employer for less pay under the table, until the benefits end". Again, Huh...? I really am not sure what kinds of people the author knows but I have known people who were laid off from prestigious Wall Street jobs and they needed many months to find a job. And no, they were not defrauding the government by working under the table. Also taking a job at McDonalds after having attended an Ivy league school was not really an option considering the school loans that go along with that education.

He also has a section where he discusses the hatred of the rich. He says that the majority of people have a great animosity to the rich and whenever anyone they know comes into money, they immediately hate the person. First I have to say that I do not know or have ever met anyone that thinks like that and I find it hard to believe that people who hold that view are in the majority as the author would have us believe. He says "Most everyone wants to become rich" I doubt that, I think most people want to be comfortable and sustain their families. He continues "unfortunately what they lack is the knowledge of how to do it...most of all they lack the positive attitude. They usually succumb to the negative surrounding them". Yes people may lack the know how on how to invest in the stock market but I find that most people in the world we live in will NEVER be rich no matter how hard they work. It does not matter what profession they pursue, riches may not be in the cards for them because of external factors like size of family, medical issues etc. Also certain people's profession will not allow them to become rich. I know many artists. professors or other such professions who despite their hard work, they hopefully will live comfortablly but certainly not be swimming in money.

But to be fair the author does discuss certain things that I believe are very important. He talks about the lack of fairness in our foreign policy and how this makes us lose credibility worldwide. He discusses how America's litigious mindset is ruining our businesses and general lifestyle. He discusses the decline of the family structure and the fact that our need to sustain ourselves economically is impacting our families and children.

All in all I found the book to be a bit simplistic in its reasoning. I feel that more research was needed to back up the proposals that he feels would lead to solutions. I really wanted to like this book, I really did. But when I weigh its pros against the aforementioned, I cannot give it anything higher than 2.5 stars.… (más)