Over the past few years I have read a number of political books and have come to the following conclusions about what to expect from the authors.
Politicians are generally apologetic and write mostly about their accomplishments. They are rarely informative as to what goes on in Washington.
Pundits usually write with the slant that appeals to their existing readers. They spin. This is what they do for a living.
Talk show hosts write to their fan base and any one else they can convert. Their books tend not to be well written or informative.
Reporters fill in the fact gaps left out by all the other books.
Last year I told you to read a book by David Cay Johnston called "Free Lunch." It is still a good read. Johnston was a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter.
I just got through reading Will Bunch's book, "The Backlash," which I also highly recommend. Bunch was also a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter.
"Backlash" is the story of the Tea Party and how it developed, along with all the fringe parties, how these groups took the idea from the peaceniks of the seventies and turned their idea into a cause. The big difference is that the peaceniks believed in love and the new radicals believe in hate. Of course not all Tea Partiers and all fringe groups are hateful but they're certainly not spreading a message of love.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Mayor Bloomberg's Report Card
Just in case he decides to run for higher office. . .
CONGESTION PRICING: F. This plan was predicated on an affordable, well run transit system that could handle more passengers. It is neither. Less trains, less clerks, higher fares.
FOOTBALL STADIUM: F. This plan would have brought congestion where it was not needed. See above for problems.
EDUCATION: D+. I think he meant well but does not have enough knowledge about the problem to fix it. The Charter school idea was and is too costly.
TOURISM: B+. He has made N.Y.C. a tourist mecca - but at the expense of its inhabitants.
TENANTS: D-. His relationship with the real estate industry led him to form a Rent Guideline Board that catered to the industry's wishes.
WALL STREET: D+. His knowledge of the business of Bloomberg News should have told him that fighting for deregulation would be hazardous, but he still fought for it. This helped fuel the collapse of Wall Street and the housing market.
The jury is still out on the Yankee Stadium deal and the Nets Basketball Stadium deal. The cost to taxpayers, however, was tremendous.
Bloomberg ran on a platform of fixing the MTA and failed. His police, fire department and sanitation decisions deserve C+.
All in all I give him a C- and wish him luck.
CONGESTION PRICING: F. This plan was predicated on an affordable, well run transit system that could handle more passengers. It is neither. Less trains, less clerks, higher fares.
FOOTBALL STADIUM: F. This plan would have brought congestion where it was not needed. See above for problems.
EDUCATION: D+. I think he meant well but does not have enough knowledge about the problem to fix it. The Charter school idea was and is too costly.
TOURISM: B+. He has made N.Y.C. a tourist mecca - but at the expense of its inhabitants.
TENANTS: D-. His relationship with the real estate industry led him to form a Rent Guideline Board that catered to the industry's wishes.
WALL STREET: D+. His knowledge of the business of Bloomberg News should have told him that fighting for deregulation would be hazardous, but he still fought for it. This helped fuel the collapse of Wall Street and the housing market.
The jury is still out on the Yankee Stadium deal and the Nets Basketball Stadium deal. The cost to taxpayers, however, was tremendous.
Bloomberg ran on a platform of fixing the MTA and failed. His police, fire department and sanitation decisions deserve C+.
All in all I give him a C- and wish him luck.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
