Before reading the insightful and eye-opening book “TheQuiet Coup: Neoliberalism and the Looting of America” by Mehrsa Baradaran, Iwas under the impression that neoliberalism is synonymous with capitalism. Partof it is because neoliberals have presented themselves in a broad lightand they have touted not only market freedom with healthy and productivecompetition, hallmark signs of capitalism but also claiming to be free andindependent from government control and intervention.

Yet when I t...