A Country That Works: Getting America Back on Track

by Andy Stern

Andy Stern, one of the most visionary leaders in America today, has fought relentlessly to ensure that Americans' hard work is rewarded in today's hypercompetitive, globalized world. As the newsmaking president of the fastest-growing, most dynamic union in America, he has led the charge for modernizing the "house of labor" -- taking unions out of the past and into the twenty-first century. He has spearheaded the campaign against the "Wal-Marting" of jobs and has innovated transformative solutions to the daunting problems facing Americans, from job insecurity to runaway health care costs. In this powerful critique and call-to-arms, he offers a revelatory dissection of the gathering threats to our standard of living -- threats that our politicians have failed utterly to address -- and he puts forth a bold, unassailable plan for making vital reforms.

In his eye-opening diagnosis that makes the urgency of the threats vividly clear, Stern shows that Americans are contending with the most disruptive economic upheaval in the world economy since the Industrial Revolution. Yet, in the face of this daunting challenge, the American system simply isn't working well enough for most of us. Stern powerfully portrays how with the pace of globalization relentlessly quickening, the competitive pressures on our jobs and quality of life are heating up even more, especially as housing, health care, and oil prices skyrocket. While CEO salaries soar and business and the wealthy are handed plentiful tax shelters, the incomes of both white-collar and blue-collar workers stagnate, leaving most Americans struggling to pay off ever-escalating debt, instead of saving for retirement. The plain fact is that our system is out of whack, serving the interests of the top sliver of the most wealthy while putting the squeeze on the rest of us.

Meanwhile, our politicians irresponsibly sidestep the crucial solutions that we so desperately need in order to make sure Americans can move into the twenty-first century with their futures secure. As Stern so persuasively shows, it is time for bold thinking and creative solutions to overhaul a health care system in crisis; correct a tax system rigged in favor of business and the wealthy; revamp our inadequate retirement system; and make truly innovative improvements in education. He presents a set of course-correction reforms so compelling, simple, and achievable that readers will find themselves enraged that they haven't yet been enacted. Americans have a right to expect our government to work for us. Andy Stern shows how we can get things back on track to make sure it does.

Genres: Politics

224 pages, Hardcover

First published October 3, 2006

About the author

Andy Stern former president, Service Employees International Union (SEIU); senior fellow, Columbia University's Center for Business, Law and Public Policy.

Reviews

[Gemini · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had no idea the effects the labor movement had on this country, as well it should have & continues to do so. The mess that was AFL-CIO & SEIU is another story that I really knew nothing about. Whether or not you agree on how these organizations became what they are & how things dissolved between is basically your opinion. I am sure that there are ways to see this as a positive action as well as one that pinned one against each other. I am not sure you get the full story considering this is being told by one person who essentially is SEIU. Unions should have a stronger backing in this country but that's not what is happening unfortunately but at least there are people still fighting for them which is crucial.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a little hasty in my initial review of this book. Andy Stern has a lot of concrete ideas on how to benefit both SEIU members and those who are working hard in low-paying jobs. It's pretty outdated by now (it was written in 2006), but still interesting.

[Patty · Rating 2 out of 5]

Redundant and at times self-serving.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Andy Stern's autobiography about the changing landscape of the American workforce, the historic value of unions, the evolution of SEIU, and what America should be doing to drive prosperity.

[beth]

I am also not at liberty to say.

[Kim Aka Pham · Rating 4 out of 5]

My new boss

[Allison · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read it for my Local 3 apprenticeship class...don't judge me

[Jessica]

i'm not at liberty to say.