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The People's Money: How Voters Will Balance the Budget and Eliminate the Federal Debt
When it comes to the economy, American voters can no longer count on the Political Class. We are the ones who truly want progress, and—despite what politicians would lead us to believe— we are the only ones willing to make the difficult but necessary changes that willrestore our country’s fiscal sanity.
For years, Americans have elected candidates who promise to reduce spending. Yet spending has steadily increased for more than half a century. For just as long, politicians have blamed voters, claiming a lack of public support for the necessary cuts to reduce the budget deficit. On the contrary, evidence suggests that voters are far more willing than politicians to make the compromises to eliminate this massive burden from future generations. Now, influential political analyst Scott Rasmussen, one of the most recognized public opinion pollsters in America, proves that our politicians are intentionally perpetrating a flat-out lie about their short-sighted and destructive economic choices and our hard-earned money.
In The People’s Money , Rasmussen explores clear-headed, responsible, and reasonable ways to eliminate a deficit that is much larger than politicians would have us believe—$123 trillion and counting—all with the vast support of the American people. This is Rasmussen
· The bailouts —the cause and effects, and the catalyst that fueled the current era of discontent
· National defense —and the $100 billion annual cost that could be erased today with absolutely no threat to security
· Social security —and a plan that could not only reduce spending by trillions of dollars but offer a more satisfying plan for retirees
· Tax burdens —and the truth behind the changes Americans are willing to make for the sake of their country
· Government payroll —and the commonsense cuts that are necessary
· Health care —and why the current plans, from both Republicans and Democrats, are financially un healthy
Drawing on a comprehensive review of history, revelatory budgetary documents, and enlightening public opinion polls, Rasmussen lays out a step-by-step budget that could wipe out trillions from the national debt. It’s his job to call on the American people for their opinion. Resoundingly, they have called back with a collective voice that is at once hopeful, frustrated, honest, and angry. If only the American Political Class would listen. Until then, The People’s Money is a call to arms for the people to be heard, an ultimatum for a grossly out-of-touch American political system, and one of the most provocative, important, informed, and yet hopeful books on the economic state of the country yet written.
For years, Americans have elected candidates who promise to reduce spending. Yet spending has steadily increased for more than half a century. For just as long, politicians have blamed voters, claiming a lack of public support for the necessary cuts to reduce the budget deficit. On the contrary, evidence suggests that voters are far more willing than politicians to make the compromises to eliminate this massive burden from future generations. Now, influential political analyst Scott Rasmussen, one of the most recognized public opinion pollsters in America, proves that our politicians are intentionally perpetrating a flat-out lie about their short-sighted and destructive economic choices and our hard-earned money.
In The People’s Money , Rasmussen explores clear-headed, responsible, and reasonable ways to eliminate a deficit that is much larger than politicians would have us believe—$123 trillion and counting—all with the vast support of the American people. This is Rasmussen
· The bailouts —the cause and effects, and the catalyst that fueled the current era of discontent
· National defense —and the $100 billion annual cost that could be erased today with absolutely no threat to security
· Social security —and a plan that could not only reduce spending by trillions of dollars but offer a more satisfying plan for retirees
· Tax burdens —and the truth behind the changes Americans are willing to make for the sake of their country
· Government payroll —and the commonsense cuts that are necessary
· Health care —and why the current plans, from both Republicans and Democrats, are financially un healthy
Drawing on a comprehensive review of history, revelatory budgetary documents, and enlightening public opinion polls, Rasmussen lays out a step-by-step budget that could wipe out trillions from the national debt. It’s his job to call on the American people for their opinion. Resoundingly, they have called back with a collective voice that is at once hopeful, frustrated, honest, and angry. If only the American Political Class would listen. Until then, The People’s Money is a call to arms for the people to be heard, an ultimatum for a grossly out-of-touch American political system, and one of the most provocative, important, informed, and yet hopeful books on the economic state of the country yet written.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 31, 2012
5 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
Scott Rasmussen
9 books1 followerScott Rasmussen is founder and president of Rasmussen Reports. He is a political analyst, author, speaker and, since 1994, an independent public opinion pollster.
Scott founded Rasmussen Reports, LLC in 2003 as a media company specializing in the collection, publication and distribution of public opinion polling information. Rasmussen Reports provides in-depth data, news coverage and commentary on political, business, economic and lifestyle topics at RasmussenReports.com, America’s most visited public opinion polling site.
Scott speaks regularly at events and with the media, translating poll numbers into meaningful analysis and commentary about current events, underlying trends and the questions that Americans are curious about. He is a frequent guest on Fox News, CNBC, BBC and other major media outlets. He also has appeared on The Colbert Report on Comedy Central.
Scott is the author of Mad as Hell: How the Tea Party Movement is Fundamentally Remaking Our Two-Party System and In Search of Self-Governance and has had several columns published in the Wall Street Journal. Additionally, his work has appeared in USA Today, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe, Investor's Business Daily, The Christian Science Monitor and other major publications.
Scott did his first radio commercial at the age of seven and considers a career highlight the opportunity to work closely with hockey legend Gordie Howe. Scott and his father also founded the cable sports network ESPN. They sold their interest in 1984.
Scott founded Rasmussen Reports, LLC in 2003 as a media company specializing in the collection, publication and distribution of public opinion polling information. Rasmussen Reports provides in-depth data, news coverage and commentary on political, business, economic and lifestyle topics at RasmussenReports.com, America’s most visited public opinion polling site.
Scott speaks regularly at events and with the media, translating poll numbers into meaningful analysis and commentary about current events, underlying trends and the questions that Americans are curious about. He is a frequent guest on Fox News, CNBC, BBC and other major media outlets. He also has appeared on The Colbert Report on Comedy Central.
Scott is the author of Mad as Hell: How the Tea Party Movement is Fundamentally Remaking Our Two-Party System and In Search of Self-Governance and has had several columns published in the Wall Street Journal. Additionally, his work has appeared in USA Today, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe, Investor's Business Daily, The Christian Science Monitor and other major publications.
Scott did his first radio commercial at the age of seven and considers a career highlight the opportunity to work closely with hockey legend Gordie Howe. Scott and his father also founded the cable sports network ESPN. They sold their interest in 1984.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 21, 2012
I wish everyone would read this book. It provides commonsense prescriptions that the author has found are favored by a majority of voters. Now all we have to do is vote out all the politicians who are addicted to buying votes by raising spending every year on their pet programs.
“A careful and comprehensive review of history, budgetary documents, and public-opinion data shows that voters are far more willing than politicians to make the hard choices needed to reduce federal spending... But, while ready to face hard choices, voters are not willing to let politicians make those choices. American's simply don't trust their political leaders.”
“Regardless of the reason, the nation's current leadership has failed to develop reasonable options for voters to consider.”
The contempt of the political class for their constituents is typified by a comment by a politician who said “All that talk about self-government is fine. The problem is that the American people are too stupid to do it.”
“The gap between Americans who want to govern themselves and politicians who want to rule over them may now be as big as the gap between the colonies and England during the eighteenth century... Today, 79% of Mainstream voters think Americans are overtaxed; 87% of those who support the Political Class disagree... Only 9% of all voters can be considered supporters of the Political Class worldview. That's less support than historians believe the king of England enjoyed in the colonies during the American Revolution. ”
“The Political Class is now isolated in a fantasy world where it thinks the credible policy options run from defending the status quo to increasing the role of government and government spending. The big question from the Political Class perspective is when the American people will finally realize they need to pay more taxes.”
“Three out of four voters believe average Americans should pay 20% or less of their income in taxes... We're currently paying about 28% of our income in taxes.” “The deeply held voter belief that the United States is overtaxed clashes with the Political Class's lust for more government revenue and illuminates a central tension between the American people and their political leaders. Trying to honor voter demands for lower taxes should be a fundamental objective of all participants in the budget debate. Instead, politicians routinely seek ways to ignore the voters and pursue their own agenda.”
Politicians have gimmicks for hiding the truth. The president's 2012 budget is projecting a $1.65 trillion deficit. If the government used the same Generally Accepted Accounting Principles it requires companies to use, the deficit would be about $5 trillion. While the “debt ceiling” is $16 trillion, the actual total debt obligations of the US government is closer to $120 trillion.
Implementing all the changes recommended in this book, and favored by a majority of voters, would in 2021 reduce the debt to $18 trillion from the projection of $160 trillion where it would be if the status quo is maintained. The remainder would be payed off in the following decade.
“A careful and comprehensive review of history, budgetary documents, and public-opinion data shows that voters are far more willing than politicians to make the hard choices needed to reduce federal spending... But, while ready to face hard choices, voters are not willing to let politicians make those choices. American's simply don't trust their political leaders.”
“Regardless of the reason, the nation's current leadership has failed to develop reasonable options for voters to consider.”
The contempt of the political class for their constituents is typified by a comment by a politician who said “All that talk about self-government is fine. The problem is that the American people are too stupid to do it.”
“The gap between Americans who want to govern themselves and politicians who want to rule over them may now be as big as the gap between the colonies and England during the eighteenth century... Today, 79% of Mainstream voters think Americans are overtaxed; 87% of those who support the Political Class disagree... Only 9% of all voters can be considered supporters of the Political Class worldview. That's less support than historians believe the king of England enjoyed in the colonies during the American Revolution. ”
“The Political Class is now isolated in a fantasy world where it thinks the credible policy options run from defending the status quo to increasing the role of government and government spending. The big question from the Political Class perspective is when the American people will finally realize they need to pay more taxes.”
“Three out of four voters believe average Americans should pay 20% or less of their income in taxes... We're currently paying about 28% of our income in taxes.” “The deeply held voter belief that the United States is overtaxed clashes with the Political Class's lust for more government revenue and illuminates a central tension between the American people and their political leaders. Trying to honor voter demands for lower taxes should be a fundamental objective of all participants in the budget debate. Instead, politicians routinely seek ways to ignore the voters and pursue their own agenda.”
Politicians have gimmicks for hiding the truth. The president's 2012 budget is projecting a $1.65 trillion deficit. If the government used the same Generally Accepted Accounting Principles it requires companies to use, the deficit would be about $5 trillion. While the “debt ceiling” is $16 trillion, the actual total debt obligations of the US government is closer to $120 trillion.
Implementing all the changes recommended in this book, and favored by a majority of voters, would in 2021 reduce the debt to $18 trillion from the projection of $160 trillion where it would be if the status quo is maintained. The remainder would be payed off in the following decade.
February 21, 2012
I bought this book because I respect Scott Rasmussen and his opinions. I couldn't put it down because it turned the light on just how much corruption, graft and greed goes on in Congress and the White House. This book is an unbiased, non-partison, fact filled source to go to for the actual truth, and you can check the facts, since there is a complete bibliography supporting all fact that are stated! I highly recommend this book, no matter what your political disposition is; left, right, moderate, liberal or undecided! Evil can't hide in the light of day!
April 11, 2012
Anyone who votes should read this book. Scott Rasmussen and The Rasmussen Reports have been the most accurate pollsters of political races for the past two decades. This book is a compilation of numerous polls about American politics, the economy and direction the majority of American want their country to go.
December 12, 2016
This book really made me think, and challenged many of my assumptions and political views. It was written well before Mr. Trump was a thing, but finishing it now, some of his points about how the "political class" of both major parties has lost touch with what most Americans have been lead to believe and/or believe makes common sense, rings very true now. I highly recommend reading this book.
May 14, 2013
Restored some confidence in our system. Scott Rasmussen writes with authority. All concerned citizens should read this book.
August 26, 2013
Clear prose, and clear proposals.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews