Screwed!: How Foreign Countries Are Ripping America Off and Plundering Our Economy-and How Our Leaders Help Them Do It

by Dick Morris, Eileen McGann

America is being Screwed!, say Dick Morris and Eileen McGann, by China, Russia, the EU, and other nations with the help of our own political and business leaders. The co-authors of nine explosive New York Times bestsellers—including Revolt! , Catastrophe , Fleeced , Outrage , and 2010: Take Back America —Morris and McGann now expose a massive global scandal that affects the lives and livelihood of every the undeniable truth that foreign countries are ripping America off and plundering our economy. With the unemployment rate soaring and the economic picture growing bleaker by the hour, Screwed! is a necessary wake-up call for every concerned citizen, from middle class workers and Tea Party conservatives to labor leaders and environmentalists who oppose globalism and its negative economic and environmental repercussions.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction

368 pages, Hardcover

Published May 8, 2012

About the author

Dick Morris, the President of Vote.com, was President Clinton's chief strategist and advisor in the 1996 campaign. He has handled the campaigns of a large number of American politicians including Trent Lott, William Weld, Pete Wilson and a whole lot of others. He's now a commentator on the Fox News Channel and writes a weekly column in the New York Post. He has written four recent books: Behind the Oval Office, The New Prince, Vote.com and Power Plays.

Reviews

[Mike (the Paladin) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently finished and recommended Here Come the Black Helicopters!: Exposing the Liberal Plan for Global Government. This book goes into the topics covered and commented on in that volume and several others. It goes into greater detail.

I again recommend this book highly and, indeed urge everyone to pick it up and give it a read. Even if you "know" up front you're going to disagree there are facts here worth you noting.

Most anyone who had read many of my reviews and/or comments will already know that I am what is usually referred to as "politically conservative". Okay, I admit it. Still I occasionally read left wing/liberal/progressive writers, even if I "know" I'm going to disagree with them. The content of this book is supported by verifiable evidence and is laid out logically and (possibly even more important) readably.

Note to those who just gritted their teeth and decided not to read the book: Look, the election is over. Your candidate won. I believe (this is me) that many who voted for the president did so without knowing many things that have not exactly been in the forefront of reporting. However those things are more than likely going to change this country and how we all live immensely. I also believe that this will become very apparent withing the next 4 years...and possibly the next year.

If I'm wrong, great. No one will be happier than me. But I don't think I am.

Also in reference to what I said about myself above, this book is written by Dick Morris, and I have in the past found myself in "great disagreement" with Mr. Morris. He is an alumnus of the Clinton administration and was solidly on that side of things...till he wasn't. I have found of late with the Republican Party becoming more and more basically a light version of the Democrat Party that some of the best and most lucid conservative writers are ex-liberals. These writers often stop and take a look at what's being said and realize that they aren't living what they preach.

For whatever reason I can and do strongly recommend this book and Here Come the Black Helicopters by Mr. Morris.

Please read these books.

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my God.. is this book depressing!!!!
I am trying to figure out which of the following chapters furnishes the worst news.
World without Democracy
Trick or Treaties
China
Pakistan
Afghanistan
The United Nations of Corruption
The World Bank
Foreign Aid
In our Backyard
The Enemy Within
My vote goes to Part Nine: Foreign Aid: Biting the hand that feeds them.
"Why do we give $12.9 million in foreign aid to China, a nation with more than $1trillion of foreign currency reserves?
We are giving hundreds of millions in foreign aid to countries that lend us money!"
This is a "Must read book", but if it gets too depressing for you... just read the "ACTION AGENDA" @ the end of each part.
Is there hope??????

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Need Ambien to sleep after reading this book. It's good as far as keeping a watchful eye on political matters; however, it will make you feel helpless, too. Very enlightening, but you have to keep it in perspective and realize that not all of this will take affect due to good checks and balances in our constitution and be both fearful and AMAZED at all of the politics that we don't hear about!!!

[Chuck Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The left is giving the country away!

[Marisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Tried and tried to read this book but couldn't stomach it past a couple of chapters. Too conservative for my tastes without being written well enough to be worth muddling through.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book recounts all the many ways the USA has sacrificed sovereignty to global authoritarianism. Treaties, the “International Criminal Court” (which tries government and military leaders, not criminals), and other nefarious objectives limit the liberies guaranteed by the U.S. founding.

Extensive material also covers how China is undermining the U.S. wherever it can – in economic and cyber warfare, particularly – and the Obama administration was afraid to fight it for fear of starting a trade war that was not only already being fought but we were already losing! To make matters worse, Morris makes the point that the trade war would hurt China far more than the U.S., yet our elected officials are reluctant because they fear that their constituents might lose jobs if Chinese products rose in price. (And many of our politicians and ex-politicians get contributions and become lobbyists, raking in huge sums of money.)

As bad as China is, Pakistan may be even worse in Morris’s opinion, and Saudi Arabia is a regime that, if energy independence is reached (or even approached), should be allowed to wither.

Morris continues, demonstrating how international organizations such as the UN, World Bank, and others are filled with corruption and harm U.S. interests worldwide. Foreign aid hurts the countries we give it to, and there is little gratitude for it (and the influence it is meant to buy is not given in votes at the UN by the recipients).

Venezuela has allied with Iran to create a new threat similar to the Cuban Missile Crisis of the 1960s, and we give aid to Venezuela and buy about 1 million barrels of oil per day from that country that is openly hostile to the U.S.

At the end, Morris defines an action plan that he hoped the “next president” (which would be Trump, since this was written during Obama’s first term) would implement that would not require war or a lot of legislation or spending and would solve many of the problems detailed in the book. I hope the 45th POTUS has a copy of this book!

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was quite a long, difficult read (it took forever to get through and you really have to think about what you're reading through most of it), but I finally made it all the way through and it was definitely worth it! It is incredibly eye-opening in regards to many specific ways and areas that America is in some disastrous and often ridiculous circumstances, and how we got there. But even in the most depressing/hopeless circumstances, the authors give some clear suggestions on how to get ourselves out of the mess.

[Malin Friess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dick Morris (a former political consultant for Bill Clinton) had his credibility may be questioned (He predicted a landslide victory for the GOP and Romney in 2012). He also was fired at Fox news but found a position at CNN.

Morris talks about these type of things:

37% of voters think our best days are behind us
62% of voters think other countries are taking over us in important ways

In the world Economic Summit (The G20) we get only 1 vote out of 20 even though we produce 1/5th of the world's GDP. Morris claims the US is like Gulliver being tied up by the lilluputians.

Every other currency in the world permits you to trade freely on the global market (I can walk into a bank and trade 100 dollars for 70 Kenyan Shillings) except China. China manipulates its currency. The Yuan trades at 6.4 to the dollar, but it ought to trade at 4 to the dollar. Curently American products (Ipads, cars, etc) should be 40% cheaper in their country and would undercut their domestic market. How does China do it? It buys dollars. Our exports to China are way down (only 1% out of all exports).

The US gave Pakistan 4.4 billion in foreign aid in 2010 (1.2 percent of their GDP). Despite this 73% of Pakistani's look unfavorably on the US and 55% feel badly that OBL was killed. Pakistani allies hid OBL.

Afghanistan, the cost: 413 US soldiers since 2001. 10.9 billion in foreign aid, 1/3 of which is corrupted (bribbes, smuggled across borders, extortion). Afghanistan is the second most corrupt country on earth (only trailing lucky Somalia). The Karzai family is incidentally worth millions. Afghanistan is the world's leading producer of Opium.

Saudi Arabia is a monarchy. When they occasionally have an election only men can vote. It discriminates and abuses women. And it contains 10% of the world's oil. 15 our of 19 9/11 hijackers were from Saudi Arabia. 41% of foreign fighters in IraQ against our troops are Saudis. Hillary Clinton wrote that al-Qeda, Hamas, and other Jijadist raised millions of dollars from Saudi sources. Stuart Levy (treasury for terroism) suggested the one major thing to do to cut off funding for the Taliban--would be to eliminate money funneled from SA to the Taliban.
So what is the solution. Everyone knows we must become oil independent. Oil accounts for 75% of SA's revenues, 45% of its GDP, and 90% of its exports. If we don't buy SA oil, their economy will collapse and their political clout will diminish. In 1972 North America produced 11.5 million barrels of oil per day. Today we produce about 8 million barrels of oil per day. North Dakota alone could produce 2 million barrels of oil per day. Fargo could be the next Dubai! The US has the largest shale reserves in the world to Frack (worth 1.5 to 2.6 TRILLION barrels). Yes we would all like renewables (electric, wind, water)..but despite millions spent from stimulus such as Solyndra, renewables only account for 4% of energy output. The Keystone pipeline could pump 1.1 million barrels of oil per day and decrease our reliance on foreign oil by 20%. The other good news is thanks to more fuel efficient cars our Oil use is dropping (19.6 million barrels per day in 2000 to 18.7 million barrels per day in 2009). Oil independence is in reach! At least lets increase our production and decrease our consumption such that we can stop buying from our foes (Saudia Arabia, Venezuela) and continue buying from our friends (Canada, Mexico, Brazil).

THe US spend 7.7 billion on the UN last year. Where does all the money go? UN employees earn on average 238 k per year and got a 3% raise last year. The US pays 22% of the UN budget.

Foreign Aid to Africa. Dick Morris doesn't like it. It is ineffective. The countries that have lifted themselves out of poverty (China, India, Vietnam, South Korea, Singapore) have done it by selling goods and services. Massive infusions have gond into Kenya, South Africa, Haiti, Nigeria, and Ethiopia with nothing to show for it. Between 1980 and 2009 the US gave 97 countries foreign aid..23 had a net decline in GDP. 1/2 of foreign Aid to Africa leaves the country each year (ending up in the bank accounts of dictators and generals). Aid does not buy support (only about 20% of the countries we support vote with us in the UN) and it does not increase our favorability (We give Egypt 16 million..only 5% of their citizens look on the US with favorability).
What should we do? Hamid (author of Inside Jihad) suggests spending money on specific infrastructure: hospitals! I like that idea. Think of all the good that PEPFAR did under the Bush Administration to fight HIV in Africa. Giving handouts to rich dicators is no way to combat poverty.

130 countries spent 460 million on lobbying Congress. Why don't we prohibit any foreign country from lobbying Congress?

Why to we let former Senators and Congressmen become lobbyists? Since 1977 every Speaker of the House (Lott, Daschle, Dole) has become a high paying lobbyist after leaving Congress except one: Bill Frist (who I admire as a surgeon who has volunteered at Tenwek Hospital in Kenya).

Dick Morris didn't back off from jabs at Republicans (Newt Gingrich for being paid millions by Freddy Mac) or Democrats (like Gephart representing Turkey). I get so frustrated reading these books because it seems their are common sense things we should do (stop giving foreign aid to countries that can afford to loan us money!!!) that both D and R should agree on.

I like this book because Morris avoided issues like entitlement and military spending. Any decent American can have a rational view (that may widely varely) about how are revenue should be proportionately spent between entitlements and military. But I'd like to see our country be better stewards of hard earned tax payer money when it comes to giving to other countries...US revenue would be much better spent in the hands of NGO's and Humanitarian organizaitons (World Vision, SP, Rotary).

4 stars. I think both D's and R's could enjoy this book.

[Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very analytical and informative look at the current state of US foreign policy which is in shambles and threatens to undermine our country's economic stability and freedoms. The authors discuss foreign (primarily European) attempts to curtail US sovereignty through presure being waged for the US to (1) join the Internaltional Criminal Court, (2) to sign proposed Treaties (Law of the Sea Treaty, UN Small Arms Treaty), (3) to agree to a "code of conduct for Outer Space Activities" (limiting our anti-satellite space program), (4) to subscribe to the UN Convention on thr Rights of the Child (which limits parental control over their children), (5) to adopt Agenda 21 (to limit the use of the automobile and regulate fuel emissions). The authors discuss China's manipulation of its currency to keep its products priced low in US markets thus draining our economy of jobs and its state sponsored hacking into US business and governmental computers to steal military secrets and governmental and business proprietary information. Afganistan and Pakistan and their corruption are discussed. Saudi Arabia's support of world-wide terrorism is explored. The corrupton of the United Nations and its policies is detailed. Failure of the IMF and the World Bank and their corruption and failed policies are discussed. The folly of the US to give foreign aid to nations which don't need it, use it against us or whose leaders steal in for themselves. The Iran/Venezuela alliance and its potential threat to the US is discussed. Perhaps most disheartening is the role than former US Senators and Congressmen play (once they have retired from office or have been defeated) raking in millions of dollars to lobby current Senators, Congressmen and the executive branch of goverment on behalf of foreign nations to enact laws and policies adverse to our best interests. Obama's foreign policies and refusal to stand up to foreign abuses have been devastating to the United States. After each section, the authors suggest action steps which might be taken to combat the destructive foreign influences aimed at our country and to maintain our economic stability and freedoms. An excellent read. All freedom-minded US citizens should read this book.

[Mark Geise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was preparing to give this book one or two stars during the first 100 pages, but I think it got better as it went along. This book is receiving three stars from me because it brings up a lot of issues that you don't tend to hear about in the mainstream media. Some of the parts are somewhat well-sourced from reputable places, with sources like the Heritage Foundation and the Wall Street Journal being among the most common. It's a very quick read (despite being over 300 pages), so it isn't a huge waste of time if you end up disliking the writing style or Morris's opinions.

Now to the negatives. First, Morris has an extremely simple writing style. Many will find it to be patronizing. He is obviously attempting to write something that all Americans will be able to understand, but I can definitely see how this could infuriate more educated readers. Next, certain chapters are very poorly sourced. Morris brings up a decree or policy from an international body like the IMF and then uses as his "sources" partisan commentators who hypothesize the worst possibilities that could arise from these decrees. There are a lot of "coulds" and "mights" in these chapters, some readers will likely interpret this conjecture as likelihoods rather than the speculation that it actually is.

Though I really dragged through this at parts where the negatives I pointed out were most prominent, I actually learned some things from this book. Morris brings up many legitimate points about U.S. foreign aid, the positives of U.S. energy independence, the odd relationships we have with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, and the insidiousness of many international organizations. The longest chapter of this book was devoted to China, focusing on Chinese hackings of American computer systems, China's currency manipulation, and technology transfer from American companies to Chinese companies affiliated with the government. Though I'm generally less pessimistic about China than the average conservative, these are all legitimate concerns.

This book will likely appeal most to those with heavy conservative leanings, though I think it would be helpful for everyone to read an easy book like this that explains these viewpoints.

[Gabby · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a pollster, Dick Morris has to be the most wrong forecaster of how the population thinks. As a writer or political commentary, he's above average in being able to explain complicated entities that usually make people's eyes glaze over. I attribute much of that to his wife's participation in their book efforts. Since Morris tends to go meandering off in left field (pun intended) about the right vs the left vs the centrists vs the Obamarx sheep, he must have someone on standby to rein him in. That person must be McGann.

I am a staunch conservative, so it stands to reason that I would agree with many of Morris' predictions about where the US is heading under the current (non)leadership. However, I don't think that detracts from the straightforward information Morris presents in an effort to get people to sit up and take notice to where our current path has taken our country. It's a recipe for disaster if we want to preserve life in this country as we know it. If now isn't the time to take control of the reins and become more involved in the decisions we are constitutionally guaranteed to make, then when is?

I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to be more aware of what institutions are doing to control our way of life. The World Bank is just one example of where we should be paying more attention. The UN s another -- that place is a cesspool of corruption and stupidity, and we should in no way support anything they want.

This book should have been mandatory reading for anyone planning to vote in the 2012 US elections, but it's too late for that now. It is NOT too late, however, to become better informed for the future. This book will help in that endeavor.

[Jason Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was packed with useful information. It covers topics that include Treaties and how they trump U.S. law and potential our nation's sovereignty, the World Bank and IMF and how they may affect our financial future, our relationship with Pakistan and Afghanistan, Financial aid given by the world bank and by the U.S. and how corrupted it is. Finally he discusses the lobbying trade that so strongly affects our country in ways you probably haven't realized. It's pretty damning of our political system and professional politicians, yet receives so little attention.

All of that has the potential to be good, useful reading. The problem is the way it is presented. Although the writing style keeps the book flowing well, it also comes across as very… biased. Maybe "snarky" is the better term for it. The information in this book is the kind of stuff that every American should learn about. It is important. But, much like anything Ann Coulter writes, the way this is written essentially precludes anyone reading this who is not a regular Fox News watcher. Which is sad and disappointing. I'm straight-up libertarian, so I can handle it. But anyone less than a 7 out of 10 on the "conservative" scale is probably going to read this book and refute the data they present just based on the presentation alone (again, just like Coulter). What's the point in that?

I give this book 4 stars because the information is critical and extremely timely. If you can get through the propaganda, you'll probably see that too.

[Bookwombat]

Only 7 minutes & 10 seconds into the audiobook version of this rant, I've had to take a break to avoid concussion from constant facepalming. Either the authors are stunningly ignorant of the actual institutions and policies they write about or they just decided that "Screwed!" should take its departure point from "Screw the facts! Let's just whip up some emotions".

To take just one example, the authors claim that the International Criminal Court (ICC) would "run our criminal justice system for us" which is just flat out wrong. The ICC only has jurisdiction over crimes against humanity, genocide, ethnic cleansing and similar serious crimes; and it pertains only to those states who've assented to it, and only insofar as the state in question does not decide to prosecute the suspect itself.

With such fundamentally ignorant claims, I doubt whether my skull and brain will withstand listening to the entire diatribe without some extended periods of rest in order to heal from the facepalming...

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have read a few other books by Dick Morris and, so far, I think this is his best. I learned a lot about what is going on behind the scenes at the UN, World Bank, the US government, the security and financial health of our country, and our dealings with our "friends" around the world. It is disheartening how, for all our support and generosity around the world, we have lost so much respect from other nations who line up to take advantage of us to their benefit. It is very much like a global version of the welfare system here in America except that much of the money ends up in Swiss banks accounts for dictators instead of helping the people it was intended for. The book is well referenced to back up the bold statements it makes and develops logical arguments for what is happening and what we should be doing about it. I think this book should be read by everyone in America as well as anyone interested in global society.

[Alex Shrugged · Rating 4 out of 5]

I "read" this via audiobook. The narration was good and clear. The book itself was a reasonable statement of our current economic situation internationally and naturally in the USA as well. I say up to date so I didn't find any surprises in this book but for those who don't keep up on the latest, this book will bring you up to speed quickly. I found especially good were the citations of new news sources such as the Blaze which is a web newspaper of sorts. The News organization is quite new and to have it appear as a citation in a book speaks well to the book's dedication to remaining current as possible for a book.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

The authors make a convincing case that the USA is losing its national soveriegnty to a world government that that American politicans no longer feel resposibility to American citizens. They name the current president as one of the biggest offenders. Part of their case is the large numbers of the American government that turn into lobbist for foreign governments and corporations. They also point to the efforts to do away with the right to bear arms, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, and even trail by jury.

[Tj · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this book had some good information. I believe that there were particular biases that made it seem as if the author himself was lobbying for. One example is he seemed very pro-Israel, I believe US should be neutral in that highly unstable area and try not to further enrage the opposing side. He neglects to discuss the very powerful Israeli lobby, which shows the author being one sided as this particular lobbying that was omitted can be just as harmful as any other lobbying he discussed. This is just one example of the biased information that I found.

[Eugene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read. What is happening to our country is scary...reminds me of "The Ugly American" of years past. Mr. Morris makes we Americans feel like the whole world is against us, and they probably are... except for those that have immigrated to the United States.
If the Liberals win at the next election it appears that we are SCREWED!

[Laurie (Kwiltreader)]

Another unfinished book. Read the first chapter with waning interest...many statements that weren't backed. I jumped to the end to find the authors conclusions and recommendations only to find that the solution was to elect a new president. As it's now 2013 and the book was written in 2012, the only solution offered is too late.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has particular interest for conservatives. It reads very much like a textbook, but the way Morris has put the information together, it has an element of scaryness. I liked it, but then I parcelled it out in small doses. I would recommend it to my conservative friends.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read if you want to learn more about America's involvement in the IMF, World Bank, International Criminal Court, and the United Nations. Not to forget all the rights we have given up on the high seas and the Presidents lack luster record on helping Americans.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent analysis of the things most of us, me especially, have ignored for the last 20 years. Our government is so messed up. With concrete steps each one of us can take to help enact change. Not "hope and change".

[Marge · Rating 3 out of 5]

The information in this book hits you right between the eyes and will keep you up at night.
If you are a news junkie you will know much of the information but Morris covers it in depth. This country is in trouble and we are in a steep decline.

[Garret Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent look into the many woes that are endangering America. Dick Morris offers an insightful look at what is wrong and how to deal with it. America needs to grow some stones!

[Brian Katz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read. Really explained a lot of foreign policy issues in regards to the U.S. and many other countries.

[Victor Maggio · Rating 4 out of 5]

All the info on how all are so called allies rape our nation sounds about right

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note, I might come back and change this rating. But for now it is 3 stars. I enjoyed hearing this perspective. While it comes across and sensationalist and challenges some of my general beliefs I enjoyed hearing the authors arguments. My next step is to hear the other side and look at the issues raised to better understand if the authors viewpoints make sense and are a better path forward.

[Renee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Gets one star for a great title - because you get screwed if you paid money for this one. Hours spent that you'll never get back.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

A look into how our country operates against us. Eye-opening.

[Roxanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book about how foreign countries are ripping America off and plundering our economy and how our leaders are helping them to do it. Shocking (NOT). China is stealing our jobs and also they have no riles there so some of the products made there are killing us, like dog food. They hack our defense systems. We have no need to be friends with Pakistan, they fund Al Queda. The United Nations is full of corruption, why do have still have it. Saudi Arabia I am not sure what is up with them. Afghanistan is the most corrupt government ever, why can not we cut them loose. These are just the tip of the iceberg. Our legislators are selling us out.