The Two Percent Solution: Fixing America's Problems In Ways Liberals And Conservatives Can Love

by Matt Miller

Suppose someone told you that for just two cents on the national dollar we could have a country where everyone had health insurance, full-time workers earned a living wage, poor children had great teachers in fixed-up schools, and politicians no longer had to grovel to wealthy donors. And suppose that when we were done, government would still be smaller than it was when Ronald Reagan was president. If you're like most people, you'd probably think that for two cents on the dollar this sounds like an intriguing deal. But 2 percent of America's GDP is more than 200 billion a year--way beyond what politicians in Washington think is possible.

Between our proper intuition that 2 percent is a small amount, and the Washington consensus that a 2 percent shift in priorities is beyond imagining, lies the opportunity to transform American politics. In this agenda-setting book, Matthew Miller challenges our country (and those who would lead it) to change the way we think about our public responsibilities before the baby boomers' retirement siphons all the money out of the system. The Two Percent Solution is a call to arms that no serious candidate, Republican or Democrat, can afford to ignore.

Genres: Nonfiction, Economics, Politics

320 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2003

About the author

Matt Miller is a syndicated columnist, a commentator for NPR's Morning Edition, and the host of the radio program Left, Right & Center. His articles have appeared in the Atlantic Monthly, the New Republic, and the New York Times Magazine. He was previously a senior adviser to the director of the White House Office of Management and Budget and a management consultant with McKinsey & Company. He lives in Los Angeles.

Reviews

[Jesse Valente · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book offers a common-sense approach to addressing the role blind luck (in the form of parentage) plays in one's achievement ceiling. Miller lays out a strategy providing the basics in the form of health care, education and development accounts that would provide a more level playing field for all children born in America.

[Carlos · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really interesting book. Miller, back in the blissfully bipartisan times of 2003, proposes a series of solutions to major problems facing the US in a way that tips the sacred cows of both left and right. He puts forward ideas that combine the goals of increasing health care coverage, improving the educational system and making a livable wage a reality with the means of nudging private companies through tax incentives. In the aspect of healthcare, it was quite amazing to see him basically describe the tenets on the Affordable Care Act more than 6 years before its passage including everything from tax subsidies and the individual mandate. This gave me hope that the feasibly-sounding solutions he offered for the rest of the problems would be enacted at some point.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

See the review by John McCain in the book. It's amazing what common sense could do for our country. There's plenty for everyone.

[Wayland Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Brilliant" and "Genius" are probably overused words, especially in the age of hyperbole we seem to live in now. Noting that, I'll still say that Miller may well be a genius and he has some brilliant ideas.

This is a collection of ideas about ways to level the playing field for people in our society. Miller has some fascinating ideas about ways to educate those who want it, and fix some other inequities. The brilliance comes in the ways he has found to do this without major societal upheaval.

I really recommend this book to anyone remotely interested in politics, or even just ways to fix our really screwed up modern society. This is a book to be read and then thought about.

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forgot to put this one on the list, though I read it many moons ago. Wonderful book this is. I often quote this book (without attribution) in general conversation to impress people. Book describes a country I wish I lived in, and the author really does solve an amazing amount of America's troubles with just two percent of the annual budget, and he does it without touching military funding, which is why the GOP would approve. Read it soon, please.

[residentoddball · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matthew Miller should run for public office. The ideas he presents as solutions to the ridiculously ongoing problems of our society are incredibly sound and insightful, some of the best I've heard ever. The book is very well-written, and should be the base of the agenda of any serious-change public office candidate!

[Derek · Rating 4 out of 5]

ideas that at least should be explored and some easily enacted

[Melanie Formosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book anyone remotely interested in the role of government in our everyday lives should read...regardless of political stripes or spots

[Helenae]

I purchased this book almost two years ago and I havent been able to start it. Now, on the eve of a new administration, it may be the optimal time.

[BarbaraAllison · Rating 2 out of 5]

Misleading in some respects, as the two percent is to be of a very large

[Ilib4kids]

Get this book from "the cheating culture"