What do you think?
Rate this book
Why Bad Governments Happen to Good People
“With wit and clarity, Katch argues for social movements, political activism, and socialism as the alternatives we need to win the world we want” (Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, author of From #BlackLivesMatter to Black Liberation). The election of Donald Trump has sent the United States and the world into uncharted waters, with a bigoted, petty man-child at the head of the planet’s most powerful empire. Danny Katch indicts the hollowness of the US political system which led to Trump’s rise and puts forward a vision for a real alternative, a democracy that works for the people. “In the tradition of Abbie Hoffman and George Carlin, Sarah Silverman and Dave Chappelle, Katch’s generous, embracing humor is deployed to uncover the deepest truths of our predicament. Don’t miss it.” —Bill Ayers, author of Demand the Impossible!: A Radical Manifesto “This is a moment when politics and laughter are both necessities for survival. Without them we would be lost. Now we have a book that gives us both.” —Dave Zirin, author of Game How Politics Has Turned the Sports World Upside Down “If you or your friends and family have been shocked and horrified since Election Day, Katch will calm you down, cheer you up, and get you ready to fight.” —Sarah Jaffe, podcast host and author of Necessary Trouble “It’s horrible, tragic, ridiculous, and full of suspense. But enough about the White House. This book will make you laugh out loud, learn something about our world, and get inspired to change it.” —Brian Jones, actor, educator, and activist
172 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 28, 2017
17 people are currently reading
304 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
January 2, 2026
Real Rating: 3.5* of five, rounded down because I'm impatient with it
The Publisher Says: The election of Donald Trump has sent U.S. and the world into uncharted waters, with a bigoted, petty man-child at the head of the planet’s most powerful empire. Danny Katch indicts the hollowness of U.S. political system which led to Trump’s rise and puts forward a vision for a real alternative, a democracy that works for the people.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.
My Review: I'm decidedly a leftist in my political stances. I would never, ever, ever vote for 45...not even for his execution.
I'm in sympathy with this book, then. Why would I only give it three-and-a-half stars? Because it's a humorous look at how the oligarchy got to control the political landscape...Obama would've been a Rockefeller Republican in the rational politics of my youth...that's short on ideas for what to do to replace the consensus.
Taking shit away from people is satisfying on a personal, vengeful level..."look! LOOK what your gullibility and stupidity have cost actual, real human beings!"...but look to the Soviet revolution for what happens when all you do is take away things with no plan for what to replace them with. Stalin. Putin. All the awful abusive cruelties and murderous outrages those men got away with by stepping into a void and saying, "obey me and I will protect you."
We got 45. And deserved him. The issue I take with this book isn't that it's wrong, it's that it's naïve and almost willfully unrealistic about what it will take to change the course of modern politics.
Explaining the problem ain't anything like enough anymore. The entrenched scream machine bellowing idiotic ideas into otherwise thoughtless heads isn't going to crank down on its own. It needs to be made unprofitable. And it needs to have a palatable-to-decent-people alternative to shove Them towards or it will fail and that catastrophe is what we're living through.
Real change for the better, please. No more cleverly insulting analyses, please.
The Publisher Says: The election of Donald Trump has sent U.S. and the world into uncharted waters, with a bigoted, petty man-child at the head of the planet’s most powerful empire. Danny Katch indicts the hollowness of U.S. political system which led to Trump’s rise and puts forward a vision for a real alternative, a democracy that works for the people.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.
My Review: I'm decidedly a leftist in my political stances. I would never, ever, ever vote for 45...not even for his execution.
I'm in sympathy with this book, then. Why would I only give it three-and-a-half stars? Because it's a humorous look at how the oligarchy got to control the political landscape...Obama would've been a Rockefeller Republican in the rational politics of my youth...that's short on ideas for what to do to replace the consensus.
Taking shit away from people is satisfying on a personal, vengeful level..."look! LOOK what your gullibility and stupidity have cost actual, real human beings!"...but look to the Soviet revolution for what happens when all you do is take away things with no plan for what to replace them with. Stalin. Putin. All the awful abusive cruelties and murderous outrages those men got away with by stepping into a void and saying, "obey me and I will protect you."
We got 45. And deserved him. The issue I take with this book isn't that it's wrong, it's that it's naïve and almost willfully unrealistic about what it will take to change the course of modern politics.
Explaining the problem ain't anything like enough anymore. The entrenched scream machine bellowing idiotic ideas into otherwise thoughtless heads isn't going to crank down on its own. It needs to be made unprofitable. And it needs to have a palatable-to-decent-people alternative to shove Them towards or it will fail and that catastrophe is what we're living through.
Real change for the better, please. No more cleverly insulting analyses, please.
October 10, 2018
An incredibly charming overview of How We Got to This Point, and How We Get Out. If Chapo’s Guide to Revolution is too irony-filled for you, then Katch’s easygoing humor will surely win you over.
September 27, 2020
Interesting and enraging read with humorous twists. Very accessible text, not too cerebral. The summary of his argument goes like this: we have bad governments because the oligarchy of the wealthy and political elite run our politics, Democrats and Republicans alike, and because politics is NOT about what people want. It is most telling that about 35-40% of Americans don't vote in the presidential elections: this means we have a very unhealthy democracy, filled with voter suppression and apathy. Why are we apathetic? Because time and time again, we vote, and nothing changes: our wages don't go up, big banks bankrupt our financial systems, police brutalize black and brown communities, and the wealthy get richer and richer. Don't abandon voting, but we have to do far more than vote. Every political victory in the United States for the average American has been brought about when protests, sit-ins, and strikes finally forced our politicians, Democrat and Republican, to give us social security, voting rights, unemployment insurance, de-segregation. For every time you urge someone to go vote, also urge them to join a labor union or go to a protest. A side-note of his argument is also that the political conversation has been shifting more rightward on both sides of the aisle, from Clinton's tough-on-crime, to Bush's wars, to Obama's deportation and bailouts, to Trump. It's time to stop "compromising" and rise up. Every time Democrats think, "we give a little, they give a little, and compromise," the Republicans move the goal posts, we end of giving a little more, and they never move. So it's time to stop compromising and playing into their game. We need to march in the streets, strike at our work places, and sit-in their lobbies and floors to make change. We need to force Republicans out but also not let our Democrats run the show, they are also deep in Wall Street money and gutting labor health, so we need to constantly hold their feed to the fire. The only reason I give this 4/5 is because I wanted more direct action steps at the end.
December 1, 2017
I enjoyed this short, pithy jeremiad about the failures of the American political system. The author is very, very funny (for example, describing watching Trump speak as "the waves of his ego crashing on the jagged shore of his attention span") and other clever metaphors. I've read some of this sort of thing before: The Case for Socialism, for example, and America at War with Itself: Authoritarian Politics in a Free Society. These are Marxist analyses of the United States, and they are not without merit. Marxist critique is very, very good at identifying the weaknesses, the pathologies, and the hypocrisy of a capitalist economy, of which there are many. And now, in the age of Trump, the scalpel-like dissection of American culture, society, economy, and politics is just painful to read.
As Homer Simpson once said, "It's funny 'cause it's true!"
Where socialist (and in a much larger sense, Communists) fail is in prescribing a realistic alternative to capitalism. Sure, have your revolution! Overthrow the capitalists! Pull down the oligarchy! Dismantle the Wall Street-Pentagon-Corporate Media triumvirate! Then what? A nation of 300 million people participating in workers councils? Workers co-ops? Consciousness raising book groups? There is a belief about human beings--a positive, good, hopeful belief--that if our basic needs are met, and we are treated with dignity and respect, we will all work hard and innovate for reasons other than competition or wealth acquisition. In other words, socialism depends upon the better angels of our nature, instead of (for example) an enlightened self-interest.
Are you willing to gamble on that rosy view of human nature? I'm not sure that I am.
With that said, a political New Deal for the 21st century--a living wage, guaranteed health care, affordable housing, free education--those things would go a long, long way toward solving some of the problems that beset the United States here in the first two decades of the 20th century. The author believes, and I don't disagree, that these policies are only going to be put in place by people power, and not by political parties or savior politicians. Eugene Debbs didn't bundle cash to give to his favorite candidates. He led hundreds of thousands of people into the streets to demand reform.
That may have to be the way it goes. It may be the only way it can go.
This is a good book. I recommend it to anyone who wants a look at the far-left point of view, and anyone who wants to laugh a little while becoming informed. Well done, Mr. Katch.
As Homer Simpson once said, "It's funny 'cause it's true!"
Where socialist (and in a much larger sense, Communists) fail is in prescribing a realistic alternative to capitalism. Sure, have your revolution! Overthrow the capitalists! Pull down the oligarchy! Dismantle the Wall Street-Pentagon-Corporate Media triumvirate! Then what? A nation of 300 million people participating in workers councils? Workers co-ops? Consciousness raising book groups? There is a belief about human beings--a positive, good, hopeful belief--that if our basic needs are met, and we are treated with dignity and respect, we will all work hard and innovate for reasons other than competition or wealth acquisition. In other words, socialism depends upon the better angels of our nature, instead of (for example) an enlightened self-interest.
Are you willing to gamble on that rosy view of human nature? I'm not sure that I am.
With that said, a political New Deal for the 21st century--a living wage, guaranteed health care, affordable housing, free education--those things would go a long, long way toward solving some of the problems that beset the United States here in the first two decades of the 20th century. The author believes, and I don't disagree, that these policies are only going to be put in place by people power, and not by political parties or savior politicians. Eugene Debbs didn't bundle cash to give to his favorite candidates. He led hundreds of thousands of people into the streets to demand reform.
That may have to be the way it goes. It may be the only way it can go.
This is a good book. I recommend it to anyone who wants a look at the far-left point of view, and anyone who wants to laugh a little while becoming informed. Well done, Mr. Katch.
December 8, 2017
“Fighting nine wars without a single victory doesn’t make anyone question the whole ‘greatest force the world has ever seen’ thing.” “That’s the record of a last-place soccer team - sorry”. “The War on Terror - a campaign to show the Islamic World how a civilized nation goes about using airplanes to kill people.” We are “deciding once every few years which member of the ruling class will misrepresent us.” “In the original form of democracy, poor citizens led society on more equal footing with rich citizens than we in the modern world can fully imagine.” “Only 25% of her (Hillary Clinton’s) campaign ads focused on policy.” A lightweight Left book that takes on today’s political climate with humor – means well but not intelligent and/or deep enough to recommend. Read Noam Chomsky and Chris Hedges on this topic first…
January 30, 2018
Katch's book is a quick read and very accessible. It would be a good option for anyone who finds themselves disillusioned with the political system following the 2016 election.
June 18, 2018
Danny Katch had already won me over with his book Socialism…Seriously. Not just because of what he writes, but how he writes. When we reviewed this book last year, we made sure to note that Socialism…Seriously was important for how Katch was trying to communicate complicated and frequently misrepresented ideas clearly and simply to the masses. Also, with a dose of humor to lighten the mood a little bit. Whenever I’m with friends, I try to point it out, “That’s a good book.” Now, in a sequel of sorts, Katch tackles what might be an even more complex subject: what exactly happened in the 2016 elections.
I don’t want to write out the title of this book, so I’ll just call it “this book.”
This book took a surprising (but not too surprising) approach, which is to focus what the left did wrong during the 2016 elections. Now, that takes guts: trash talking your own audience. But Katch is right, much of what went wrong in that election was the left’s own fault: they chose an unpopular candidate (Hillary), undermined a serious challenger (Bernie), and underestimated the opposition. We bought into the idea that an establishment candidate could solve the problems with the establishment and forgot how powerful the appeal of an outsider can be: no matter what he says. Also, instead of blaming racism (which most certainly was a factor), Katch focuses instead of the lack of support the democratic party has given the working class and unions and their associations with large banks and corporations (that goes both for Clinton and Obama). So, though it’s shocking to contemplate, Sarah Palin was onto something when she asked workers “How’s that hopey changey stuff working out for ya?” This book is really a brief dissection of the shortcomings of the Obama administration (his escalation of war and his protection of the big banks) and the Clinton campaign, not just another retelling of just how “bad” the Trump campaign was.
So, instead of presenting the result as an unavoidable evil that happened to us contrary to our will, Katch’s book is a sobering realization that now, more than ever, we need to focus on organization and solidarity and change from below if we really want to see any change at all. And maybe its time, once again, to take Socialism seriously.
I don’t want to write out the title of this book, so I’ll just call it “this book.”
This book took a surprising (but not too surprising) approach, which is to focus what the left did wrong during the 2016 elections. Now, that takes guts: trash talking your own audience. But Katch is right, much of what went wrong in that election was the left’s own fault: they chose an unpopular candidate (Hillary), undermined a serious challenger (Bernie), and underestimated the opposition. We bought into the idea that an establishment candidate could solve the problems with the establishment and forgot how powerful the appeal of an outsider can be: no matter what he says. Also, instead of blaming racism (which most certainly was a factor), Katch focuses instead of the lack of support the democratic party has given the working class and unions and their associations with large banks and corporations (that goes both for Clinton and Obama). So, though it’s shocking to contemplate, Sarah Palin was onto something when she asked workers “How’s that hopey changey stuff working out for ya?” This book is really a brief dissection of the shortcomings of the Obama administration (his escalation of war and his protection of the big banks) and the Clinton campaign, not just another retelling of just how “bad” the Trump campaign was.
So, instead of presenting the result as an unavoidable evil that happened to us contrary to our will, Katch’s book is a sobering realization that now, more than ever, we need to focus on organization and solidarity and change from below if we really want to see any change at all. And maybe its time, once again, to take Socialism seriously.
December 14, 2017
A little light, but maybe that's a good thing. Danny Katch goes on a vicious and viciously funny crusade against the current political status quo. He lays it out pretty clearly how capitalism has gotten us here while also offering nuggets of hope in quotes from Eugene Debs, Vladimir Lenin, Leon Trotsky, and others.
There's a huge problem with American politics. Now more than ever our democracy seems not to represent us, the people, but rather the huge corporations that profit on our misery and death.
This book made me very intensely curious to read Hillary Clinton's What Happened. Because I think Katch explains what really happened. I know Clinton has zero self-awareness about her failings as a candidate so it might be kind of humorous to read her hand-wringing apologia.
Maybe Katch was speaking to the choir, but a lot of this book resonated hugely with me. Similar to No is Not Enough by Naomi Klein. As stated above, there is a problem. But we already have the solution. So I'm going to be a lot more active in my local ISO chapter and Sierra Club chapter. Cause shit's gotta change.
There's a huge problem with American politics. Now more than ever our democracy seems not to represent us, the people, but rather the huge corporations that profit on our misery and death.
This book made me very intensely curious to read Hillary Clinton's What Happened. Because I think Katch explains what really happened. I know Clinton has zero self-awareness about her failings as a candidate so it might be kind of humorous to read her hand-wringing apologia.
Maybe Katch was speaking to the choir, but a lot of this book resonated hugely with me. Similar to No is Not Enough by Naomi Klein. As stated above, there is a problem. But we already have the solution. So I'm going to be a lot more active in my local ISO chapter and Sierra Club chapter. Cause shit's gotta change.
October 26, 2017
In Why Bad Governments Happen to Good People, activist and humourist Danny Katch offers a critical examination of the American system of government. As the publisher’s blurb points out, ‘[t]he election of Donald Trump has sent the United States and the world into uncharted water’. However, as Donald Katch shows, in this well-thought out and well-documented book, the US’ political system has been broken for a very long time and both of the main parties deserve blame for the problems that led to Trump’s election. Trump is, in fact, more a symptom than a cause. Neither party represents the majority of Americans and people are searching for an alternative, one that works for them, not just the banks and corporations. With insight and wit, he makes a good case for Socialism as such an alternative. Whether you agree or disagree with his premise, Katch offers some very interesting and compelling arguments to ponder.
Thanks to Edelweiss and Haymarket Books for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
Thanks to Edelweiss and Haymarket Books for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
December 17, 2017
This is the best short book I have read about politics in a long time. Funny, insightful, and very well written. Every chapter has something new to consider. Having seen him speak at the Socialism Conferences in Chicago, I knew it was going to be good, but I was surprised at the organization and clarity of the writing. If you need some ammunition for arguments or inspiration for becoming active in the fight for justice, read this book. The language is accessible to everyone, and is such a pleasure to read. Buy a copy (or copies) and share it far and wide. (And, for the next couple of weeks it is half-price at haymarketbooks.org.)
I feel like this is kind of a crappy review on my part for how good the book is. Totally worth your time, as well as anyone else you can get to read this book.
I feel like this is kind of a crappy review on my part for how good the book is. Totally worth your time, as well as anyone else you can get to read this book.
January 14, 2018
This is a quick, engaging and funny read about how we arrived at the political situation we currently find ourselves in here in the US - and not only that, the author has something to say about where to go from here. I would highly recommend it to any left-leaning progressive types who find themselves unconvinced and disappointed by the dominant narrative that it was all the fault of Russia and stupid people voting against their best interests, and especially to people who are newly interested in reading more about left politics and don't know where to start. Katch does a great job presenting his arguments with humor, metaphor and personality. If you liked this and are interested in reading more about socialism, I'd recommend his book "Socialism Seriously" which is written in the same light and accessible style.
February 3, 2021
Why Bad Governments Happen to Good People by Danny Katch
This is a very important read, and one you should dive into sooner rather than later. Katch explains, with both poise and subtle humor, why American government can’t lead us to liberation. He is able to show why and how the democrats and the republicans are two sides of the same cloth, neither political party is ‘good.’ While the book was written in 2017 and uses the 2016 election as a backdrop, it rings exactly the same as the 2020 election, right down to the calls for unity.
4.5/5⭐️
This is a very important read, and one you should dive into sooner rather than later. Katch explains, with both poise and subtle humor, why American government can’t lead us to liberation. He is able to show why and how the democrats and the republicans are two sides of the same cloth, neither political party is ‘good.’ While the book was written in 2017 and uses the 2016 election as a backdrop, it rings exactly the same as the 2020 election, right down to the calls for unity.
4.5/5⭐️
October 18, 2017
From the first few paragraphs of this book, I found myself surprised, intrigued and entertained. Danny Katch gets to the bottom of what ails our political system, with thoughtful analysis, an excellent presentation of evidence, and a marvelous sense of humor. One of the best things I've read on the subject, this book identifies the root of the problem and presents some clear, practical ideas on how to solve it. Most highly recommended.
August 4, 2020
A good read provided you have a frame of reference for both recent historical politics and academic socialism. A very smooth and quick paced book. I enjoyed it a lot and I think a lot of younger readers would as well. At times the author lands the punchlines of his arguments rather jadedly and repeatedly. While apparent that it's intent is to provide comic relief, it comes off mean spirited. I think this may turn some readers off in spite of the excellent points raised.
November 21, 2020
A very good primer of a socialist viewpoint of American politics and how failures from both parties have lead us to where we are now. The author’s opinions align pretty close with my own so many of his arguments seem very obvious but it may not be true of everyone. He doesn’t delve too deep into most of the topics, but it will offer interested readers with many new alleys to discover.
August 7, 2020
The beginning of this book is exceptionally strong, though I wish Danny Ketch remained analytical throughout. He does, however, do a fair job of assessing both major parties and how they set the stage for a Trump presidency by valuing party interests over their constituents.
October 25, 2017
The Hal Draper’s Karl Marx’s Theory of Revolution of light socialist reads. Good content can happen to good people who seek it
November 6, 2017
Some interesting new insights in this short work but hey it was only $1 at haymarketbooks.org
Pretty sweet deal
Pretty sweet deal
February 22, 2018
Focuses on how our two party system is hindering our democracy.
April 23, 2018
Pretty standard stuff. Nothing new here, and his "humor" is juvenile. Sympathetic to what his message is trying to be, but it's just a hot take, no solutions.
November 4, 2018
More of a collection of related essays/chapters than a unified book. If you haven't encountered the ideas in it before, then I'd bump the rating up to 4 stars.
August 30, 2019
Excellent mix of persuasive argument and humour, from someone who clearly understands the need for both to nudge us towards a better (political) place.
September 10, 2019
A very optimistic, socialist take on how to move forward in the era of Trump. Has a lot of good points about the faults of the two party system and the Democratic party.
April 15, 2020
Perfect read for the post-Bernie period.
December 18, 2022
Not bad - a short, easy read. It rehashed a lot of concepts I've read about already, but there were a few good nuggets of info.
December 16, 2022
I'm only about a third of the way through this short book so far, but I just had to say something. Wow! Wow! So much information, so much good clear thinking, making things that have been confused and confusing clear an obvious in such a short, engaging read. There is some outright humor and wit in it and a lot of really biting sarcasm. And yetI am learning things about what was really going on behind the political scenes and understanding things better. Read This Book!
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews