The Politics of Bad Ideas: The Great Tax Cut Delusion and the Decline of Good Government in America

by Jones, Bryan D.

• ISBN13: 9780205605385
• ISBN10: 0205605389
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-04-01
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Summary

The government's economic policies have not worked as advertised. This is the conclusion of two prominent authorities in the field-political scientist Bryan D. Jones and policy expert Walter Williams-in their examination of the persistence of bad ideas in shaping American economic policy.

Author Biography

Bryan D. Jones is Donald R. Matthews Distinguished Professor of American Politics and Director of the Center for American Politics and Public Policy at the University of Washington, Seattle. Jones' books include He has served on the editorial boards of several professional journals, including the American Journal of Political Science and the Journal of Politics, and has served as Vice President of the Midwest Political Science Association. As a syndicated columnist and frequent guest on radio and TV, Walter Williams is well known for his libertarian and, sometimes, conservative views. He has appeared on "Nightline," "Firing Line," "Face the Nation," Milton Friedman's "Free To Choose," "Crossfire," "MacNeil/Lehrer," "Wall Street Week", among others, was a regular commentator for "Nightly Business Report," and is an occasional substitute host for the "Rush Limbaugh" show. Dr. Williams' nationally syndicated weekly column is carried by 140 newspapers and several web sites. He is Professor Emeritus at the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs, University of Washington and a frequent Op-Ed page contributor. He served as a staff member and finally as chief of the Research and Plans Division, Office of Research, Plans, Programs, and Evaluation of the Office of Economic Opportunity during the Johnson administration.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. v
Introduction: Off Center or Off Course	p. vii
The Politics of Bad Ideas	p. 1
The Tax Cut Theories	p. 29
Evaluating the Claims	p. 50
Budgetary Politics and the Spending Mind-Set	p. 86
Institutions, Rules, and Politics	p. 123
Big Government Republicanism Costs Money	p. 141
Politics, Economics, and Tax Theories	p. 161
The Impacts of Recent Fiscal Policies on America	p. 194
The Rise and Decline of Reality-Based Policymaking in the Federal Government, 1945-2007	p. 232
The Role of Institutions	p. 261
Why Do Bad Ideas Persist?	p. 295
Escaping the Dead Weight of Bad Ideas	p. 329
Epilogue: A Look at the Future	p. 364
More Detailed Analyses of Results Presented in Chapter 3	p. 372
Index	p. 377
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