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Supercapitalism: The Transformation of Business, Democracy, and Everyday Life (Vintage)
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Sales rank 5,799
Customers rating (based on 82 reviews)
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From one of America's foremost economic and political thinkers comes a vital analysis of our new hypercompetitive and turbo-charged global economy and the effect it is having on American democracy. With his customary wit and insight, Reich shows how widening inequality of income and wealth, heightened job insecurity, and corporate corruption are merely the logical results of a system in which politicians are more beholden to the influence of business lobbyists than to the voters who elected them. Powerful and thought-provoking, Supercapitalism argues that a clear separation of politics and capitalism will foster an enviroment in which both business and government thrive, by putting capitalism in the service of democracy, and not the other way around.
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| Publisher | Vintage | | Release date | 09/2008 | | Availability | Usually ships in 24 hours | | Edition | Paperback |
| | List price | $15.95 | | Our price | $10.85 (you save 31.97%) | | Used price | from $6.68 |
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 Surprisingly persuasive
Supercapitalism is a terrific book, far better than I expected it to be. This a thoughtful, enjoyable read, with harsh but fair criticism of both the left and right. Although a liberal, he has much to say negatively about left-wing activists who criticize corporations for being "socially irresponsible." He points out that a corporation's role is to maintain profits for its investors and shareholders, and if we want to regulate corporate behavior we should go to the democratic process rather than boycotts. Very surprisingly, he calls for an abolition of corporate taxes, arguing persuasively (at least to me) that is an inefficient way to raise revenue. But Reich does not spare the right wing, either--he strongly argues that a unregulated market is a disaster and warns of the o verwhelming corporate influence on our democratic process. This is a must read for any concerned American citizen.
 for those paying attention, nothing new here ...
Robert Reich was the Secretary of Labor under the Clinton administration - the man knows of which he speaks. In _Super Captialism_, Reich shows how the nature of politics (and the American economy) has changed in the last 25 years. Its pretty grim - but its hardly news to those who have been paying attention.
In a nutshell, Reich shows how the nation is well into a a "second guilded age" as the gulf between wealthy and poor expands - with a simultaneous decline in union membership, and a simultaneous increase in CEO salary and compensation, an increase in the value of stocks, and (most disturbing of all), an increase in the amount of money spent on national campagins and in the number of registered lobbyists in Washington, DC. What does this mean, one may ask? Reich believes it is sympomatic of the "corporatization" of America.
Corporations, remember, have the same legal rights as individuals: they can sue and be sued, own property, pay taxes, and yes ... even lobby politicians. This, Reich argues, is a travesty to American democracy, is politically dangerous, and economically unsound. Yet the money, power and influence corporations wield is undeniable. We ignore this at our own peril.
Reich, however offers few real solutions. Stop treating corporations as human beings, he aruges. I agree - but I am also a corporate stock holder, so to some extent this is contrary to my own economic benefit. (It is also contrary to anyone who has a pension invested in the stock market, or who holds indivdual stock in a corporation.) As much as I wish this would happen, it doesn't seem likey. We (the people) need to reclaim our democracy for ourselves by supporting, funding, lobbying (by a phone call or email) and holding our elected officials accountable to us rather than corporations. (I sound more right than I am here ... I am so far removed from "libertarians" and their ilk, although perhaps we have some common ground here...) Again, I agree in principle - yet time and again it has been shown that myself (and my fellow citizens) are influenced, swayed and convinced to vote and act contrary to our own political and economic interests that I remain pessimistic that this will change.
WIth this said, it is an interesting book with much detailed information. The data provided, however, merely reinforces what many already knew or suspected - hence the four stars.
Supercapitalism Is Super Great
Supercapitalism: The Transformation of Business, Democracy, and Everyday Life (Vintage) by Robert Reich is a must-read for sooooo many reasons. First, and probably most important in an economics book, it is easy to read! Second, it provides a good, factual summary of how the economy has gotten to this point. The book is worth reading for this alone.
Third, Reich describes how globalization both hurts and helps us - and that we can't have one without the other. Put beautifully and simply, he says that globalization has helped us as consumers and shareholders, but hurt us as citizens and workers.
We like corporations that give us cheaper prices and higher returns on our mutual funds. But, we get mad at these same corporations for giving us lower wages and shipping jobs to cheaper countries. We feel disempowered in dealing with our government. We intuitively realize that high-powered lobbyists, backed by millions of corporate dollars, are the ones who really shape federal policy.
Most of us were raised during a time when companies employed us for decades - in return, we received steady cost of living raises and a nice, comfortable retirement based on a pension.
That is gone for most of us, and we blame greedy corporations or cheap Chinese workers. However, we must realize that the true cause of our frustration is that we (understandably) want cheap prices and high investment returns. A corporation can't be expected to lower prices, increase profit AND increase costs. Yet, that is what we seem to be demanding.
Read Supercapitalism: The Transformation of Business, Democracy, and Everyday Life (Vintage) to become truly aware of how the economy has changed.
book review
Nice experience, fast delivery, had no problems with the seller, all questions were answered promptly
Inescapable Contradiction in Terms
Dear Gentle reader
Reich seems to be self-contradicting. Capitalist Corporations, like Unions, are a collective of individuals and while their leadership in fact acts in the best interests of their own welfare, they must also hence act in the employees benefit/welfare, hence the shareholders welfare, hence the CIVILIANS welfare. Reich conveniently ignores the reality that individuals forming into groups does not magically eradicate their personhood or individuality. Nor do these groupings of individuals supernaturally transform, because of grouping, into an impersonal "collection of contracts". SO the inescapable Contradiction is Reich saying: You are an individual only when you are alone but then NOT when you are with ANYone else." I highly recommend this book for "strict constructionists" who want to understand the mind of the progressive. The Progressive who incessantly wants to dismantle the methods (free market capitalism) that made this country so great. Or a great read for the Progressive who wants to cheer the philosophy and drink huge quantities of the cool aid.
I must admit I enjoyed watching Reich on MSNBC today (1/26/2010) trying to contain his dismayed reaction to this recent (most wonderful) Supreme Court decision to allow companies to fund ad campaigns for candidates. I felt bad for Oberman, he was apoplectic, and seems headed for an early heart attack (chill Keith chill). Anyway, I am looking forward to the day when books like this are openly mocked by the coming generation of Americans who will look back at this misguided attempt to convince people government creates wealth and jobs and that the free market corporations are the evil empire.
George Washington and the founders had it right 200 yrs ago, and now that large groups of free market capitalists will be allowed to HEAVILY influence elections we conservative constitutionalists will put in politicians that will protect the private sector and keep government SMALL SMALL SMALL. Either way you lean this book will illuminate, and is full of truth, error, contradictions, sense and non-sense.
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