The Conservative Nanny State cover art

The Conservative Nanny State

How the Wealthy Use the Government to Stay Rich and Get Richer

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The Conservative Nanny State

By: Dean Baker
Narrated by: Sandra Swafford
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About this listen

 In his new book, economist Dean Baker debunks the myth that conservatives favor the market over government intervention. In fact, conservatives rely on a range of "nanny state" policies that ensure the rich get richer while leaving most Americans worse off. It's time for the rules to change. Sound economic policy should harness the market in ways that produce desirable social outcomes: decent wages, good jobs, and affordable health care.©2006 Dean Baker (P)2006 Polity Audio LLC and Creative Commons Economics Political Science Politics & Government

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Most relevant
This is probably worth a listen if you want to expand your horizons and have a lot of time on your hands.

I would not say that I have a particularly strong leaning either left or right, but I felt that this was paper-thin. I have not journeyed (too) far into this audiobook as I found it tiresome from early on. It makes confident statements about the negative aspects of capitalism without really explaining the rationale behind its apparent evilness. We then find ourselves given a short, positive alternative without explanation.

It doesn't feel as though the writer has gone to lengths to justify his perspective of the world, nor to deride the alternative.

Imagine the general musings from a trade union agitator-slash-conspiracy theorist that people politely ignore in the local pub.

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