First published 2005
Former Republican congressman Joe Scarborough takes aim at Washington's fiscal wasteland. Drawing from his years inside Congress, Scarborough argues that both Democrats and Republicans excel at squandering taxpayer money through pork barrel politics. He traces how politicians campaign as outsiders but quickly embrace the system once elected. Scarborough points to stark examples: Republican George W. Bush expanded federal government by 10.5% while Democrat Bill Clinton left office at 3.4%. The author compares modern politics to Orwell's Animal Farm, where principles vanish once power is seized. Scarborough recounts his own political journey from the 1994 Gingrich Revolution through his later role in Gingrich's downfall to his position as MSNBC host. He maintains his conservative credentials while criticizing Republican leadership and what he calls false conservatives. The book combines insider political stories with fiscal policy analysis, offering concrete solutions for readers across the political spectrum who want honest government spending.
Genres: business, american, political-science, economics, non-fiction, 21st-century
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: insider-perspective, political-critique
Setting: Washington DC
Period: 1994, 2000s
208 pages · Paperback · Harper Paperbacks