Predator Nation : Corporate Criminals, Political Corruption, and the Hijacking of America

Charles H. Ferguson, who electrified the world with his Oscar-winning documentary __**Inside Job**__, now explains how a predator elite took over the country, step by step, and he exposes the networks of academic, financial, and political influence, in __all__ recent administrations, that prepared the predators’ path to conquest. Over the last several decades, the United States has undergone one of the most radical social and economic transformations in its history. · Finance has become America’s dominant industry, while manufacturing, even for high technology industries, has nearly disappeared. · The financial sector has become increasingly criminalized, with the widespread fraud that caused the housing bubble going completely unpunished. · Federal tax collections as a share of GDP are at their lowest level in sixty years, with the wealthy and highly profitable corporations enjoying the greatest tax reductions. · Most shockingly, the United States, so long the beacon of opportunity for the ambitious poor, has become one of the world’s most unequal and unfair societies. If you’re smart and a hard worker, but your parents aren’t rich, you’re now better off being born in Munich, Germany or in Singapore than in Cleveland, Ohio or New York. This radical shift did not happen by accident. Ferguson shows how, since the Reagan administration in the 1980s, both major political parties have become captives of the moneyed elite. It was the Clinton administration that dismantled the regulatory controls that protected the average citizen from avaricious financiers. It was the Bush team that destroyed the federal revenue base with its grotesquely skewed tax cuts for the rich. And it is the Obama White House that has allowed financial criminals to continue to operate unchecked, even after supposed “reforms” installed after the collapse of 2008. __**Predator Nation**__ reveals how once-revered figures like Alan Greenspan and Larry Summers became mere courtiers to the elite. Based on many newly released court filings, it details the extent of the crimes—there is no other word—committed in the frenzied chase for wealth that caused the financial crisis. And, finally, it lays out a plan of action for how we might take back our country and the American dream. Over The Last Several Decades, The United States Has Undergone One Of The Most Radical Social And Economic Transformations In Its History: Finance Has Become America's Dominant Industry, While Manufacturing Has Nearly Disappeared. The Financial Sector Has Become Increasingly Criminalized, With Widespread Fraud Going Completely Unpunished. Federal Tax Collections Are At Their Lowest Level In Sixty Years, With The Wealthy Enjoying The Greatest Tax Reductions. Most Shockingly, The United States, So Long The Beacon Of Opportunity For The Ambitious Poor, Has Become One Of The World's Most Unequal Societies. If You're Smart And A Hard Worker, But Your Parents Aren't Rich, You're Now Better Off Being Born In Munich Or Singapore Than In Cleveland Or New York. This Radical Shift Did Not Happen By Accident. Author Ferguson Shows How, Since The Reagan Administration, Both Major Political Parties Have Become Captives Of The Moneyed Elite. The Clinton Administration Dismantled The Regulatory Controls That Protected The Average Citizen From Avaricious Financiers. The Bush Team Destroyed The Federal Revenue Base With Its Tax Cuts For The Rich. And The Obama White House Has Allowed Financial Criminals To Continue To Operate Unchecked, Even After Supposed Reforms Installed After The Collapse Of 2008.--from Publisher Description. Where We Are Now -- Opening Pandora's Box : The Era Of Deregulation, 1980=2000 -- The Bubble, Part One : Borrowing And Lending In The 2000s -- Wall Street Makes A Bubble And Gives It To The World -- All Fall Down : Warnings, Predators, Crises, Responses -- Crime And Punishment : Banking And The Bubble As Criminal Enterprises -- Agents Of Pain : Unregulated Finance As A Subtractive Industry -- The Ivory Tower -- America As A Rigged Game -- What Should Be Done? Charles Ferguson. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The 1980s: the fateful turn Opening Pandora's Box : the 1990s The bubble, part one: borrowing and lending in the 2000s Wall Street makes a bubble, and gives it to the world All fall down: warnings, predators, crises, responses Crime and punishment: banking and the bubble as criminal enterprises Agents of pain: unregulated finance as a subtractive industry The Ivory Tower America as a rigged game. The definitive big picture on the financial crisis from the man behind the film "Inside Job", one of the top 30 documentaries of all time and an Oscar-winning film. Based on explosive interviews conducted by Ferguson, as well as documents buried in court records and archives, this traces how the financial industry and its enablers went rogue.