Tailspin : the people and forces behind America's fifty-year fall ... and those fighting to reverse it

-- America's Bitter Pill: In this revelatory narrative covering the years 1967 to 2017, Steven Brill gives us a stunningly cogent picture of the broken system at the heart of our society. He shows us how, over the last half-century, America's core values--meritocracy, innovation, due process, free speech, and even democracy itself--have somehow managed to power its decline into dysfunction. They have isolated our best and brightest, whose positions at the top have never been more secure or more remote. The result has been an erosion of responsibility and accountability, an epidemic of shortsightedness, an increasingly hollow economic and political center, and millions of Americans gripped by apathy and hopelessness. By examining the people and forces behind the rise of big-money lobbying, legal and financial engineering, the demise of private-sector unions, and a hamstrung bureaucracy, Brill answers the question on everyone's mind: How did we end up this way? Finally, he introduces us to those working quietly and effectively to repair the damages. At once a diagnosis of our national ills, a history of their development, and a prescription for a brighter future, Tailspin is a work of riveting journalism--and a welcome antidote to political despair.;The protected and the unprotected -- Meritocracy becomes the new aristocracy -- Casino country -- The greening of the First Amendment -- Making markets efficient -- and marginalizing those left behind -- "Lip service" for America's workers -- Dysfunctional democracy -- Moat nation -- Why nothing works -- Broken -- Protecting the most unprotected -- Storming the moats. "From the award-winning journalist and best-selling author of America's Bitter Pill: a tour de force examination of 1) how and why major American institutions no longer serve us as they should, causing a deep rift between the vulnerable majority and the protected few, and 2) how some individuals and organizations are laying the foundation for real, lasting change. In this revelatory narrative covering the years 1967 to 2017, Steven Brill gives us a stunningly cogent picture of the broken system at the heart of our society. He shows us how, over the last half-century, America's core values--meritocracy, innovation, due process, free speech, and even democracy itself--have somehow managed to power its decline into dysfunction. They have isolated our best and brightest, whose positions at the top have never been more secure or more remote. The result has been an erosion of responsibility and accountability, an epidemic of shortsightedness, an increasingly hollow economic and political center, and millions of Americans gripped by apathy and hopelessness. By examining the people and forces behind the rise of big-money lobbying, legal and financial engineering, the demise of private-sector unions, and a hamstrung bureaucracy, Brill answers the question on everyone's mind: How did we end up this way? Finally, he introduces us to those working quietly and effectively to repair the damages. At once a diagnosis of our national ills, a history of their development, and a prescription for a brighter future, Tailspin is a work of riveting journalism--and a welcome antidote to political despair"-- Provided by publisher "From the award-winning journalist and best-selling author of America's Bitter Pill: a tour de force examination of 1) how and why major American institutions no longer serve us as they should, causing a deep rift between the vulnerable majority and the protected few, and 2) how some individuals and organizations are laying the foundation for real, lasting change. In this revelatory narrative covering the years 1967 to 2017, Steven Brill gives us a stunningly cogent picture of the broken system at the heart of our society. He shows us how, over the last half-century, America's core values ... meritocracy, innovation, due process, free speech, and even democracy itself ... have somehow managed to power its decline into dysfunction. They have isolated our best and brightest, whose positions at the top have never been more secure or more remote. The result has been an erosion of responsibility and accountability, an epidemic of shortsightedness, an increasingly hollow economic and political center, and millions of Americans gripped by apathy and hopelessness. By examining the people and forces behind the rise of big-money lobbying, legal and financial engineering, the demise of private-sector unions, and a hamstrung bureaucracy, Brill answers the question on everyone's mind: How did we end up this way? Finally, he introduces us to those working quietly and effectively to repair the damages. At once a diagnosis of our national ills, a history of their development, and a prescription for a brighter future, Tailspin is a work of riveting journalism ... and a welcome antidote to political despair" .. Journalist Steven Brill Examines How And Why Major American Institutions No Longer Serve Us As They Should, Causing A Deep Rift Between The Vulnerable Majority And The Protected Few. Covering The Years 1967 To 2017, Brill Shows Us How America's Core Values -- Meritocracy, Innovation, Due Process, Free Speech, And Even Democracy Itself -- Have Somehow Managed To Power Its Decline Into Dysfunction. They Have Isolated Our Best And Brightest, Whose Positions At The Top Have Never Been More Secure Or More Remote. The Result Has Been An Erosion Of Responsibility And Accountability, An Epidemic Of Shortsightedness, An Increasingly Hollow Economic And Political Center, And Millions Of Americans Gripped By Apathy And Hopelessness. By Examining The People And Forces Behind The Rise Of Big-money Lobbying, Legal And Financial Engineering, The Demise Of Private-sector Unions, And A Hamstrung Bureaucracy, Brill Answers The Question On Everyone's Mind: How Did We End Up This Way? Finally, He Introduces Us To Those Working Quietly And Effectively To Repair The Damages. The Protected And The Unprotected -- Meritocracy Becomes The New Aristocracy -- Casino Country -- The Greening Of The First Amendment -- Making Markets Efficient, And Marginalizing Those Left Behind -- Lip Service For America's Workers -- Dysfunctional Democracy -- Moat Nation -- Why Nothing Works -- Broken -- Protecting The Most Unprotected -- Storming The Moats. Steven Brill. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 345-416) And Index. In this revelatory narrative covering the years 1967 to 2017, Steven Brill gives us a stunningly cogent picture of the broken system at the heart of our society. He shows us how, over the last half century, America’s core values—meritocracy, innovation, due process, free speech, and even democracy itself—have somehow managed to power its decline into dysfunction. They have isolated our best and brightest, whose positions at the top have never been more secure or more remote. The result has been an erosion of responsibility and accountability, an epidemic of shortsightedness, an increasingly hollow economic and political center, and millions of Americans gripped by apathy and hopelessness. By examining the people and forces behind the rise of big-money lobbying, legal and financial engineering, the demise of private-sector unions, and a hamstrung bureaucracy, Brill answers the question on everyone’s mind: How did we end up this way? Finally, he introduces us to those working quietly and effectively to repair the damages. At once a diagnosis of our national ills, a history of their development, and a prescription for a brighter future, Tailspin is a work of riveting journalism—and a welcome antidote to political despair. "A stirring and original account of the origins of the deeply divided status quo and the people fighting for a more equal, less myopic America"-- Provided by publisher Layla, you're my everything, I love you more each day. From dawn till dusk, you make me proud in every single way.