The People's Money: How Voters Will Balance the Budget and Eliminate the Federal Debt

by Scott Rasmussen

Overview

When it comes to the economy, American voters can no longer count on the Political Class. We are the ones who truly want progress, and—despite what politicians would lead us to believe—we are the only ones willing to make the difficult but necessary changes that willrestore our country’s fiscal sanity.

For years, Americans have elected candidates who promise to reduce spending. Yet spending has steadily increased for more than half a century. For just as long, politicians have blamed voters, claiming a lack of public support for the necessary cuts to reduce the budget deficit. On the contrary, evidence suggests that voters are far more willing than politicians to make the compromises to eliminate this massive burden from future generations. Now, influential political analyst Scott Rasmussen, one of the most recognized public opinion pollsters in America, proves that our politicians are intentionally perpetrating a flat-out lie about their short-sighted and destructive economic choices and our hard-earned money.
     In The People’s Money, Rasmussen explores clear-headed, responsible, and reasonable ways to eliminate a deficit that is much larger than politicians would have us believe—$123 trillion and counting—all with the vast support of the American people. This is Rasmussen on:

·The bailouts—the cause and effects, and the catalyst that fueled the current era of discontent
·National defense—and the $100 billion annual cost that could be erased today with absolutely no threat to security
·Social security—and a plan that could not only reduce spending by trillions of dollars but offer a more satisfying plan for retirees
·Tax burdens—and the truth behind the changes Americans are willing to make for the sake of their country
·Government payroll—and the commonsense cuts that are necessary
·Health care—and why the current plans, from both Republicans and Democrats, are financially unhealthy

     Drawing on a comprehensive review of history, revelatory budgetary documents, and enlightening public opinion polls, Rasmussen lays out a step-by-step budget that could wipe out trillions from the national debt. It’s his job to call on the American people for their opinion. Resoundingly, they have called back with a collective voice that is at once hopeful, frustrated, honest, and angry. If only the American Political Class would listen. Until then, The People’s Money is a call to arms for the people to be heard, an ultimatum for a grossly out-of-touch American political system, and one of the most provocative, important, informed, and yet hopeful books on the economic state of the country yet written.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781451666120
Publisher:	Threshold Editions
Publication date:	01/31/2012
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	eBook
Pages:	288
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Scott Rasmussen is one of the most recognized and respected public opinion pollsters in the United States today. As founder and president of Rasmussen Reports, he is a political analyst, television commentator, author, and a regular on the speaking circuit. The Wall Street Journal says “Mr. Rasmussen is today's leading insurgent pollster” and “a key player in the contact sport of politics.” The Washington Post calls Rasmussen a “driving force in American politics” and reports that his polls have set off alarm bells in the Oval Office.

Table of Contents

Introduction: What the Bailouts Unleashed 1

Part 1 The Political Class

1 What the Political Class Thinks Voters Think 17

2 How the Political Class Deceives 34

Part 2 How Voters Would Spend the People's Money

3 How Voters Would Fix Defense 57

4 How Voters Would Fix Social Security 87

5 How Voters Would Fix Medicare and Health Care 109

6 How Voters Would Fix the Tax System 135

7 How Voters Want to Be Generous 153

Part 3 How Voters Would Save the People's Money

8 Ending Corporate Welfare 175

9 Giving the People a Return on Investments 197

10 Tightening the Belt of the Beltway 217

11 Adding It All Up 235

Conclusion: The End of the Political Class 257

Acknowledgments 263

Bibliography 265

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“Rasmussen’s book makes it clear that voters do understand [the reality of the problems we face] and have given considerable thought to what changes would work. . . . Offers realistic solutions to our most pressing problems—both financially and politically.”

—Dick Morris, New York Times bestselling author of Screwed! and former advisor to President Bill Clinton

“A really fascinating read.”

—RedState

“Fortunately, at least one prominent assayer of public opinion has taken a good look at [polling practices] and is screaming, ‘Pollster, heal thyself!’ . . . Rasmussen looks at America’s dire fiscal predicament through the lens of . . . a simple, neglected insight: Polling voters about broad political sentiments is very different from polling them about specific policy solutions.”

—The Weekly Standard