Page numbers in italics refer to figures and tables.
abortion, 145–46, 147, 179, 202, 235
Abramoff, Jack, 199
Adams, John, 77
advertising, 104, 105–6, 171, 176, 206, 251, 277, 283, 295
affirmative action, 181
AFL-CIO, 57, 97, 129, 140, 218, 276
agenda-setting, 123–26, 168–70, 179–80, 259–62, 268, 286–88
agribusiness, 280
agriculture, 84, 85, 108, 189, 246, 280
AIG, 261
air-traffic controllers strike (1981), 58–59, 186–87, 191
Alliance for Worker Retirement Security, 144
Almond, Gabriel, 144
Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT), 49–50, 215–18
Amar, Akhil, 76
amendments, constitutional, 86, 201, 266, 294
American Bankers Association, 124–25, 292
American Council for Capital Formation, 124–25
“American Democracy in an Age of Rising Inequality,” 150
American Enterprise Institute (AEI), 123
American Federation of Labor (AFL), 140
American Legion, 138, 143, 144
“American Option,” 266, 267, 302; see also DeMint, Jim
American Petroleum Institute (API), 144, 274
American Political Science Association, 150
Americans for Financial Reform, 275, 285, 292
Americans for Limited Government, 284
Americans for Prosperity, 284
Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), 208, 209–10, 284
Americans with Disabilities Act (1990), 192
America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), 275
approval ratings, 165, 258, 268, 282
Archey, William, 206
Armey, Dick, 190, 200, 201, 209, 210, 241, 283
Articles of Confederation, 297, 298–99
Association of State Democratic Chairs, 176
“Astroturf” organizations, 144, 274
Babbitt, Bruce, 181
Bai, Matt, 260
Balz, Daniel, 192
banking industry:
bailouts of, 1–2, 71, 198, 226, 249–50, 254, 261
commercial, 69, 71, 197, 249–50, 275
deregulation of, 69, 185, 196, 197–98
government regulation of, 69, 71, 80, 185, 196, 197–98, 282
investment, 69, 71, 197, 229, 249–50
mortgages issued by, 2, 32–33, 197–98, 216, 301
risk management by, 1–2, 44, 45–46, 115
tax reforms opposed by, 89
Bartels, Larry, 110–12, 151–52, 160, 167, 234
Bartlett, Bruce, 267
Baucus, Max, 238–39, 245, 260, 267, 268, 273–74
Bayh, Evan, 239
Beane, Billy, 234
Beilenson, Tony, 128
Biden, Joseph, 260
Billings, Robert, Sr., 203
bipartisanship, 100, 183, 185, 186–88, 190, 191–93, 212, 219, 230–31, 233, 259–62, 267–68, 293–300
boards of directors, 63–64, 65
Bok, Derek, 141
Bradley, Bill, 243
Brandeis, Louis, 80–81
Breaux, John, 6, 181, 183, 184, 239, 245
“Broadland,” 15, 17, 24–25, 25, 26, 194, 290
Brock, William, 172–73, 174, 175, 176, 265–66
Brokaw, Tom, 156
Broockman, David, 269
Brookings Institution, 123, 124
Brooks, David, 147
Browder, Earl, 67
Browder, William, 67
Brownstein, Ronald, 192
Bryan, William Jennings, 170–71
Buckley, William F., Jr., 221–22
Bush, George H. W., 17, 69, 186, 191–93, 199, 208, 210, 217, 265, 267, 293
Bush, George W., 17, 34, 41, 53, 105, 152, 157, 183, 186, 192, 193, 195, 200, 201, 210, 213, 214, 216, 217, 219, 221, 222, 223, 230, 233, 234, 236, 238–39, 245, 250–51, 253, 254–55, 258, 264, 265, 266, 271, 280, 293–94, 304
business:
anti-labor agenda of, 55, 121–24, 127–32, 135, 219, 303
conservative support for, 122–23
Democrats supported by, 53, 86, 127, 129–32, 140, 174–88, 220–21, 223–52
economic reforms opposed by, 79–80, 86, 87–88, 130–32
financial resources of, 74, 121–22, 131, 170–72, 179–80, 209
“grassroots” campaigns by, 66, 89, 114, 119–27, 131, 144, 179–80, 274
inside vs. outside strategies of, 121
large, 119–27, 128, 129–32, 179–80, 205–6, 231, 275–78, 279
lobbyists for, 89, 117, 118, 124–26, 135–36, 144, 183–84, 198, 205–7, 218, 238–39, 275–77
organizations for, 88, 104–7, 116–36, 144, 160, 179–80, 205–6, 231, 275–78, 279, 291; see also specific organizations
political influence of, 65–66, 74, 79, 84–85, 104–7, 110–12, 116–36, 150–51, 160, 169, 170–72, 179–80, 183–84, 197–98, 207, 230–31, 242–43, 271–75, 282, 292–93, 304
Powell memorandum on, 117–18, 119, 125
regulation of, 55–56, 116–36, 179–80, 187, 205–6, 219–21, 246–47, 273–77
Republicans supported by, 34, 49, 53, 65, 86, 121–26, 129–32, 140, 157, 170, 174–88, 189, 194–222, 230–31, 244–46, 267
small, 119–20, 129–30, 131, 205–6, 243
tax reform opposed by, 47, 49, 50, 64, 106–7, 124–25, 132–34, 177, 179–80, 187, 312n
see also corporations
business cycles, 17–18
Business-Industry Political Action Committee, 122
Business Roundtable, 120, 121, 125, 126–27, 129–30, 205–6, 231
Byrd, Robert, 130–31
cable networks, 106, 156–57, 158
California, 84, 176, 240, 247, 300
Campaigns and Elections, 203
campaign spending, 66, 118, 121–22, 150–51, 163–64, 166, 167, 169, 170–84, 197–98, 203, 207, 209–10, 219, 223–52, 258–59, 271–75, 276, 304
Campbell, Anne, 176
Canada, 29, 31, 38–39, 52, 58, 60, 68
Cao, Joseph, 337n
capital gains, 14, 16, 18, 39, 46, 50–51, 99–100, 133–34, 151, 214, 228–30, 312n
Carlson, Tucker, 147
Carlton Group, 133–34
“carried interest” provision, 51, 228–29
Carter, Jimmy, 98–100, 116, 126–27, 130, 131, 132–33, 134, 137, 141, 152, 172–73, 175, 184, 186, 202, 255
Carville, James, 5
Cato Institute, 209
Center for American Progress, 266
Center for Responsive Politics, 207, 227
Chafee, Lincoln, 265
Chamber of Commerce, 119, 127, 128, 129–30, 205–6, 231, 275–78, 279
chief executive officers (CEOs):
conflicts of interest of, 55, 66
incomes of, 1, 16, 56, 62, 66–67, 154–55, 198
international comparison of, 62–65
organizations for, 119–21
pay packages for (executive compensation), 2, 57, 61–66, 70, 198, 219–21, 246–47, 279, 319n, 320n, 335n
political influence of, 117–19
retirement benefits of, 64
Christian Coalition, 203
Christian Conservatives; see Religious Right
Christian Right, 139, 146–49, 160, 201–4, 205, 234–35
Church, Frank, 175
Citigroup, 71, 226, 249–50, 254, 261
Citizens United case, 293
Civic Culture, The (Almond and Verba), 144
civic groups, 107–12, 139, 143–45, 147, 155, 156, 158
civil rights movement, 95, 138, 139, 190, 202, 235, 275
class divisions, 29, 75–77, 131–32, 148, 151–55
see also specific classes
Class War? (Jacobs and Page), 152
Clean Air Act Amendments (1990), 192
Clifford, Clark, 125
climate change, 168, 257, 270, 274, 277, 279–80, 296, 299
Clinton, Bill, 17, 65, 69, 106, 109, 126, 137, 165, 181, 183, 195, 202, 206, 212–13, 219, 223, 224, 225, 231–33, 235, 238, 243–44, 245, 249, 250, 251, 252, 255, 259–60, 261, 262–63, 286, 287
Clinton, Hillary, 105, 225, 226, 256, 258, 259, 260
cloture motions, 130–31, 242–44
Club for Growth (CFG), 208–10
Coburn, Tom, 284
Coleman, Norm, 258
Collins, Susan, 263, 265, 267, 280
Commerce Department, U.S., 272
Committee on Political Education, 128
Commodity Futures Modernization Act (2000), 69, 197
Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), 69, 198, 249
Common Situs Picketing Bill, 128–29
Congress, U.S.:
business influence in, 65–66, 79, 84–85, 106–7, 110–12, 116–36
Democratic majority in, 53, 89–90, 98, 99, 117, 130–32, 134, 137–38, 141, 157–58, 164, 165–67, 177, 185, 187, 188, 189–93, 199, 243–44, 255, 257, 258–73, 286, 301
incumbent members of, 166, 175, 177–78, 179, 190–91, 200–201, 236, 258
legislative process of, 43–44, 53, 58, 82, 83–84, 85, 86, 99, 106, 109, 125–32, 157, 179–80, 195–96, 206, 210–18, 220–21, 229, 236–44, 245, 258, 261, 262–63, 268, 269–74, 278–88, 295, 296, 303, 339n
minority influence in, 89–90, 98, 188, 189–93, 237–44, 262–73, 278–88, 297–98
Republican majority in, 34, 89–90, 97–98, 109, 130–32, 157–58, 175–76, 178, 188, 189–93, 199, 210–15, 220, 230–31, 236–37, 238, 243–44, 262–73, 278–88
see also House of Representatives, U.S.; Senate, U.S.
Congressional Budget Office (CBO), 21, 24, 30, 260, 311n–12n
“congressionalist” strategy, of President Obama, 260–61, 285
Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO), 140
Conrad, Kent, 260
conservatism, 5, 7, 19–24, 41–42, 49, 54, 77, 115, 122–24, 134, 137, 165–66, 179–82, 184, 186–88, 189, 191, 204, 208, 217, 233, 239–41, 267
Conservative Opportunity Society, 190
Constitution, U.S., 75–76, 84, 85, 86, 89, 201, 237, 241, 266, 294, 297, 339n
Constitutional Convention (1787), 84
Consumer Expenditure Survey, 31–32, 314n
consumer prices, 32, 52–53, 63, 100, 119
Consumer Product Safety Commission, 97, 99
consumers rights, 31–33, 55, 69, 71, 79, 96, 99, 117, 125–27, 135, 147, 179, 197, 205, 220, 256, 257, 275, 277
consumption, 31–33, 49, 187, 191, 208, 217, 233, 267
Cook, Philip, 45
Coors, Joseph, 122–23
Corker, Bob, 282
corporations:
accounting for, 48, 63, 65, 66, 119–20, 197, 219, 221, 246–47
boards of directors of, 63–64, 65
campaign contributions by, 66, 118, 121–22, 150–51, 169, 197–98, 207, 242–43, 271–75, 304
CEOs of, see chief executive officers
governance of, 44, 62, 63–66, 119–20, 219–21, 240, 279, 292–93, 295
hierarchical structures of, 118
investment in, 32, 57, 63, 65, 120–21, 182, 228–29, 274
management of, 5, 16, 62, 63, 65–66, 67, 70, 129, 219–21, 246–47
mergers and acquisitions of, 69, 249–50
PACs organized by, 118, 121–22, 171–72, 173, 177–78
political influence of, 65–66, 107, 116–36, 150–51, 169, 197–98, 207, 230–31, 242–43, 271–75, 282, 292–93, 304
regulation of, 55–56, 219–21, 246–47
shared interests of, 118–21
shareholders of, 57, 63, 65, 120–21, 219, 221, 229, 293
taxation of, 47, 49, 50, 64, 106–7, 124–25, 132–34, 177, 179–80, 187, 312n
transparency of, 63–64, 67, 246–47
Council of Economic Advisers, 125
Cox, Chris, 219
credit-default swaps, 301
credit-ratings agencies, 228
Current Population Survey, 13, 312n
Dahl, Robert, 84
Daley, Richard, 251
Daley, William M., 272–73
debt, personal, 4, 13, 31–33, 55, 77
deductions, tax, 133, 214, 216
deficits, budget, 105, 182, 184, 187, 192, 212, 213, 214, 215, 231, 232, 233, 235, 302
defined-benefit pensions, 29, 64
DeLay, Tom, 178, 190, 199, 201, 205, 207, 210, 212, 231, 250, 272, 273
DeLong, Brad, 43
DeMint, Jim, 266, 267, 302; see also “American Option”
Democracy in America (Tocqueville), 77
Democratic Business Council, 176–77
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), 177–78, 230–31, 251–52
Democratic Leadership Council (DLC), 180–82, 183, 231
Democratic National Committee (DNC), 166, 174, 176–77, 223, 225, 250–51, 259
Democratic Party, 163–93
agenda of, 168–70, 176–77, 295–97, 301–2
business support for, 53, 86, 127, 129–32, 140, 174–88, 220–21, 223–52
campaign spending by, 164, 166, 167, 170–84, 207, 219, 223–52, 258–59, 275
congressional majority of, 53, 89–90, 98, 99, 117, 130–32, 134, 137–38, 141, 157–58, 164, 165–67, 177, 185, 187, 188, 189–93, 199, 243–44, 255, 257, 258–73, 286, 301
conservative wing of, 134, 137, 165–66, 179–82, 184, 186–88, 239–41
debt financing by, 174–75, 176
deregulation supported by, 184–86, 224–30, 232, 240–41, 247–50, 261
economic policies of, 17, 98–100, 231–33, 235, 236–37, 244–52, 255, 258–73, 291–92
incumbent members of, 166, 175, 177–78, 179, 190–91, 200–201, 236, 258
labor support for, 58, 89, 99, 121–24, 126, 129–32, 141, 164, 172, 178, 248, 278–79
leadership of, 130, 166, 174, 176–77, 223–30, 250–51, 259
liberal wing of, 95, 99–100, 115, 116–18, 137, 145–48, 159–60, 178, 179, 181, 225, 239
lower class support for, 95, 111–12, 129–32, 141, 147–48, 150, 186, 235
middle class support for, 111–12, 147–48, 150, 225, 232, 237, 244
moderates in, 99, 179, 180–82, 231–32, 239–41, 261, 280
organizational basis of, 168, 174–84, 258–59, 271–73
presidency controlled by, 98–100, 130, 131, 132–33, 137–38, 164, 175, 200
Republican cooperation with, 186–93, 199–200, 210–15, 230–31, 233–34, 236–44, 247–48, 262–73, 278–88, 294–95, 302, 303
Southern wing of, 58, 88, 95–96, 138, 180, 186, 190–91, 196–97, 200–201, 255, 264
winner-take-all politics supported by, 8, 182, 185–86, 194–95, 221–22, 224–25, 228–30, 235, 236–37, 255, 257, 261, 268, 278, 289–306
women as supporters of, 145–46, 179
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), 227, 251, 272
depreciation allowances, 134
derivatives, financial, 69, 197, 249
DiMartino, David, 272
Diminished Democracy (Skocpol), 143
direct-mail campaigns, 173, 176, 178, 251, 303–4
Dole, Bob, 192, 193, 200, 211, 217, 243
Donaldson, William, 221, 256, 279
Donohue, Thomas, 267, 276, 277, 303
Douthat, Ross, 149
Downie, Leonard, Jr., 156
Drift and Mastery (Lippmann), 83
Dunlop, John, 141
Dwight, Nancy Sinnott, 165
Earned Income Tax Credit, 50, 52, 71
Economic Recovery and Tax Act (ERTA) (1981), 134
economics, 49, 52, 125, 185, 187, 191, 208, 217, 233, 267
economy:
agricultural, 84, 85, 108, 189, 246, 280
capitalist, 4, 6, 29, 90–91, 194, 248–49, 297–98, 301
competition in, 4, 37–40, 79, 118–19, 184–85
conservative approach to, 5, 19–24, 49, 122–23, 187, 191, 208, 217, 233, 267
consumption in, 13, 31–33, 49, 79, 89, 187, 191, 208, 217, 233, 240–41, 258–71, 280–88, 291–97, 301–2
Democratic policies on, 17, 98–100, 231–33, 235, 236–37, 244–52, 255, 258–73, 291–92
equality in, 2–3, 41–42, 74, 77–79, 87, 100, 134, 253–55
European, 26–27, 29, 52, 57–58, 76
financial crisis of (2008), 1–2, 3, 11–13, 79–89, 185, 196, 198, 240–41, 248, 253–55, 258–73, 278, 280–88, 291–97, 301–2
global, 4, 5, 34–35, 51, 182, 289, 290
government’s role in, 33, 38, 40, 41, 42–47, 51–56, 73–91, 96–100, 116–36, 152–53, 186–87, 297–98
growth of, 11–15, 17–20, 26–28, 29, 52–53, 78, 83, 91, 118–19, 131–32, 194, 232, 253
industrial, 55–56, 57, 83, 84, 85, 118–19, 122–23, 182
knowledge, 34–40, 45, 182, 303–4
liberal approach to, 53, 55–56, 62, 68, 69, 88–90, 91, 95, 96, 98, 110, 116–19, 138, 140, 163, 186, 187–88, 189, 200, 234, 305
national comparisons of, 26–27, 29, 31, 37–38, 52, 57–58, 76
recessions in, 3, 12–13, 101, 127–28, 133, 165, 195, 212, 292
reform and restructuring of, 13, 53, 55–56, 62, 68, 69, 79–90, 91, 95, 96, 98, 130–32, 138, 140, 163, 186, 187–88, 189, 200, 234, 240–41, 258–73, 280–88, 291–97, 301–2, 305
Republican policies on, 17, 34, 41–42, 49, 65, 95–100, 109, 157, 207–15, 235, 240–41, 244–48, 255, 262–73
stimulus packages for, 262–73, 280–81, 296, 301–2
Edsall, Thomas, 191
education, public, 2, 56, 74, 98, 137–38, 142, 214, 232, 280, 298, 301
Edwards, Edwin, 183
Eisenhower, Dwight D., 140, 189, 232, 244
Eisenhower, Edgar, 189
elections, U.S.:
campaign spending in, 66, 118, 121–22, 150–51, 163–64, 166, 167, 169, 170–84, 197–98, 203, 207, 209–10, 219, 223–52, 258–59, 271–75, 276, 304
cycles of, 167, 173, 226, 227, 230, 264
as entertainment, 100–106, 156–57, 167–68, 171, 174
media coverage of, 101–6, 156–58
organization in, 100–107, 113–15, 174
popular vote in, 256
primaries for, 209–10, 256, 284
state and local, 172–73, 175, 210
voters in, see voters
of 1932, 87
of 1936, 87
of 1954, 176
of 1960, 202
of 1964, 269
of 1968, 91, 100, 156–57, 167, 174
of 1972, 117
of 1974, 98, 117, 127, 165, 200
of 1982, 165–67, 173, 226, 258
of 1986, 174
of 1988, 191–93
of 1992, 167, 181, 193, 231, 232, 238
of 1994, 165, 201, 203, 207, 210, 230–31
of 2000, 105, 148, 167, 201, 213, 272
of 2002, 65–66, 209, 220, 221, 272
of 2004, 152, 227, 237–38, 250, 304
of 2006, 210, 251–52, 255, 258, 264, 265, 272, 273, 293, 301
of 2008, 54, 148, 196, 233, 234–35, 253, 255–57, 258–59, 263, 264, 265, 285, 288, 293, 301, 304, 337n
of 2010, 277, 282, 286, 287, 295
Emanuel, Rahm, 251–52, 260–61, 269, 273, 304–5
Emerging Republican Majority, The (Phillips), 97–98
employee benefits, 3, 29–31, 57, 60, 97, 120–21, 140, 200, 206, 278–79, 301
Employee Free Choice Act, 60, 270, 278–79
Employee Retirement Income Security Act (1974), 97
energy futures contracts, 198
energy industry, 63, 100, 104, 119, 144, 189, 198, 227, 229, 232, 280
Enron Corp., 64, 197, 198, 220, 295
Ensign, John, 159
environmental issues, 74, 79, 96, 97, 116–17, 119, 144–45, 146, 169, 179, 192, 205, 257, 270, 274, 277, 279–80, 296, 298, 299
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 97, 205
Enzi, Mike, 267–68
equity funds, 50–51
Europe, 26–27, 29, 52, 57–58, 76
European Union (EU), 57–58
executive compensation, 2, 57, 61–66, 70, 219–21, 246–47, 279, 319n, 320n, 335n
expensing, of stock options, 246–47, 320n, 335n
Fallows, James, 300
Falwell, Jerry, 203
Family and Medical Leave Act (1993), 126
Faris, Jack, 206
Federal Reserve Bank, 1, 201, 249–50, 261
Federal Reserve Bank of New York, 261
fees, investment, 228–29
Feinstein, Dianne, 225, 240, 245, 247
filibusters:
effects of, 53, 58, 85, 99, 109, 130–31, 213, 237–44, 245, 268, 280, 285, 287, 295, 303, 339n
“rule of sixty,” 84, 237, 241–44, 258, 269–71, 280, 282, 286, 287, 296, 298–300
supermajority requirements and, 84, 237, 241–44, 258, 269–71, 280, 282, 286, 287, 296, 298–300
finance, insurance, and real estate (FIRE) sector, 271–72
Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), 65, 246–47, 320n
financial crisis (2008), 1–2, 3, 11–12, 79–89, 185, 196, 198, 240–41, 248, 253–55, 258–73, 278, 280–88, 291–97, 301–2
financial services industry:
accountability in, 65–66, 69, 71, 196, 197, 220–21, 249–50, 257, 265, 274, 277, 295–97
bailouts of, 1–2, 71, 198, 226, 249–50, 254, 261, 265, 274, 279, 282, 292, 295; see also specific firms
bonuses and salaries of, 2, 67, 70, 229–30
campaign contributions of, 197–98, 200, 221–22, 224–30, 240–41, 247–50, 257, 271–75
computer models used by, 45, 46
conflicts-of-interest in, 55, 66, 69, 71, 196, 197, 220, 257, 277
deregulation of, 5, 66–70, 184–86, 196–98, 200, 221–22, 224–30, 232, 240–41, 247–50, 257, 261
financial instruments issued by, 46, 67, 68–70, 197, 198, 249, 301
lobbyists for, 2, 51, 66, 227–28, 229, 230, 249–50, 272, 273–76, 279, 287
mergers in, 249–50
political influence of, 2, 6, 51, 66, 104, 184–86, 195, 209, 224–30, 232, 240–41, 247–50, 256, 261, 282, 290–91
reform of, 2, 196–98, 220–21, 279
regulation of, 44, 45–47, 55–56, 66–70, 71, 80, 82, 88, 185, 195, 196–98, 219–22, 228, 247–50, 253, 254, 257, 261, 263, 270, 274–77, 279, 282, 285, 292, 295–96, 301
risk management in, 1–2, 44, 45–46, 69, 115, 197, 249
scandals in, 64, 65–66, 197, 198, 220–21, 295
see also banking industry
Flake, Jeff, 210
Ford, Gerald, 97, 98, 99, 120, 125, 126, 128, 172, 199
Founders, 75–76, 77, 81, 84, 85, 91, 297, 298, 299–300, 306, 339n
14(b) provision, Taft-Hartley Act (1947), 128, 129
Frank, Robert, 45
Frank, Thomas, 204
Franken, Al, 258
Fraser, Douglas, 131–32
Freedom Works, 283–84
free trade, 151, 232, 289, 301
From, Al, 180
Fuld, Dick, 70
Garn-St. Germain Depository Institutions Act (1982), 185
Garvin, Clifton, 121
Gates, Robert, 262
gay marriage, 147
Geithner, Tim, 261
General Electric (GE), 64, 66–67
Gephardt, Dick, 180–81
gerrymandering, 258
GI Bill, 56, 137–38, 139, 143, 149
Gilder, Richard, 208
Gingrich, Newt, 109, 190, 191, 192–93, 195, 199, 200, 210, 211, 263, 264, 283, 293, 294
Glass-Steagall Act (1933), 71, 197, 198, 228, 249–50
global economy, 4, 5, 34–35, 51, 182, 289, 290
global warming, 169, 257, 270, 274, 277, 279–80, 296, 299; see also climate change
Gohmert, Louie, 294
Goldman Sachs, 1, 2, 67, 195, 249, 261, 274
gold standard, 201
Goldwater, Barry, 186
Goodwin, Doris Kearns, 260
Gore, Al, 105, 181, 222, 223, 224, 272
Gourevitch, Peter, 63
governance, corporate, 44, 62, 63–66, 119–20, 219–21, 240, 279, 292–93, 295
government:
authority of, 89, 96–98, 101, 126–27, 180, 292–93
budget of, 105, 109, 182, 183, 184, 187, 192, 210, 211, 213, 214, 215, 231, 232, 233, 235, 237, 241, 244, 245, 266, 277, 296, 301, 302
checks and balances in, 292–93
contracts awarded by, 117, 155
decentralization of, 86
democratic, 3–4, 6, 30–31, 33, 37–38, 41, 57, 71–72, 83–87, 89, 90–91, 101–2, 107–12, 237–44, 293, 296, 301, 305–6
divisions of power in, 75–76, 83–84, 113
economic role of, 33, 38, 40, 41, 42–47, 51–56, 73–91, 96–100, 116–36, 152–53, 186–87, 297–98
executive branch of, 89, 98–100, 113, 130, 131, 132–33, 137–38, 164, 175, 200
federal, 88, 89, 109, 113, 276–77
gridlock and stalemate in, 53, 58, 73, 83–87, 90, 109, 180, 182, 213, 236–46, 269–70, 294–95, 297
legislation passed by, 43–44, 82, 83–84, 86, 106, 125–26, 130–32, 157, 179–80, 195–96, 206, 210–18, 220–21, 229, 236–44, 261, 262–63, 268, 269–70, 273–74, 278–88
“policy drift” in, 43–44, 52–54, 59–60, 83–87, 90, 180, 187, 228–30, 236–37, 294
public distrust of, 110, 134, 144, 151–55, 235, 243
revenue of, 188, 203, 208, 212, 213, 245–46
shutdowns of, 213
social benefits of, 20, 43, 44, 53–54, 78, 96–98
spending by, 88–89, 96–98, 188, 192, 212–13, 232, 257, 284
state and local, 2, 59, 86, 89, 113, 144, 172–73, 175, 203, 210, 237, 239
vetoes used in, 84, 85, 98–99, 126, 128, 213, 241, 271, 297, 298
in winner-take-all politics, 33, 41, 42–47, 70–72, 100, 134, 193, 199
see also Congress, U.S.
Graetz, Michael, 218
Graham, Lindsay, 280
Gramm, Phil, 6, 69, 134, 190, 196–98, 199, 221, 224–25, 228, 248, 249, 250, 254
Gramm-Latta budget legislation (1981), 196
Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (1999), 69, 228, 250
Grapes of Wrath, The (Steinbeck), 108, 286
Grassley, Charles, 216, 267–68
grassroots campaigns, 119–27, 131, 138, 142–49, 179–80, 201–4, 206, 209, 274, 285, 305
Great Depression, 1, 15–16, 50, 55, 86–87, 90, 108, 165, 196, 253, 256
Great Society, 98, 100, 116–19
Greenspan, Alan, 197, 232, 249, 254
Gregg, Judd, 262
Hamilton, Alexander, 85, 256, 298–99
Hannity, Sean, 294
“Harry and Louise” ads, 206
Harwood, John, 106
Hastert, Dennis, 200
Hatch, Orrin, 130
Health Care for America Now!, 285
health care reform, 3, 29, 30–41, 44, 60, 86, 98, 99, 106, 109, 126, 151, 168, 169, 183, 200, 206, 214, 225, 227, 232, 243–44, 257, 262–63, 267–78, 281–86, 291–94, 296, 301, 302, 311n, 339n
Health Insurance Association of America, 206
hedge funds, 1, 5, 50–51, 67, 227, 228–30
Height of Buildings Act (1899), 135
Herding Cats (Lott), 168
Heritage Foundation, 123, 209, 266
Hillary, Edmund, 102–3, 105, 135, 164, 258
Homans, Charles, 259
Hoover, Herbert, 89
House of Representatives, U.S., 58, 84, 85, 98, 99, 109, 126–27, 128, 134, 165–67, 172–73, 177, 185, 187, 200, 210–15, 226, 229, 251, 258, 260–61, 264–65, 266, 270, 279, 280, 286
Budget Committee of, 210
Energy and Commerce Committee of, 260
Ethics Committee of, 207
Financial Services Committee of, 225–26
Ways and Means Committee of, 210
housing prices, 2, 27, 32–33, 88, 133, 197, 216, 253
Hoyer, Steny, 185
Hume, David, 75
Hunt, H. L., 189
IBM, 64
income:
annual, 97
from capital gains, 14, 16, 151, 214, 228–30, 312n
CEO-to-worker ratio in, 62, 67
consumption, 31–33
distribution of, 3–4, 13–15, 20–25, 31–32, 36, 37–40, 43, 49–55, 56, 74, 77, 89, 100, 101, 148, 149–51, 157, 194, 214, 328n
earned, 16–17
educational levels and, 4, 12–13, 34–40, 57, 70, 182, 289
increase in, 15–16, 20–25, 290
inequality of, 3–4, 11, 15–18, 29, 32, 37–40, 41, 45, 74–77, 91, 149–51, 225–26, 256, 302–3, 306, 328n
inflation-adjusted, 21–22, 36, 52–53
of lower class, 19–24, 28, 33, 44, 52–53, 57–58, 149–51, 152, 154, 235, 289
measurement of, 20–21, 52, 317n
of middle class, 19–24, 28, 33, 35–36, 149–51, 152, 154, 220, 302–3
per-capita, 26
percentiles of, 20–24, 25, 47–49
pre-tax, 17, 20–24, 42–43, 70, 194, 317n
redistribution of, 43, 54–55, 89, 151
social mobility and, 14n, 28–29, 33, 152–53
taxation of, 3, 14, 17, 42–43, 45, 49, 50, 52, 54–55, 70, 71, 77, 194, 210–15, 266, 306, 311n–12n, 317n
of upper class, 3, 12–13, 16–18, 20–25, 32, 39–40, 153–55, 194, 290, 311n
individualism, 54, 103, 104–5, 132, 287
industrialization, 55–56, 57, 83, 84, 85, 118–19, 122–23, 182
inflation, 21–22, 32, 36, 52–53, 100, 119, 140, 187, 216, 253
insurance industry, 206, 240, 261, 271–72, 275–76, 281
interest groups, 66, 86, 101, 104–5, 106–8, 113–15, 143–46, 164, 169–72, 202–10, 218, 221, 226–27, 247, 271–77, 281–82, 291–93. See also business, Christian Right, civic groups, unions, specific groups.
intergenerational mobility, 28–29
Internal Revenue Service (IRS), 201, 202–3, 213
Internet, 145–46, 156, 157–58, 251–52, 258–59, 304
Iverson, Allen, 233
Jacobs, Lawrence, 152
Javits, Jacob, 131
Jefferson, Thomas, 256, 269–70
Jefferson, William, 337n
Jeffords, Jim, 220
“Joe the Plumber” campaign, 148
John Birch Society, 283–84
Johnson, Lyndon B., 95, 96, 97, 134, 200, 255, 269, 282
Johnston, David Cay, 50
Josten, Bruce, 277
JP Morgan Chase, 226, 272, 275
Kahn, Alfred, 185
Kaiser, Robert, 156
Keating, Charles, 185
Kelly, Peter, 183–84
Kemp, Jack, 267
Kennedy, Edward M., 178, 184, 243, 268, 286
Kerry, John, 226, 259, 272, 304
Keynes, John Maynard, 88
Kirk, Paul, 178
Koch, Charles, 283–84
Koch, David, 283–84
Koch, Fred, 283–84
Konwinski, Lisa, 260
Koppel, Ted, 105
Kristol, Irving, 123, 135, 233, 302
Kristol, William, 123, 233, 262–63, 286
Krugman, Paul, 42
K Street Project, 178, 207, 231, 250
Labor Department, U.S., 186–87
Labor Law Reform Bill, 130–32
Labor-Management Group, 131–32, 141
La Follette, Robert, 306
LaHood, Ray, 262
laissez-faire capitalism, 55, 81
Landrum-Griffin Act (1959), 129
laws, labor, 44, 58, 78, 80, 125–32, 134, 189, 296
lawyers, 48, 68, 154, 219, 252
Lazio, Rick, 272
Leuchtenburg, William, 90
leverage, financial, 197, 249, 254
Levy, Frank, 58
Lewis, John, 140
Lewis, Michael, 233–34
liberalism, 5, 7, 43, 53–56, 62, 68, 69, 88–90, 91, 95–100, 110, 115, 116–19, 137, 138, 140, 145–48, 159–60, 163, 178, 179, 181, 186–89, 200, 225, 234, 239, 256–57, 305
liberum veto, 271
Lieberman, Joe, 181, 225, 226, 239, 247, 281
Limbaugh, Rush, 294
Lincoln, Abraham, 260
Lincoln, Blanche, 240, 245, 273, 274, 281
Lincoln Savings and Loan, 185
Lippmann, Walter, 83, 86, 90, 91, 305
lobbyists, 66, 89, 114, 117, 118, 124–26, 135–36, 144, 183–84, 198, 205–7, 218, 238–39, 275–77
Lochner v. New York, 81