I confess--I love Bill Clinton. He's personable, genial, and just plain folks. He says what's on his mind and he's not shy about his opinions.
He's not shy in his latest book, either. Back to Work: Why We Need Smart Government for a Strong Economy pulls no punches by looking at the policies of the last ten years and how they led the economy to where we are today, giving examples and how to fix them to help grow the economy again.
Clinton has praise for current President Obama, but says that he could have done more and sooner to help stave off the downturn that started during President Bush's terms of office. Clinton says that the recent imbroglio over raising the debt ceiling made the country look "weak and confused" to our allies overseas, stating that Obama should have requested the ceiling be raised while Democrats controlled both Senate and House.
Clinton talks about his own eight years in the White House, taking pride in how his economic policies helped create 22 million jobs and substantially reduce the federal debt. Among other things, he says, he was able to persuade many wealthy people to accept higher taxes because "I didn't attack them for their success."
Clinton strongly criticizes Republicans for taking the country deeply into debt under George W. Bush's presidency. He says both major parties must agree to investments that will strengthen the U.S. going forward, such as green energy and infrastructure improvements. He also advocates reforming the tax code, cutting some corporate taxes and giving businesses greater incentives to hire.
Back to Work: Why We Need Smart Government for a Strong Economy by Bill Clinton is currently available for pre-order through all online booksellers, but is scheduled for release on Tuesday, 11/8. You can find your copy locally from Joseph-Beth Booksellers in the Lexington Green Mall on Nicholasville Road or Barnes & Noble in the Hamburg Pavilion Shopping Center on Man o' War Blvd.
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