The People’s Money: How Voters Will Balance the Budget and Eliminate the Federal Debt, is a refreshing take on how the American people, not the politicians, would change the current political discussion if they were empowered to do so. Rasmussen distinguishes these groups as the voters and the Political Class (or the politicians). No, Rasmussen does not advocate populism. But he points out that if these hard decisions were left to the voters, the decisions would be made and not kicked down the road by politicians.
The primary issues that he writes about are how voters would make the tough decisions on health care, Social Security and Medicare, defense spending, and the federal budget deficit. One of the most intriguing points Rasmussen makes is that the Political Class continues to treat American life as if it were the year 1775, where the ruling Political Class decides how the Americans live their lives. Using that analogy, it can be said that Americans today are fighting against an entrenched Political Class that seeks to rule and limit American’s freedoms and ways of life.
In some of the best parts of this book Rasmussen not only diagnoses the major problems such as health care, but offers solutions. Even though his solutions may never see the light of day in Congress or in the ballot box, they are practical ways to solve the problems and not engage in tit-for-tat politics. For example, he proposes to fix the Social Security system by restoring to its trust fund status, which was the original stated intention of FDR. Instead of eliminating it entirely, he suggests paying the cost each month (and in so doing, reducing the budget deficit) and diversifying the investments of Social Security in different banks.
Though the book offers fresh insight on how to solve America’s problem, the difficulty is getting the politicians and the current political system to change their tune and let the voters decide. Though it may have a distinct Tea Party feel, it is still illustrating the importance and unique nature of America’s representative democracy. As Rasmussen points out, American voters do not trust the politicians with their future and who better to know their own interests but themselves? That is the real question that arises from this book.
Spencer Irvine is a research assistant at Accuracy in Academia.
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