Solving America's problems

James M. Stone, a one-time government bureaucrat in the Commodities Futures Trading Commission and subsequently the CEO of a highly successful insurance business, has written a book entitled Five Easy Theses (Boston:  Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016).  The book, subtitled Commonsense Solutions to America’s Greatest Economic Challenges, looks at five current problems.

Stone notes in his introduction that many of his proposals will irritate both liberals and conservatives, but he points out that America’s problems need solutions, not partisan bickering.  I have a feeling that he will irritate conservatives more than liberals, but some of his proposals, such as a two-year public service corps, increased vocational schooling, and an increase in the retirement age to collect Social Security, will no doubt irritate liberals as well.

The five areas he examines are fiscal balance (read what he says about the estate tax), inequality (conservatives will not like this chapter), education (everybody will find fault), health care (doctors will be insulted), and financial sector reform.

I will admit that I found the chapter on inequality hard going, and I didn’t even read the one on financial sector reform.  I have never been good with any topic that involves investments or financial matters; I blame my econ. prof.  Nonetheless, I recommend this book.  When you read about the shortcomings in American health care and education, and you see the statistics on the growing inequality, you will realize we need to act.

Unfortunately, we have a completely ignorant President and a Congress only interested in preventing women from terminating pregnancies, deporting immigrants, and sucking up to the NRA.