Comeback America: Turning the Country Around and Restoring Fiscal Responsibility |  | Author: David M. Walker
Publisher: Random House
Category: Book
List Price: $26.00
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Seller: BRILANTI BOOKS
Rating:  34 reviews
Sales Rank: 26886
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 240
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6.4 x 1
ISBN: 1400068606
Dewey Decimal Number: 330.973
EAN: 9781400068609
ASIN: 1400068606
Publication Date: January 12, 2010
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
He's one of America's most capable, canny, candid, and independent financial experts. Now David M. Walker sounds a call to action. Comeback America is a tough-minded, innovative, inspiring guide to help us avoid the approaching economic abyss and put the country back on track again.
As comptroller general of the United States and head of the Government Accountability Office (GAO)—"the nation's top auditor"—Walker warned Congress and the administration as the federal surplus became a giant deficit under George W. Bush. As president and CEO of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, he now works full-time to raise public awareness regarding mounting debt burdens being imposed on future generations. Comeback America is his crucial manifesto, a way for President Obama to end out-of-control government spending and reform our tax, retirement, health care, defense, and other systems—before it's too late.
Walker believes that by 2030, absent significant reforms to current government programs and policies, federal taxes could double from current levels, meaning less money and poorer education for kids—which will hurt families along with our nation's economic strength and position in the world. If our foreign creditors—such as China—decide to buy fewer of our Treasury bonds, interest rates will rise and cars and homes will become less affordable.
But it doesn't have to be that way. Comeback America shows how we can return to our founding principles of fiscal responsibility and stewardship for future generations. The book includes bold ideas to control spending, save Social Security, dramatically alter Medicare, and simplify the tax code—all taking into account the Obama Administration's current efforts, which receive never-before-published assessments both complimentary and critical.
Nonpartisan, nonideological, and filled with a love of the country its esteemed author has spent his life serving, Comeback America is a book for anyone interested in America's economic future—in other words, a book everyone should read.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 34
 Truth and Potential Consequences February 1, 2010
Robert L. Rodriguez (Los Angeles, California)
42 out of 47 found this review helpful
My name is Robert L Rodriguez, CEO of First Pacific Advisors. I am a three time winner of Morningstar's Mutual Fund Manager of the Year Award for both domestic equities and bonds and my equity fund, FPA Capital Fund, was the number one diversified equity fund for the past 25 years ended September 30, 2009. I have used and referred to Mr. Walker's work for years and consider him one of the few that I would trust who has come out of Washington. His book is an easy read with a very straightforward analysis of the critical fiscal problems facing this country. He proposes several realistic recommendations to start addressing these problems. The greatest service he does is showing why light hearted, feel good sounding "solutions" will not and cannot do the job. Neither the Republican or the Democratic parties have been serious about discussing these challenges nor have they been willing to take real concrete actions toward solving these critical issues. If "we the people" do not start taking action and requiring our representatives to tackle these existing issues now, we will face a far more serious fiscal and federal crisis than the one we have just gone through in the not too distant future. As one of the few professionals who has been nationally recognized for having warned about the oncoming credit crisis, I believe "Comeback America" provides a workable template of resolution that can be begun today. Please share this important book with friends, family and your elected representatives. Your children and your children's children will thank you for it. For the record, I have no economic interest in this volume other than I believe David M. Walker's message needs to be heard more broadly. Thank you for reading my thoughts.
Finally! Dave Walker is not only the nation's "Former Top Auditor" but is also a trusted political independent. February 2, 2010
Lisa Strange Weatherby (Jacksonville, FL)
14 out of 16 found this review helpful
Comeback America is one of the most riveting books that you will read on the importantant subject of the fiscal health of this country. One would be hard pressed to find anyone at any level who is more knowledgable than is former comptroller general of the United States, Dave Walker.
Our global economic issues have become so complex that even most of the top expert "watch dogs" in Washington did not see this financial tsunami coming. Thus, it is difficult to expect the average person to be able to fully grasp these matters, making it easy to become swayed by 30 second sound bites that are often based on ideology rather than facts. Comeback America takes these complex issues and presents them in an intelligent, concise way that resonates with more than just policy wonks.
I have long admired Walker's tenacity in promoting the award winning documentary IOUSA and his Fiscal Wake Up Tour and he was doing so long before the most recent crisis hit in the Fall of 2008. How differently things might have turned out if those inside the Beltway had stood up for the courage of their convictions the way Dave Walker has.
He pulls no punches in his assessment of the failures of those on both sides of the political spectrum and, importantly, proposes common sense solutions.
This book is a must read and should be required reading in all institutions of higher learning.
If we're going to recover our nation June 8, 2010
R. Kyle (USA)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
We need to recover ourselves first. David Walker offers a plan where "We the People" can get our country back.
It's not going to be easy. We have to start with personal responsibility, meaning getting our own debt in line, saving money, and having a plan for our futures, including taking better care or ourselves.
As Walker says, our government is a reflection of ourselves.
Next, he's proposing these responsible citizens get involved with their government. One of his more interesting suggestions is a Constitutional Convention with amendments including spending limits and no Federal expenditures that do not aid the entire US. Additionally, the oathed officials of the US who swear to 'uphold the Constitution' should be tested on that document every year and the results made public.
Walker believes every agency should have a strategic plan with benchmarks, objectives, and the ability to measure. He supports more transparent indicators of government trends that are accessible to everyone. All common sense ideas that businesses have used to good effect for many years.
Walker has served the government for 36 years. His approach is apolitical and he's got a strong sense of values. While the book is light in many ways, the document is approachable and readable even for school children which is one aspect I very much appreciate. I recommend "Comback America" for people of all parties who are concerned with keeping our country strong.
Rebecca Kyle, June 2010
Author is into it April 11, 2010
T.D.F. (Woodstock)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
There are times the author is "into himself" in this book..but then again he is well qualified to put words on paper about this subject.
He presents the data on a very complex subject in a most informative and readable way. He offers solutions as to how the UNITED STATES might get itself out of a major problem in the next decade.
BY working together toward a single goal, educating ourselves, being vigilent and saving rather than consuming in the fuure, we can achieve fiscal responsibility in government....with or without the help of our congressmen and senators....
Wake-Up Call for America April 18, 2010
D. Gregory
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The author, a former U.S. Comptroller General and head of the GAO, writes with a sense of urgency about major fiscal problems the U.S. is facing. Though the subject is complex, his writing is straightforward and easy to follow and understand. The numbers are alarming, but he does offer solutions which sound reasonable and achievable. He proposes a dramatic rethinking of our social programs and details how he would reform our tax, spending and political systems. The book is non-partisan--he just calls it like he sees it. His is a common sense approach that calls for personal responsiblity and government accountability. This is required reading for anyone who is seriously concerned about our economic future.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 34
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