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The government is not a neutral arbiter of truth. It never has been. It never will be. Doubt everything. John Stossel does. A self-described skeptic, he has dismantled society’s sacred cows with unerring common sense. Now he debunks the most sacred of them all: our intuition and belief that government can solve our problems. In No, They Can’t, the New York Times bestselling author and Fox News commentator insists that we discard that idea of the “perfect” government—left or right—and retrain our brain to look only at the facts, to rethink our lives as independent individuals—and fast.
With characteristic tenacity, John Stossel outlines and exposes the fallacies and facts of the most pressing issues of today’s social and political climate—and shows how our intuitions about them are, frankly, wrong:
• the unreliable marriage between big business, the media, and unions
• the myth of tax breaks and the ignorance of their advocates
• why “central planners” never create more jobs and how government never really will
• why free trade works—without government Interference
• federal regulations and the trouble they create for consumers
• the harm caused to the disabled by government protection of the disabled
• the problems (social and economic) generated by minimum-wage laws
• the destructive daydreams of “health insurance for everyone”
• bad food vs. good food and the government’s intrusive, unwelcome nanny sensibilities
• the dumbing down of public education and teachers’ unions
• how gun control actually increases crime
. . . and more myth-busting realities of why the American people must wrest our lives back from a government stranglehold.
Stossel also reveals how his unyielding desire to educate the public with the truth caused an irreparable rift with ABC (nobody wanted to hear the point-by- point facts of ObamaCare), and why he left his long-running stint for a new, uncensored forum with Fox. He lays out his ideas for education innovation as well and, finally, makes it perfectly clear why government action is the least effective and desirable fantasy to hang on to. As Stossel says, “It’s not about electing the right people. It’s about narrowing responsibilities.” No, They Can’t is an irrefutable first step toward that goal.
Fox News commentator John Stossel isn't going to take it any more. This vigorous libertarian and contrarian has had enough of government interference with the free market system; tax breaks; federal regulations; gun control do-gooders and others. In No, They Can't, he rails with gusto against those who he believes are doing us wrong.
— Sallye Leventhal
“As an introduction to a way of looking at the world, No, They Can't is superb. In about 300 highly readable pages, Mr. Stossel whips through countless topics, explaining for each why libertarians think the government does more harm than good.” —The Washington Times
"I love No They Can't. This book sends a message that people need to read.”—Senator Mike Lee
"One of the nation's most recognized advocates of free-markets and individualism, Stossel argues that we have to become reality-based skeptics and embrace facts rather than feel-good rhetoric and politically popular policies that simply don't work.”—David Harsanyi, Human Events
“Is there anything for a reader already on the capitalist side to learn from yet another one of these books? Yes there is.” —Future of Capitalism
New York Times bestselling author John Stossel hosts his own one-hour weekly Fox Business Network show, Stossel, and a series of one-hour specials on Fox News. He also appears regularly Tuesdays on The O’Reilly Factor and on other Fox News shows.During three decades in journalism, Stossel has received numerous honors and awards. He is a nineteen-time Emmy winner, and a five-time honoree for excellence in consumer reporting by the National Press Club. His two previous books spent twenty weeks on the New York Times bestseller list.
Anonymous
Posted April 23, 2012
Loved it. Introduced hundreds of great points i had never considered before.
6 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Great book! It is written in a style similar to his reporting. Very easy to read and makes a lot of sense. Great work, John!
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 20, 2012
I found the book to be a very easy read. The author, John Stossel, presented the material in an easy-to-understand fashion. He had his thoughts divided into chapters in a very thoughtful manner.
I learned much from reading this book. I recommend it to those interested in learning how our government is, or is NOT, running, I did
not know how much our liberties had been stifled until I read this book!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted May 16, 2012
This is a really good book to make you think about what government does and doesn't do well. Sadly much isn't done well and John gives lots of facts in an easy to read format.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 13, 2013
John Stossell is a genius.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 11, 2013
A masterpiece, good writing.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 9, 2013
Turn your mindset of American society upside down. Great book, yes it was great.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 8, 2013
Incredible ideas, information on how to succeed, get USA moving in positive direction.
John Stossell for President in 2016 (I wish), his ideas are incredible, time-tested to work, very informative. Great book.
Anonymous
Posted May 4, 2013
Made me look at every aspect of American society in a fresh perspective, this book is awesome.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.SeattleWA1
Posted April 27, 2013
#1 book on market today! Well written, very insightful, packed full of useful wisdom to apply in daily life.
Incredibly insightful, packed full excellent writting!
Anonymous
Posted December 30, 2012
Thhhh
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted July 30, 2012
This explans everything that we conservatives now support
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted July 16, 2012
This book has convinced me we should reduce our government to the barest minimum necessary to function. Private industry has always done better than government. Thanks to Stossel for pointing that fact out
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 25, 2012
I really enjoyed this book so much. It makes one stop and think about what is happening, and some of the ways of fixing the problems. We really have to cut spending. If you get something for nothing, someone is paying. You can only print so much paper money. If we don't learn to control ourselves in this country soon, we are going to end up like Greece! It's scary!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.DonEW
Posted June 6, 2012
I have read all of John Stossel's recent books. This is absolutely the best. Very well written and much easier reading than most non-fiction. He covers all of the issues of the day and shows how the left, instead of fixing our countries ills, are making it worse, to the point that continuing on the present track will destroy our Republic.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 2, 2012
Fantastic! Inspirational! (I recommend!)
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.CANG
Posted May 14, 2012
The book was interesting. Many of Stossel's observations are common sense. In his own way he points out the fallacy of believing that more government is the answer. He is a libertarian who takes the argument of government ineptness to new levels. I agreed with much, but not all of what Stossel had to say. It is a good read, well researched and thought provoking. Well worth the investment.
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Posted May 13, 2012
It is seldom I find a book that tells a story so straight forward. I don't agree with everything John believes. So far I haven't found anything in the book that is not 100% accurate. Regardless having worked in a government job, I know that the book gives an accurate view of what you can expect of government services. There are many things the politicians are selling us that the government can either not do or do efficiently. The restraint on the employee result in the employee working for harder to produce for less. The more government enters your life the worst you fair. I would recommend this book to every one as a way to realign your prospective of what government can do and what it can't do.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Tuney2010
Posted May 10, 2012
The government isn't getting the job done. Maybe we expect too much of our government and not enough of ourselves. Stossel has an interesting viewpoint that I agree with. I believe I can make better use of my assets to care for myself, my family, and my community, than the Federal Government Can. To much of the money I pay in taxes goes into corrupt pockets, and not enough goes to the places it's needed.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 7, 2012
John comes at you with his libertarian point of view. However, every american should be concerned with our governments power to take away our basic freedoms through over regulation and over spending.
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Overview
The government is not a neutral arbiter of truth. It never has been. It never will be. Doubt everything. John Stossel does. A self-described skeptic, he has dismantled society’s sacred cows with unerring common sense. Now he debunks the most sacred of them all: our intuition and belief that government can solve our problems. In No, They Can’t, the New York Times bestselling author and Fox News commentator insists that we discard that idea of the “perfect” government—left or right—and retrain our brain to look ...