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Author Lewis, Matt K., author.

Title Filthy rich politicians : the swamp creatures, latte liberals, and ruling-class elites cashing in on America / Matt K. Lewis ; [foreword by Batya Ungar-Sargon].

Publication Info. Nashville : Center Street, 2023.
©2023

Copies

Location Call No. Status
 Glastonbury, Welles-Turner Memorial Library - New Materials  305.5 LEWIS    DUE 04-01-24
 New Britain, Main Library - New Materials  352.88 LEW    Check Shelf
 West Hartford, Noah Webster Library - Non Fiction  352.88 LEWIS    Check Shelf
Edition First edition.
Description x, 242 pages ; 24 cm
Summary "Journalist Matt Lewis exposes the ludicrous nature of money in politics and offers readers a better path forward for keeping their elected leaders accountable to the people they are supposed to be representing. A lot has changed since the Founding Fathers first envisioned a country where elected leaders arrived in Washington, performed their civic duty as public servants, and returned home. Today's politicians are an unsavory lot--a hybrid of plutocrats and hypocrites. There are those who leveraged their riches to win their coveted elected positions, and there are those who leveraged their elected positions to grow incredibly wealthy--often while decrying the evils of "income inequality." This is the ruling class we see today. The financial disparity between our leaders and our neighbors is huge. Unfortunately, the ruling-class elites have a vested financial interest in refusing to promote the reforms so desperately needed to rebuild Americans' trust. And the question remains: Why are so many people in Congress so rich--and how did they get that way? To answer that question, we need to follow the money. In Filthy Rich Politicians, journalist Matt Lewis embarks on an investigative deep dive into the ridiculous state of modern American democracy--a system where the rich get elected and the elected get rich. Through examining the Latte Liberals, Ivy League Populists, Insider Traders, Trust-Fund Babies, and Swamp Creatures infesting Washington, Lewis shows with his trademark humor and wit how our so-called public servants are indulging in hypocrisy, taking advantage of the system, and eroding our trust in the institutions that once made America great. In order to preserve the American system, citizens should not believe the game is rigged. Achieving this level of trust will require common-sense reforms. And if Americans demand transparency and accountability from their elected leaders, Lewis believes that this trust can be restored"-- Provided by publisher.
Note Includes bibliographical references (pages 197-233) and index.
Contents Foreword by Batya Ungar-Sargon -- Introduction. The ruling class -- A rich history: Pre$idents from Washington to Biden -- Why the rich get elected -- Why the elected get rich -- All in the family: How politicians spread the wealth -- The lifestyle: Living large -- Latte liberals: Rich and privileged with influence -- Ivy League populists: Rich and privileged networks -- You can take it with you: The revolving door -- Don't eat the rich. Appendix: The richest twenty-five members of Congress; The ten richest US presidents -- Acknowledgments -- Notes -- Index -- About the author.
Subject Transparency in government -- United States.
Elite (Social sciences) -- United States.
Rich people -- United States -- Finance, Personal.
Social networks -- Economic aspects -- United States.
United States -- Officials and employees -- Supplementary income.
United States -- Officials and employees -- Salaries, etc.
Elite (Social sciences) (OCoLC)fst00908113
Employees -- Salaries, etc. (OCoLC)fst00909209
Social networks -- Economic aspects. (OCoLC)fst01122680
Transparency in government. (OCoLC)fst01154902
United States. (OCoLC)fst01204155
Added Author Ungar-Sargon, Batya, 1981- writer of foreword.
ISBN 9781546004417 (hardcover)
1546004416 (hardcover)
9781546004431 (ebook)
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