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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Product Details

Publisher	Random House
ISBN	1400068606
Features	ISBN13: 9781400068609 Condition: New Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
Format	Hardcover
Author	David M. Walker
EAN	9781400068609
Label	Random House
Dewey Decimal Number	330.973
Studio	Random House
Number Of Pages	240
Title	Comeback America: Turning the Country Around and Restoring Fiscal Responsibility
Release Date	2010-01-12
Publication Date	2010-01-12
Manufacturer	Random House

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Customer Reviews

We need more thoughts like this amongst the loud talkers

Review by G. S. Gourde, 2010-08-15

Although I didn't see the current situation quite as the way he does, nor do I believe in all of his solutions, I still must recommend this book to anyone concerned with taxes and the deficit. The book is written clearly and concisely. Much of what he says seems to be common sense when after he explains it, which makes me wish more people would talk like him instead of offering 10 sec sound bites that greatly exaggerated the problems and possible solutions. Most importantly he isn't afraid to say taxes aren't evil, and some government programs are good. I also respect any person who prefers to lead by example.

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Comeback America

Review by D. Reel, 2010-06-13

This was a great book to read and hopefully some of us can
bring back America - the "land of the free."
A great read and well written.

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If we're going to recover our nation

Review by R. Kyle, 2010-06-08

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

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Former head of GAO actually has a plan to turn US around!

Review by Grant LeMahieu, 2010-05-30

"David Walker is former head of the GAO, and has served under Reagan, Bush I, Clinton and Bush II, and explains in very easy terms what needs to be done, and why things dont get done, in D.C. He is now president of the Peter G. Petersen Foundation.
Finally a refreshing, sensical, view from a very qualified person, from an Independent,non-partisan, view...He actually has a plan, versus the Party system!"
I actually read a library copy, but now want to buy this for several friends and myself for reference! Give it to all your DEMO,REPS and TEA Party friends, since they don't have a plan...

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Poor writing quality

Review by Pure Logic, 2010-05-20

We live in an age where nearly every person with subpar writing ability can get published. Like many The authors, David Walker writes a book, where an essay would have been more appropriate. For an examples of contemporary authors who put in the effort to do the years of research and selection that are required to write a decent book, try The Lucifer Principle or Freakonomics.

Walker is surprisingly modest in his recommendations. For example, he suggests cutting our deficit to a more sustainable 3% of GDP. That reminds me of how I like to tell my wife that we need to stop buying on credit. If we can get our savings rate up from -10% to -3%, then that's sustainable. After all, I expect to be promoted to head supervisor next year, so income growth is projected to rise fast enough such that today's debts will seem small in hindsight.

You've go to love the way Walker asks toward the end of the book "Are you fired up yet?"

I was only angry at myself for having allowed myself to waste so much time and energy reading that far. Walker praises Ross Perot several times in his book. I think we need a person as aggressive as Perot in his budgeting to make a difference. Maybe someone like Peter Schiff is up to the task.

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