Before I even review this book, I'll let my 3 readers know that I'm really not that much of a fan of Tom Friedman. Although intelligent and well written, I agree with at most 1 out of 20 of his columns in the New York Times. On rare occasions he knocks one so out of the park it is stunning. Unfortunately, this book is weak tapper back to the pitcher.
The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century initially pisses me off because it is again written by a journalist. This is a 200 page book padded to 473 pages with endless example after example. WE GET IT!
Given Mr. Friedman is an employee of the New York Times, it is interesting that three of the five book reviews on the back jacket are from the Times or Times owned companies. Now thats not a real good sign is it? Couldn't find anyone else?
The endless shameless plugging of the NYT, Discovery Times network, etc. is also unfortunate.
The first part of the book is interesting. His chapters on Wal-Mart and UPS are fascinating. I had no idea they were as sophisticated as they are. His premise is a world of globalism and that the United States is not doing enough to maintain our proper place in the globalized marketplace.
He is quite right to implicate many countries in harboring counterproductive regulations and impediments to capitalistic growth. Unfortunately, in the second half of the book we find his prescription for the US keeping pace with the world in this global market to dictate that very same stifling regulation. And what a list it is.
Universal health care
A warped version of a living wage
Guaranteed college education for every US citizen
Is that enough? Thats a small part of his prescription for competition. How many trillions of dollars are wasted in this small list? I could argue in depth against each topic but better people have already done so.
It is interesting that Mr. Friedman cites the Progressive Policy Institute for many of his ideas in this book. Well, that basically says it all. No input from the American Enterprise Institute, CATO, etc. Just the PPI. Socialists.
Sorry Mr. Friedman. The answer to global competitive advantage is not socialism. Europe is proving that quite nicely.
The way to TRUE global competition is the elimination of all trade barriers and subsidies. Period. I think our President challenged the world to such a radical plan only a few days ago.
