The Main Street Manifesto, A User's Guide To Economic Recovery From The Bottom Up is
the newest book by Michael Waldock, author of Come Fly With Us! A Global History of the Airline Hostess, and former
President and C.E.O of retail giant The Body Shop U.S.
The
Main Street Manifesto is an engaging and practical investigation into the derailing of the U.S.
economy, and, more importantly, what you the people can do to get it back on track. Waldock tackles huge issues from
health care to outsourcing to a free press with passion, clarity, and an optimism that cannot fail to inspire
while it informs. This slim volume includes suggested additional reading and viewing materials, as well as bonus
letters to send to your elected representatives, the FCC, and the President.
Excerpts from The Main Street Manifesto:
On manufacturing: "More than 70% of our GDP,
the engine of our economy, is consumer spending; ordinary people buying ordinary things. And there lies the real problem. The
bulk of those ordinary things now come from overseas, which creates permanent trade imbalances and increases our national
debt."
On lobbyists: "It has been well proven over recent
years that if you reward bad behavior, you will get plenty of it. I wish to say this unequivocally: lobbyists are
bad for you."
On service-based economy:
"Fifty years ago, one-third of all American employees worked in manufacturing. Today, it's a little more than ten
percent and still declining. Why? Because of the anti-American practices of offshoring, the Main Street-crippling
activity of outsourcing, and the complete failure of the 'service-based economy' paradigm."
On
health care: "Politicians all have fabulous health care. Their treatment is free. I say, extend
this policy to the people. Good health should be your right, not a privilege."
