About the Book
The Republicans who run American government today have defied the normal laws of political gravity. They have ruled with the slimmest of majorities and yet have transformed the nation's governing priorities. They have strayed dramatically from the moderate middle of public opinion and yet have faced little public backlash. Again and again, they have sided with the affluent and ideologically extreme while paying little heed to the broad majority of Americans. And much more often than not, they have come out on top. This book shows how - and why this troubling state of affairs can and must be changed. Written in a highly accessible style by two professional political scientists, Off Center tells the story of a deliberative process restricted and distorted by party chieftains, of unresponsive power brokers subverting the popular will, and of legislation written by and for powerful interests and deliberately designed to mute popular discontent. In the best tradition of engaged social science, Off Center is a powerful and informed critique that points the way toward a stronger foundation for American democracy.
About the Author :
Jacob S. Hacker is Peter Strauss Family Associate Professor of Political Science, Yale University. Paul Pierson is professor of political science (Avice Saint Chair in Public Policy), University of California, Berkeley.
Review :
""Off-Center" proves two points beyond reasonable dispute. The first is that the current paralysis and polarization of the American political system is not some split-the-difference, everyone's-to-blame phenomenon. Instead, its worst aspects are direct results of Republican extremist tactics over the last decade. The second is that the consequences are bad for nearly everyone in the country, except for the very richest people and corporations. The book makes an important case convincingly." James Fallows, author of "Breaking the News"--James Fallows"
"Off Center offers a penetrating and provocative commentary on the current state of party politics in the United States. Hacker and Pierson lend their considerable analytical gifts to one of the most important developments of our time-the emergence of a militantly conservative Republican Party that shapes the political agenda, controls the major governing institutions, and is poised to recast the welfare state in its own image. Not everyone will agree with the arguments of this book, yet no serious student of American politics will dare ignore the profound questions it raises about vitality of American democracy."-Sidney M. Milkis, White Burkett Miller Professor of Politics, University of Virginia -- Sidney M. Milkis
"An important new book."Paul Krugman, New York Times -- Paul Krugman "New York Times"
"Off Center is an important and provocative new book. It will capture imaginations and inspire argument both in academic circles and among the educated public. This book will be widely readand vociferously debatedin colleges and universities and in the media. I think this is a home run.Theda Skocpol, Harvard University -- Theda Skocpol
"Off-Center proves two points beyond reasonable dispute. The first is that the current paralysis and polarization of the American political system is not some split-the-difference, everyone''s-to-blame phenomenon. Instead, its worst aspects are direct results of Republican extremist tactics over the last decade. The second is that the consequences are bad for nearly everyone in the country, except for the very richest people and corporations. The book makes an important case convincingly."James Fallows, author of Breaking the News -- James Fallows
"Outdated political science clichs go flying like bad guys in a Kung Fu movie in this revelatory new book. American politics is supposed to be prone to stalemate. Extremists are supposed to be relegated to the dustbin of history. So how come policies so radically at odds with what the American people say they want have been locked in for the next generation? Hacker and Pierson brilliantly nail the case: the Republicans have rigged the system. Off Center provides the missing piece from What''s the Matter with Kansas?: how they committed the crime, and where they hid the bodies. Pundits: read it and heed it."Rick Perlstein, author of Before the Storm: Barry Goldwater and the Unmaking of the American Consensus -- Rick Perlstein
"ÝThis¨ book offers one of the more original and thought-provoking takes on American politics in recent years." -- Eyal Press "Nation"
"An important new book." -- Paul Krugman "New York Times"
""Off Center" is an important and provocative new book. It will capture imaginations and inspire argument both in academic circles and among the educated public. This book will be widely read and vociferously debated in colleges and universities and in the media. I think this is a home run. Theda Skocpol, Harvard University
--Theda Skocpol"
""Off Center" offers a penetrating and provocative commentary on the current state of party politics in the United States. Hacker and Pierson lend their considerable analytical gifts to one of the most important developments of our time the emergence of a militantly conservative Republican Party that shapes the political agenda, controls the major governing institutions, and is poised to recast the welfare state in its own image. Not everyone will agree with the arguments of this book, yet no serious student of American politics will dare ignore the profound questions it raises about vitality of American democracy." Sidney M. Milkis, White Burkett Miller Professor of Politics, University of Virginia
--Sidney M. Milkis"
"An important new book." Paul Krugman, "New York Times" --Paul Krugman "New York Times ""
"Hacker and Pierson have produced the most penetrating study of contemporary Americanpolitics since Thomas and Mary Edsall's "Chain Reaction." (And that wasover fourteen years ago....)Every political journalist in America needs to read "and heed" this brilliant book." Eric Alterman, author of"When Presidents Lie" and "What Liberal Media?"
--Eric Alterman"
"Jacob Hacker and Paul Pierson announce something that everyone will and should pay attention to. They have done something in this book that political scientists rarely do: they dissect the broad meaning of current political dynamics. By applying political science concepts to current events in very accessible ways, they help lay readers to get the big picture of contemporary American politics." Richard Valelly, Swarthmore College
--Richard Valelly"
"Jacob Hacker and Paul Pierson argue convincingly. . . . The book's detail, specificity, and comprehensiveness make it a vital contribution." Christopher Hayes, "Washington Monthly" --Christopher Hayes "Washington Monthly ""
"Outdated political science cliches go flying like bad guys in a Kung Fu movie in this revelatory new book. American politics is supposed to be prone to stalemate. Extremists are supposed to be relegated to the dustbin of history. So how come policies so radically at odds with what the American people say they want have been locked in for the next generation? Hacker and Pierson brilliantly nail the case: the Republicans have rigged the system. "Off Center" provides the missing piece from "What's the Matter with Kansas?" how they committed the crime, and where they hid the bodies. Pundits: read it and heed it." Rick Perlstein, author of "Before the Storm: Barry Goldwater and the Unmaking of the American Consensus" --Rick Perlstein"
Hacker and Pierson shrewdly assess the new structures of political power in our country and the success of conservative Republicans in mobilizing resources and framing political choices. This book is innovative, it s important, and it will open many eyes. It is the book Karl Rove would wish he had written if he were on the other side. E. J. Dionne, Jr., author of "Stand Up, Fight Back "and "Why Americans Hate Politics"
""
--E. J. Dionne, Jr."
The young authors are progressives. . . .public intellectuals with expert research skills. . . .their pithy, well-written book is certainly worth reading. --John J. Dilulio Jr., "Chronicle of Higher Education ""
"An important new book."--Paul Krugman, "New York Times" --Paul Krugman "New York Times "
"Hacker and Pierson shrewdly assess the new structures of political power in our country and the success of conservative Republicans in mobilizing resources and framing political choices. This book is innovative, it's important, and it will open many eyes. It is the book Karl Rove would wish he had written-if he were on the other side."--E. J. Dionne, Jr., author of "Stand Up, Fight Back "and "Why Americans Hate Politics"
""
--E. J. Dionne, Jr.
"The young authors are progressives. . . .public intellectuals with expert research skills. . . .their pithy, well-written book is certainly worth reading." --John J. Dilulio Jr., "Chronicle of Higher Education "
"[This] book offers one of the more original and thought-provoking takes on American politics in recent years."
--Eyal Press "Nation "
"An important new book."2;Paul Krugman, "New York Times" -- Paul Krugman "New York Times"
0;Hacker and Pierson shrewdly assess the new structures of political power in our country and the success of conservative Republicans in mobilizing resources and framing political choices. This book is innovative, it7;s important, and it will open many eyes. It is the book Karl Rove would wish he had written1;if he were on the other side.1;2;E. J. Dionne, Jr., author of "Stand Up, Fight Back "and "Why Americans Hate Politics"
""
-- E. J. Dionne, Jr.
0;The young authors are progressives. . . .public intellectuals with expert research skills. . . .their pithy, well-written book is certainly worth reading.1; -- John J. Dilulio Jr., "Chronicle of Higher Education"
"Outdated political science clich??'s go flying like bad guys in a Kung Fu movie in this revelatory new book. American politics is supposed to be prone to stalemate. Extremists are supposed to be relegated to the dustbin of history. So how come policies so radically at odds with what the American people say they want have been locked in for the next generation? Hacker and Pierson brilliantly nail the case: the Republicans have rigged the system. "Off Center" provides the missing piece from "What's the Matter with Kansas?": how they committed the crime, and where they hid the bodies. Pundits: read it and heed it."-Rick Perlstein, author of "Before the Storm: Barry Goldwater and the Unmaking of the American Consensus"
"Outdated political science clicho?=s go flying like bad guys in a Kung Fu movie in this revelatory new book. American politics is supposed to be prone to stalemate. Extremists are supposed to be relegated to the dustbin of history. So how come policies so radically at odds with what the American people say they want have been locked in for the next generation? Hacker and Pierson brilliantly nail the case: the Republicans have rigged the system. "Off Center" provides the missing piece from "What's the Matter with Kansas?": how they committed the crime, and where they hid the bodies. Pundits: read it and heed it."-Rick Perlstein, author of "Before the Storm: Barry Goldwater and the Unmaking of the American Consensus"
