{"product_id":"9781101216514","title":"Free Lunch: How the Wealthiest Americans Enrich Themselves at Government Expense (and Stick You with the Bill)","description":"\u003cb\u003eThe bestselling author of \u003ci\u003ePerfectly Legal\u003c\/i\u003e returns with a powerful new exposé\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e How does a strong and growing economy lend itself to job uncertainty, debt, bankruptcy, and economic fear for a vast number of Americans? \u003ci\u003eFree Lunch\u003c\/i\u003e provides answers to this great economic mystery of our time, revealing how today's government policies and spending reach deep into the wallets of the many for the benefit of the wealthy few. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Johnston cuts through the official version of events and shows how, under the guise of deregulation, a whole new set of regulations quietly went into effect-- regulations that thwart competition, depress wages, and reward misconduct. From how George W. Bush got rich off a tax increase to a $100 million taxpayer gift to Warren Buffett, Johnston puts a face on all of the dirty little tricks that business and government pull. A lot of people appear to be getting free lunches, but of course there's no such thing as a free lunch, and someone (you, the taxpayer) is picking up the bill. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Johnston's many revelations include:\u003cbr\u003e How we ended up with the most expensive yet inefficient health-care system in the world\u003cbr\u003e How homeowners title insurance became a costly, deceitful, yet almost invisible oligopoly\u003cbr\u003e How our government gives hidden subsidies for posh golf courses\u003cbr\u003e How Paris Hilton's grandfather schemed to retake the family fortune from a charity for poor children\u003cbr\u003e How the Yankees and Mets owners will collect more than $1.3 billion in public funds \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e In these instances and many more, \u003ci\u003eFree Lunch\u003c\/i\u003e shows how the lobbyists and lawyers representing the most powerful 0.1 percent of Americans manipulated our government at the expense of the other 99.9 percent. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e With his extraordinary reporting, vivid stories, and sharp analysis, Johnston reveals the forces that shape our everyday economic lives and shows us how we can finally make things better.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eFrom the Hardcover edition.\u003c\/i\u003e","brand":"Penguin Publishing Group","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47116347703536,"sku":"9781101216514","price":14.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781101216514_p0.jpg?v=1763686432","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781101216514","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}