The Tyranny of Dead Ideas

A leading political and business thinker identifies the greatest threat to our economic future: the things we think we know—but don't.

“Offers the most plausible way to renovate our political and policy thinking.” —Time

America is at a crossroads. In the face of global competition and rapid technological change, our economy is about to face its most severe test in nearly a century—one that will make the recent turmoil in the financial system look like a modest setback by comparison. Yet our leaders have failed to prepare us for what lies ahead because they are in the grip of a set of “dead ideas” about how a modern economy should work. They wrongly believe that:

• Our kids will earn more than we do
• Free trade is always good, no matter who gets hurt
• Employers should be responsible for health coverage
• Taxes hurt the economy
• Schools are a local matter
• Money follows merit

These ways of thinking—dubious at best and often dead wrong—are on a collision course with economic developments that are irreversible.

In The Tyranny of Dead Ideas, Matt Miller offers a unique blend of insights from history, psychology, and economics to illuminate where today's destructive conventional wisdom came from and how it holds our country back. He also introduces us to a new way of thinking—what he calls “tomorrow's destined ideas” —that can reinvigorate our economy, our politics, and our day-to-day lives. These destined ideas may seem counterintuitive now, but they will coalesce in the coming years in ways that will transform America.