Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 56
 Extraordinary April 9, 2009
Eugenio Cazorla (Dallas, TX)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This slim volume confirms the old axion that "good, if brief, twice as good".
The graphic examples of how irrational government can be when applying nonsensical regulations lead us to the conclusion that we better avoid if at all possible to deal with governmental authorities.
 Falling Short of the Mark November 27, 2008
Sylvia Bokor (Albuquerque, NM United States)
"Government," Mr. Howard writes, "accomplishes virtually nothing of what it sets out to do. It can barely fire an employee. . ."
Mr. Howard's book focuses primarily on the irrational rules of government agencies---for example, OSHA, EPA, USDA, DEA and so forth---which are awash in thousands of rules that hamper and destroy businesses. OSHA alone has 10,000 pages of regulation. Other agencies have more.
An instance of the irrationality of these agencies is exemplified by the case of a small businessman, a cheese maker, whose product was so good it was in demand by the finest restaurants in the nation. He had four employees. OSHA posted 2 permanent inspectors in his business "to evaluate that the cheese was properly made."
The inspectors were bureaucrats who knew nothing about cheese-making but were employed to force businessmen to follow rules that were written by other bureaucrats who know nothing about cheese-making, on the bizarre notion that everyone must follow the same rules and the rules must be uniform.
The value of Mr. Howard's book is the many case studies he relates. He also shows that the thousands of rules of government agencies do not take into consideration the important matters of context and varying circumstance that is characteristic of any business enterprise. He concludes that to force businesses to follow uniform laws is not good law and that their proliferation is destructive. All very true.
Unfortunately, Mr. Howard falls short of the mark. He does not advocate the one solution that would completely end irrational laws. He does not appear to recognize the horrendous violations of individual rights these agencies are guilty of. He does not call for a return to limited government and a complete repeal of all government agencies, which is the only long-lasting solution to government's ever-growing invasion of our lives.
A must read July 12, 2008
Rick Kinnear
I first read this book 5 years ago. Since then I've purchased and given away over a dozen copies. When I give the book away, I challenge the reader to "don't get mad, do something about it". The examples that Howard uses illustrates how bureaucratic our society has become and with that how scarce "common sense" has become. It's a great illustration that the balance between "free will of the people" and unchecked bureaucracy continues to tip in the bureaucrats favor.
We reap what we sow. October 10, 2007
Cookin' babe (Florida, United States)
This book says the things we all have thought when we have heard of nonsensical law suits and the lack of common sense in our society. An easy read, this book intends to put a fire under people.
 Deflecting responsibility from his own profession July 7, 2007
Bret R Boulter
1 out of 8 found this review helpful
The anecdotes are indeed maddening; of course the law and bureaucratic process can be described as "inefficient". However, over and again, Howard says, "Anyone can accuse anyone of anything," which is true, but he acts like the ability to accuse someone is the same as rendering judgment, and therefore our right to call someone to task in a court of law should be abridged. He neglects the fact that, once in the court of law, it is up to the lawyers and judges, and juries when appropriate, to dismiss cases that have no merit. If that is not being done, it is not the problem of us American citizens "having too many rights" but that his slimy profession is without any moral compass. And his book, while thought-provoking and entertaining, is at heart a call for less oversight of those in power, because those without power are slowing them down. I expect he's very happy with Bush and Cheney and their dismantling of so many of our inconvenient "rights". Read it, but with a pile of salt.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 56
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