Cast Away

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale
A tale of a fateful trip
--Gilligan's Island Theme Song

Peter Schiff and his brother have written a storybook about how an economy grows and how it crashes. The book follows the progression from free market and standard of living increases to hampered economy, leverage, and economic collapse.

Not surprisingly, the key theme surrounding the economy's reversal of fortune is a growing market for political favor. Ambitious politicians broaden suffrage laws to include non-taxpayers as well as tax-payers, then promise voters free stuff. They issue government paper money to help pay for the giveaways.

When constitutionality of the actions are challenged by judges, the judges are replaced by friends who declare the Constitution a 'living document' subject to reinterpretation of the times. Private banking is subsequently nationalized.

The review stops short of revealing the ending but the trajectory is clear.

Would think this book would be meaningful reading for kids of all ages.