Public Policy Books

"American Health Care" is a collection of multidisciplinary essays supporting the argument that government and business must assume appropriate roles within health care to effectively change it. Working within these seemingly disparate roles, government and business should focus on how the private health market can further the health care system's ability to provide social services as a function in the marketplace.

The book challenges the concept that government can effectively manage the nation's health care. This model -- the authors collectively suggest -- was questioned by the public through a lack of support for the 1993 Clinton health care reform package. The editor compiles the analyses of expert economists, physicians, lawyers, and historians to explain the underlying rationale behind the public hesitancy to accept the notion that government should and can fix the deficiencies of the US health care system.

'American Health Care" provides insight that allows learned readers to speculate about where markets can take health care now and in the future. Its authors recognize that there are no fast solutions coming down the pike. This work presents concepts that are intended to generate constructive conversation toward the improvement of health care. The ideas are supported through the substantial notes and references accompanying each chapter.

Topics of discussion covered by the contributors represent four major policy areas that provide stumbling blocks to system-wide change. Essays in the first section contain discussions of the issues involved with health insurance financing, including an in-depth analysis of the Medicare program. In part 2, contributors look at health care services and institutions, antitrust issues, and reform at the state level. The effects of regulation on the drug approval process and its impact on patient care is examined in part 3, and the final section of the book looks at issues involving liability, licensing, and the health care fee structure.

The Independent Institue of California is a public policy education and reserch organization the aims -- through its various publishing programs -- to redefine the debate over public issues. In "American Health Care," it has provided ample scholarship to do so.

The collection of original essays in this volume is impressive. Together, they explore the history and current state of government policy toward health care in the United States. Each essay is clear and relevant. And the proposals make great good sense. Health care is far too important a service to be left in the hands of politicians and bureaucrats. This book helps explain why.

Americans in Waiting blends a thorough analysis of the turbulent history of U.S. citizenship and immigration with a normative legal theory of what ought to be done. Motomuro, a leading immigration law scholar, evades overly obfuscating legal jargon in lieu of style that can be enjoyed by any reader from all degrees of background knowledge.

Motomuro breaks legal immigration down into three views: immigration as contract, immigration as affiliation, and immigrants in transition, or what he otherwise terms as "Americans in Waiting." The third category is what Motomuro is most concerned with, hence the title of the book. Americans in Waiting are legal immigrants who are on a path to citizenship, but who have not or cannot naturalize yet (i.e: either they have not met the legal naturalization waiting period of 3-5 years for Legal Permanent Residents, administrative backlog, etc). While Motomuro argues that rights should be extended to this status of persons, such as voting, access to public benefits, and family reunification rights, he still believes there is reason for Americans in Waiting to remain a separate category from full-citizens. One categorical difference he believes should remain in tact is deportability for criminal acts. By recapturing key court cases, Motomuro traces the development of alienage law as we know it today and he also provides good reason for why his articulation is desirable for America and its future as a people.

I have been studying U.S. immigration and citizenship quite thoroughly for about a year now, but it was not until reading this book that so many key terms and distinctions between different statuses became so coherent. Motomuro sheds much clarity and insight onto a highly complex and vital social and political issue. Excellent all around!

more people should read this well written piece of non fiction. the trouble is that few of our generation honestly know the details about America and rely on the telegraphic info of Fox news instead of gaining true knowledge.

This is almost the same book as Mirage, published by the same authors in 1997. The only difference I noticed after a quick review in the bookstore is the addition of a 20-25 page epilogue that deals with the recent budget surplus and how it came to be. The epilogue is good, but I wish it were longer.

Mirage/Balancing Act is a great book. If you read David Stockman's The Triumph of Politics, and wondered how we got out of the budgetary hole in which we found ourselves about the time of Stockman's departure, Mirage/Balancing Act is an fascinating update. Happily, Mirage/Balancing Act is even more balanced than Stockman's work.

Hager and Pianin have a transparent writing style that is a pleasure to read. As a result, the reader effortlessly absorbs the detailed information that they present.

Perhaps Mirage/Balancing Act will receive the attention it merits when Congress and the President face up to the still-considerable budgetary issues that remain to be resolved on a more permanent basis than they have been to date. Read this book and stay tuned.

When assigned to read a book that covered the history of the budget deficit crisis for my Grad school class I was less than overwhelmed with excitement. However, these authors make the complicated history of the budget so interesting and gripping, I couldnt put it down. Though a slow reader, i must admit, I was able to finish this off in less than a week. The discussions it inspired in class were lively and germane to the world today. I could not recommend this book more highly!

I just opened my home daycare in April and wasn't sure what things I would need for year end taxes and didn't want to be surprised come January. Copeland's book goes step by step and gives good examples. He answered most of my questions just as I was beginning to ask them! Very good book.

Whether you're new to child care or been in it a while, I guarantee this book will teach you a lot! I found items to deduct at tax time that I've had no clue about for years. This is definitely a must for all providers. The author is a pleasant man and a great speaker too!

"The Battered Child" presents a clear, strong overview of child abuse: its origins, its legal history, its effects on society and its impact on the child. I would definately recommend it to anyone wanting to learn about the dynamics of abuse!

Excellent textbook! Should be in every school, therapist office, hospital, clinic and child protection agency library. If I could only buy one, this would be it! This is an excellent companion book to Body Language of the abused child! Buy them both- you will not regret it!

This book helped me see that no person or situation is hopeless. McNamara is candid and insightful. He exposes his own personal struggles in effort to assist the reader with their own. Once I started reading, I could not put it down.

This book is an inspiration for all! Robert P. McNamara, an Associate Professor, at Furman University, illustrates a candid account of the child foster care system by detailing his challenges and deprivations by giving his painful portrayal and first hand experience. This story should be made into a T. V. movie!!!! I cried all the way through this book. He truly shows some people can overcome any obstacles. I loved it and recommended it to friends and family.

Full disclosure: I know (and admire) Elliott Ingersoll, so I'm biased.

Having said that, speaking as someone who survived working 10 years in the community mental health system, I think this is a wonderful book. I wish I would have had this book when I began working in the field ... it would have saved me a lot of mistakes. Highly recommended.

Because I know both Dr. Ingersoll, and Dr. MacCluskie personally will readily admit that I am just a tad biased when it comes to their work. However these two professors are first-rate intellectuals who know how to guide the would-be practioner deeper.

This book gives the counselor-to-be a window into the world of agency counseling. To their credit, the authors also stress the need, or dare I say, necessity, of "looking inward" as well.

This practical book offers valuable information, suggestions, and guidelines designed to help readers learn how to work effectively in an agency setting. The unifying theme and framework is the value and importance of looking at personal and professional aspects of agency counseling. This text helps the reader look inside themselves as well as outside of themselves at their agency.
This practical book offers valuable information, suggestions, and guidelines designed to help readers learn how to work effectively in an agency setting. The unifying theme and framework is the value and importance of looking at personal and professional aspects of agency counseling. This text helps the reader look inside themselves as well as outside of themselves at their agency.
This very practical book offers valuable insight to help readers learn how to work effectively in an agency setting. Both authors have had extensive experience in this field, so they know very well what they speak.

The main theme of this book is the importance of looking at personal and professional aspects of agency counseling. Although a little on the expensive side, this book is a necessary read for those who are entering the field, who want to rise above mediocrity.

Fascinating, funny and uplifting, this is an essential book for anyone who, like the author, has a deep desire to do something to change our world. It's a perfect example of how huge and daunting this task seems to be with the stubbornness of certain governments and endless complications, but that ultimately the most effective achievemnents come from the heart and require a bit of courage, daring and determination. It's also a comprehensible and interesting insight into the world of Tibetan Buddhism and Tibet itself, the very qualities of which (honesty, compassion and joyfulness) shine from each page. Isabel Losada is a true inspiration and example of how dedication,love, and a big ol' smile go a long, long way.

THis book has inspired me to be kind to others and to recognize the different layers of kindness. It has helped me to see strangers as people rather then shadows that bump into me on the subway. Also, by providing a lot of information about Tibet, you've also inspired me to find out more on my own. I love this book and have already recommended it to all of my friends and family. Enjoy!

Interspersed with immigration tables, maps and personal vignettes, statistics models and modernist poetry, Between Two Nations is more than an exploration of immigration, marginality and political identity in the City; it approaches sociopolitical art. Capturing trial and tribulation, the melee of irrationality, self-interest and calculation in our polity, the faces and the thrum of humanity, one cannot help but wonder: who is Michael Jones-Correa?

Really lets us know how Latino immigrants think about citizenship, and how they act politically. Given the way that immigration is changing America, a must read.

This is a great review of the ICS process! It's easy to read, with exceptional examples of each situation, how to conduct meetings, and how to fill out the ICS forms. I have brought it to a few excercises with me and everyone who looks at it, wants one! The authors did an INCREDIBLE job of combining their particular areas of expertise into a very educational product!

An exceptional reference and text. Clearly, the authors have many years experience in emergency response and have applied their expertise to the core incident management concepts. If you are looking for a way to understand the National Incident Management System from concept to `nuts and bolts, down in the field' processes, this is the best you will find.