Review: Crippled America

Yup. I did it. After weeks of hemming and hawing about whether I should read it, I finally picked it up. Blame it on the fact that I was stuck in a hotel room for four hours with nothing else to do or blame me for not resisting the title. Either way, I have digested Donald Trump‘s Crippled America: How to Make America Great Again.

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As I recently joked in an MSNBC article, I was initially excited about the tome. Was a presidential candidate actually devoting an entire book to disability policy? Would we finally have a comprehensive long-term care program? New incentives for employers to hire people with disabilities? Of course, no such luck.

Crippled America is classic Trump. In fact, the first few pages of the book are actually devoted to discussing Trump’s portrait on the cover. He explains why he chose to scowl rather than smile. He also repeats things again and again and again – especially why he is a winner. But, if the reader can get past the self-praise with a few eye rolls, the book is not a complete bore.

Trump has received much criticism about his supposed lack of nuance and policy detail. Crippled America does answer some substantive policy questions. For example, readers learn which tax rates Trump would like to see enacted, in addition to the two tax loopholes he is in favor of keeping. Readers will also get a better understanding of Trump’s healthcare ideas (or admitted lack thereof). Trump explains that he has evolved from believing a universal payor system best, but is open to hearing from experts regarding what type of plan should replace Obamacare.

Because people should be voting in November, I do recommend they read this book to better understand Trump the candidate. I can’t say it’s “fun” or academically challenging, but it is important.

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