Great book discussing the effects of globalization upon the working class in American society. Piven and Cloward effectively discuss the weakening of the working class, the disproportional influence of businesses, corporations, and other capital-holders upon the governing process, the attack upon welfare relief programs, the impacts of poor people's political movements. Piven and Cloward assert that the business class is weakening the civil rights and attacking the relief programs that protect the poor by fueling popular myths about such recipients.

The author, a professor at the Graduate School of Social Work and Social Policy at Bryn Mawr College, has provided a wise and passionate critique of the welfare system in the United States. This is a scholarly treatise which, although replete with empirical evidence, speaks in compelling terms to the real-life dilemmas which effect the poor in our society. Professor Schram makes a convincing argument that the legislative reform of recent years has harmed a significant segment of the society which it was ostensibly designed to benefit, and any advances must be viewed through a politically skewed prism. His analysis of the 'work to welfare' programs is particularly astute, and demonstrates how partisan politics are, and always have been, a driving force in the development of welfare policy.

I highly recommend this book to all who, like myself, are interested in a critical, scholarly and yet impassioned examination of welfare reform and its effect on American society. As an attorney who deals with human rights, immigration and the condition of the politically disenfranchised, I found this book to be an invaluable resource. It is an indispensable addition to any library.

Christine M. Flowers

Piven and Cloward continue to avoid the real causes and consequences of low turnout. "Why Americans Still Don't Vote," as with their other works, is motivated not by intellectual curiosity, but a political agenda. For those unsatisfied by this polemic, see Wolfinger and Rosenstone (1980) or Ruy Teixeira (1987 and 1992).

Great book revolving around the Moter Voter legislation passed in the 1990's. Piven and Cloward discuss the declining voter participation in the American democracy, attributing that decline to the parties demobilization of the American electorate and inability to remobilize. The authors argue that the declining voter participation is related to the lack of adequate and effective legislation, declining union membership, declining worker benefits and bargaining ability with free trade, and the exploitation of one class against another. The authors assert that the Democratic and Republican parties have no intention in actually remobilizing the electorate as new voters will change the current political game and add uncertainty to the incumbents reelections.

Piven and Cloward offer an intelligent, yet readable discussion on the downsizing of the American electorate. They claim that having low voter participation helps the controlling factions of the political parties remain unthreatened. They include a history of voter participation and representation in all levels of American politics and the factors that still leave some groups underrepresented today. A very insightful and enjoyable read.

Piven and Cloward's work will always be useful in the study of social movements. I enjoyed this book and think others will as well. I don't believe this book should ONLY be read by students and academics but ALSO anyone that is trying to organize and motivate individuals to take political action. The authors explain why some movements fail and how movements change over time which is interesting for both activists and academics. Although, a great deal of the theoretical discussion has been advanced since this book was written, the book still offers relevant agruements and incites. A similar book would include Tarrow's - Power in Movement. Yet, Piven and Cloward offer more historical background that would compliment Tarrow's newer theoretical work. Last, the topics in this book vary from chapters on social unrest during the Depression to the Civil Rights Movement. The book can be read by anyone because the authors give historical background on all topics.

When I first read this book several years ago, it was like learning that there's no Santa Claus or Easter Bunny. It completely shook my sense of social and political reality. It is a completely fact-based, objective, and unbelievably insightful explanation for the economic, and therefore social, realities of this country. It was a true epiphany. Everything finally made sense as the layers of years of schooling and media indoctrination melted away, and the truth about what's really going on in this country became amazingly clear.

If you read this book, you should be ready to give up any common preconceptions on the topic of poverty and the social "welfare" systems. It is only for those who seek the truth out of political reality. Although I recommend it for anyone who is involved in any sort of discussion on the topic.

This is an intriguing look into what inspires americans to be so apathetic and lackluster in todays polls, starting from the founding of our nations and proceeding through the start of the phenomena in the early 1900s and on. It includes looks into how parties controlled voters, the impact of the Civil War on elections, and other aspects of the American democratic system.