On November 3rd, Steven Malanga visited the Young Leaders Circle to discuss the influence of public-sector unions and community activists in cities and states across the country.

How did American government get so big and so expensive? Malanga gives the answer in his new book, Shakedown: The Continuing Conspiracy Against the American Taxpayer (Rowman and Littlefield, 2010), a chilling history of the expansion of the public sector. A self-interested coalition of public employees’ unions and government-financed community activists has bankrupted state and local governments. Through increased government spending and backroom entitlement deals with politicians, this new political powerhouse is filling its coffers at the expense of taxpayers. The bill for this conspiracy against the American taxpayer is now coming due.

Malanga is City Journal’s senior editor, a Manhattan Institute senior fellow, who writes about the intersection of urban economies, business communities, and public policy.

Suggested reading:
In addition to Steve's presentation, we watch this short film about his new book:

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