A brilliant look at how a small group of economic hucksters have taken over the American political system and perverted our nation's policies. "A classic of political journalism,” says Michael Lewis.

Jonathan Chait has a problem: "Whenever I try to explain what's happening in American politics . . . I wind up sounding a bit like an unhinged conspiracy theorist. But honestly, I'm not." And sadly, he isn't. After eight years of free-market fundamentalism—plus four more if (please God, no) John McCain wins the 2008 election—raving indignation seems like a measured response. You see, American politics has been hijacked by a fringe group of economic extremists obsessed with radical ideas that favor no one but themselves and their business interests. With dark and engaging wit, Chait, a senior editor at the New Republic, shows how over the last three decades these canny zealots have gamed the political system and the media so that once unthinkable policies—without a shred of academic, expert, or even popular support—now drive the American agenda, regardless of which party is in power. 

Why have these ideas succeeded in Washington? How did a subset of fringe radicals take control of American policy and sell short the country's future? And how do they continue to do so despite repeated electoral setbacks? Writes Chait, "The Republicans' success at defeating the democratic process explains why it has been able to enact its agenda despite a lack of popular support." He tells the outrageous and eye-opening story in The Big Con, expertly explaining just how politics and economics work in Washington. Through vivid portraits of self-interested politicians and pseudo-economists, and in wry analysis of their bogus theories, Chait gives us the tools to understand what's really behind economic policy debates in Washington: a riveting drama of greed and deceit.