STRONG FLOOR, NO CEILING

Today, less than a third of Americans say they believe in the American Dream, and almost 20 percent believe that it never existed. To Libby, this is a tragic commentary on the state of America’s middle class and uninspired political leadership. In this robust volume, the author offers a new “radically moderate” vision for the renewal of American society based on data-driven, action-oriented public policy. Central to his vision is a balance between what he calls a “Strong Floor” (a socioeconomic safety net centered around strengthening education, healthcare, and “access to opportunity, work, and justice”) and its counterpart, “No Ceiling” (an embrace of entrepreneurship and “strong markets”). Per Libby, a Strong Floor will help the middle class regain a solid economic footing, while No Ceiling will drive and fund a thriving nation. Rather than calling for vague returns to bipartisanship and civility, the author argues that moderates should follow the example of the New Deal or Great Society by embracing sweeping legislative reforms; Americans are at their best, he argues, when executing a plan. The bulk of the text applies the author’s blueprint to specific topics, which he presents in chapter-length policy proposals that cover everything from infrastructure and education to immigration and national defense. Skeptics will likely note that Libby’s vision reflects a neoliberalism that enjoys a cozy relationship with Wall Street’s corporate sector while nodding toward improving safety nets for marginalized Americans, though the author argues that in an era often defined by division, “if 80 percent of the people who read this book agree with 80 percent of a radically moderate agenda, we can achieve great things together.” The author combines data-driven policy research (backed by more than 200 endnotes) with his personal experiences as a New York City-based venture capitalist. A photo album documenting Libby’s work alongside both Democratic and Republican elected officials emphasizes his lifelong connections to both political parties.