American History

From Mutual Aid to the Welfare State: Fraternal Societies and Social Services, 1890-1967   by David T. Beito, The University of North Carolina Press, 2000.  Beito describes the era in American history before the establishment of the welfare state, an age where voluntary, private mutual aid benevolent associations helped people who were down on their luck. These were mutual self-help societies where the members helped each other, not charities where the members helped non-memb

The Myth of the Robber Barons: A New Look at the Rise of Big Business in America  by Burton W. Folsom,   Jr. Forrest McDonald (Foreword), Young America's Foundation, Paperback, 2018. Market versus Political (Crony) The author makes a distinction between market entrepreneurs and political entrepreneurs. Market entrepreneurs make money by producing a better product or service at a cheaper price. Political entrepreneurs make money by bribing politicians. Only the latter kind sho