Placebocracy and Other Ailments

Winner of the 2020 Independent Press Book Award - Current Events



"Hartwig presents eloquent and consistent arguments that eschew right or left paradigms, offering many details." - Kirkus Reviews



PLACEBOCRACY - A system of governance whereby a state, likely a devolving democracy, its institutions and codepedent private sector entities introduces ineffective mechanisms overtly designed to manage public frustrations in lieu of resolving actual political, economic and sociocultural problems. A critical analysis of contemporary America from a classical liberal perspective, Placebocracy is comprised of a daisy chain of essays on subjects ranging from political economy to culture and education. It presents a fresh and imaginative perspective not presently contemplated by American politicians or pundits, and calls for a dialogue, within the U.S., that realistically embraces the issues facing all Americans.