A brilliantly revealing look at how a small group of economic hucksters have taken over the American political system and perverted our nation’s policies American politics has been hijacked. Not by “neocons” or “theocons,” but by a fringe group of extremists obsessed with radical ideas that favor no one but themselves and their business interests. With dark and engaging wit, Jonathan Chait shows how these canny zealots gamed the political system and the media so that once unthinkable policies--without a shred of academic or expert support--now drive the American agenda, regardless of which party is in power. Why did these ideas succeed in Washington? How did they take control of policy and sell short the country’s future? And how do they continue to do so? Chait tells the outrageous and eye-opening story, 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 debates in Washington: a riveting drama of greed and deceit.