HS 145 - America "At the Brink" with John Lott

Returning guest and author John Lott, in his new book, At the Brink: Will Obama Push Us Over the Edge?, sounds the alarm as he documents the economic challenges we face with four more years of an Obama presidency, and builds a case for fundamental change—the kind we need to save America. Jason Hartman interviews John to discuss where John sees permanent damage, such as healthcare, and the changes that he feels need to take place to restore quality of life and financial security to American citizens.

John Richard Lott Jr. (born May 8, 1958) is an American economist and political commentator. Lott was formerly employed at various academic institutions including the University of Chicago, Yale University, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Maryland, College Park, and at the American Enterprise Institute conservative think tank. He is currently a Fox News opinion contributor. He holds a Ph.D. in economics from UCLA. Lott has written for both academic and popular publications. He is a frequent writer of op-eds, and has written six books, including More Guns, Less Crime, The Bias Against Guns, andFreedomnomics. His most recent books include Debacle: Obama's War on Jobs and Growth and What We Can Do Now to Regain Our Future, co-authored with Grover Norquist, and At the Brink: Will Obama Push Us over the Edge?

Lott is best known for his role in the gun rights debate, particularly his arguments against restrictions on owning and carrying guns, the ensuing controversy surrounding the data and methodology used in his research, and his use of a sock puppet identity to support his position on various websites in 2002 and 2003.