The Wrecking Crew: How Conservatives Rule (August 2008) is a book written by American journalist and historian Thomas Frank, which explores the contemporary state of conservative-governed Washington, D.C. Frank summarized the message of his book: "Bad government is the natural product of rule by those who believe government is bad." Frank argues that certain elements of the Republican Party intentionally dismantled the government by many means, including turning public policy into a private sector feeding frenzy. Frank describes the state of the federal government of the United States as analogous to a large group of privatized pigs feeding at the public trough, which was brought on by the privatization schemes engineered by the Republicans. This book follows Frank's New York Times bestseller, What's the Matter with Kansas?
In some Commonwealth of Nations territories, it was published with the subtitle The American Right and the Lust for Power. A year after its first appearance, the second edition of the book came out in its native United States with the new subtitle How Conservatives Ruined Government, Enriched Themselves, and Beggared the Nation.
External links Thomas Frank's page for The Wrecking Crew Thomas Frank Publisher's webpage (Henry Holt and Co.) The Wrecking Crew's Publisher's webpage (Henry Holt and Co.) Bill Moyers interview with Thomas Frank Salon.com Thomas Frank interview "Thomas Frank on the Bush administration: Sabotage by design" NPR Thomas Frank interview "Thomas Frank's Indictment of Conservatism" Democracy Now Thomas Frank interview New York Post book review Louisville Kentucky Courier-Journal book review "The Right in power"