This book explores the American freemarket economy, espoused by Alan Greenspan, the longtime chairman of the Federal Reserve, through decoding the discourse of economics. Combining an analysis of both economics and language, the legacy of Reaganomics is examined in relation to economic inequality, fiscal policy, public discourse, and the moral economy. How notions of easy money, conspicuous consumption, and unlimited economic growth were harnessed to justify the Free Market revolution is also discussed.

This book aims to highlight the drivers of modern inequality and economic distress. It will be relevant to students and researchers interested in the history of economic thought and economic discourse.

Geoff Klinger (1966-2021) was Professor of Rhetoric and Director of Forensics at DePauw University. His research and teaching interests included the connection between rhetoric and social theory; political communication; presidential, civil rights, and business rhetoric; and Supreme Court decisions.

1 Introduction: Painting by NumbersDecoding the Discourse of Economics.- 2 American Dream: Manufacturing Monetary Miasma.- 3 Bread and Circuses, or Poppies to Make You Sleep.- 4 Children of the Revolution: Reaganomics as Free Market Redux.- 5 Spirits in the Material World: Alan Greenspan and the Newspeak Economy.- 6 (Misery at the) Funplex: From Ideology to Imagology.- 7 Public Image Limited, or He Blind(er)ed Me with Silence.- 8 (Tell Me Why) I Dont Like Mondays: The Crash of 1987.- 9 Vision Thing: The Savings and Loan Debacle.- 10 Who You Fighting For? Desert Storm and the Recession of 1990.- 11 Telling Stories: Interrogating Irrational Exuberance.- 12 The Disappointed: The Great Recession of 2008.- 13 Tired of Sleeping: Trumped Up Trickle Down.- 14 Epilogue: We Cant Make It HereMoving Beyond the Free Market.