U.S. Needs A Revival, A New Book, Friedman

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A new book by Thomas Friedman and Michael Mandelbaum began with a broken escalator subway authors encountered in their daily movements, which they regarded as symbolizing the state of politics and economics.

"It 'been before us: how America has fallen in the world has invented and how can we go back," comes at a time when many Americans are caused by puzzling over the question of title.

Faced with stagnant unemployment figures, historical credit downgrade from S & P, and the partisan rancor on how to reduce the U.S. debt, both foreign policy writers tap into the public's hunger for answers .

"People are increasingly busy. When you see the polls you will find a vast majority think the country is on the wrong track, "said Mandelbaum.

The authors, who describe themselves as "optimistic frustrated" attempts to diagnose the problems of America and to prescribe solutions to return to a robust economy.

The book, which reached number 3 on the list of publishers of fiction weekly best sellers Hardcover after its release last week, covers a wide range of popular themes, such as the national debt, education, energy and technology.

Friedman and proud of the successes of the United States the past, which they attribute to a set of policy priorities Mandelbaum they call "the U.S. formula."

The formula includes a government investment in education, infrastructure and research and development, attracting the most promising of immigrants, and certain regulations on the private economy.

"America does not get where he is today in terms of dynamism and level of development by accident. It happened by using this formula," said Friedman, Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times. "The book is a wake up call and a speech of encouragement to return to this formula."

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America's problems arose because it deviated from its formula for success, and failed to take leadership on issues that will become an integral part of future prosperity, such as energy technology, writing Friedman and Mandelbaum.

For example, the authors stress that U.S. consumers have spent more money for chips in 2009, the government applied research and development of energy.

The book also regrets "magical thinking" the economy, in which the authors cite as a key factor for the growing deficit. The U.S. is urged to "spend less, save more, and to accept higher taxes."

"We really feel the urgency of this," said Friedman. "We're driving around at this time without a car bumper or spare tire."

The authors also aim to political affiliation, they feel responsible for the worsening of many problems. "We truly believe the country is not nearly as divided as our politics right now," says Friedman.

When Congress returns to Washington after the summer candidates presidential campaign, and Obama enjoys a major new proposal to promote job growth, Americans are looking forward to a plan to solve the problems of their country.

Friedman and Mandelbaum calls the "political shock therapy," a third party presidential candidate to adopt pragmatic solutions to the two ends of the political spectrum and tell the truth about the consequences of maintaining the status quo.

"We believe it is the platform that is important, not the candidate," said Mandelbaum, who wrote more than a dozen books and is a professor at American foreign policy at Johns Hopkins University.

Although they are not optimistic that this candidate can be elected, according to the authors, he or she can have a major impact on the political priorities of the nation as a whole.

For Friedman, the author of the bestseller "The World is Flat", the issue is also personal.

"If we can keep the American dream, not only for my daughter to grow a different America - who grow up in a different world," said

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