Superpower in Peril

A Battle Plan to Renew America

By: David McCormick

Narrated by: Kiff VandenHeuvel, David McCormick

Discover a groundbreaking vision for how to unlock America’s full potential for greatness from one of the country’s foremost conservative leaders: David McCormick, the former CEO of Bridgewater Associates.

It’s easy to be pessimistic about the state of our country these days, but as McCormick explains, if the true test of a great country is its capacity for self-renewal, the United States of America stands apart. Our country has continually defeated grave threats and overcome domestic divisions when the odds have been stacked against us. That’s the American story, and we can do it again.

Drawing on decades of leadership in business, the military, and government, McCormick issues a call for visionary servant leadership and outlines a conservative agenda for American renewal that would expand access to the American Dream, ensure U.S. technological supremacy, confront China, and revive the restless, courageous, and indefatigable spirit that dwells within the American heart.

This book is a must read for those who care deeply about the future of America. McCormick, a former candidate for the U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania in 2022, argues the path forward is treacherous and uncertain. It will undoubtedly test our resilience and place in the world. But if we commit ourselves to renewal, America's best days are yet to come.

©2023 David McCormick (P)2023 Center Street

Critic reviews

"In Superpower in Peril, David McCormick answers the most important question of our time: How do we save America from the forces that want to tear it apart? This book is a must-read for all who care about the fight for our republic."—Mark Levin, Radio and Television Host

"Superpower in Peril is a timely and provocative guide for what our country must do next, full of lessons from David McCormick's time as a CEO, military officer, and statesman."—Marillyn Hewson, Former Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Lockheed Martin Corporation

"Superpower in Peril is a book to be read and discussed, but it is also a book to be implemented. It is up to us to ensure that David McCormick's recommendations carry on beyond its pages, drive real change, and restore confidence in our ability to build a better future for generations of Americans to come."—H.R. McMaster, Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution and Author of Battlegrounds: The Fight to Defend the Free World

The renewal of America in changing times

The fight with China that bring to forefront of the peril of government infferences .

Credible, balanced perspective from a man who’s perspective deserves thoughtful consideration

I really enjoyed this narrative and thought provoking plan. Renewal is an appropriate representation of the needs of our country. It is refreshing to here this balanced approach and recommendation for progress.

Interesting perspectives

I think this describes our nation's situation and provides rational ideas to fix the issues at hand.

A necessary story on innovation and leadership

As someone who formally worked for Mr. McCormick I can say undoubtedly that this is a must read book. Dave’s knowledge in finance, government, and military service provide us a unique perspective on how to grow our nation into a stronger superpower.

Please Read this very Good Book because You will Learn something!

Please Read this very Good Book because You will Learn something! I challenge you to Read this book!

What would Milton Friendman say?

McCormick's mission is to show a path to revive the American spirit, emphasizing it takes leadership providing a vision (think Ronald Reagan). He dives into what he calls talent strategy (encompassing education and immigration strategy), technological leadership (encouraging public private partnerships to promote innovation) and data leadership (pointing to the importance of data geopolitically, but also domestically with regard to issues ranging from privacy and freedom of speech). He's giving detailed suggestions on how to reform failing government institutions and strengthen national defense.

First and foremost, thanks to David McCormick for stimulating a discussion on the urgency to give the public a vision to unleash America’s potential. The book is a worthy read regardless on whether you agree with the numerous specific policy suggestions. In that spirit, I would like to challenge Mr. McCormick to iron out what I consider structural pitfalls in his proposals. My critique below is by no means a discouragement to read the book, quite the contrary - if it helps to stimulate a discussion, it is a winner.

McCormick recognizes risks in his proposals, but then dismisses them, in part due to the urgency of the issues and because, with the right leadership, he says he can succeed. However, unlike in a business where new generations of leaderships tend to pull in the same direction, when it comes to politics, you want to build institutions that survive when "the other side" takes over. To create long lasting reform, I would very much encourage Mr. McCormick to surround himself with more people that play devil's advocate. Let me correct that: I would like to encourage Mr. McCormick to embed the devil's advocate into the very design of his policy proposals to better consider unintended consequences.

An example: McCormick discusses his ideas of public private partnerships, suggesting we should build on the principles of Operation Warp Speed to promote America's leadership in technology; he quotes H.R. McMaster, who asked him during an interview: “What would [free market godfather] Milton Friedman say?” McCormick shrugs it off, suggesting the times call for more activist leadership. Later in the book, he quotes Friedman, who said "Nothing is so permanent as a temporary government program." Yet despite being aware of these pitfalls, he doesn't appear to notice that when he calls for such programs to evolve over time, he's putting institutional seeds in place for a mushrooming bureaucracy, something he rails against. It may not be easy to square the circle on this and several other of his ideas, but since his policy proposals are very specific, I challenge him to try harder. A key feature of Operation Warp Speed (and Mr. McCormick says as much) was that the project had an expiration date. I gather running projects in parallel, each with expiration dates for each sub-projects might be one way to try to square the circle on this one.

Not surprisingly, McCormick criticizes the Build Back Better Act as favoring a political agenda. A question I would like to encourage him to address: how do you design a public private partnership regime where you minimize the risk that it is abused for political agendas when the other party takes over? We need more substance on the blueprint of best practices and guard rails.

Related, Mc. McCormick recognizes the risk of cronyism on some of his proposals; I wish he would have dived into this in more detail. Amongst others, when government plays favors to certain industries (or sanctions certain goods), donations to politicians will rise.

McCormick gives excellent food for thought on the rigidity of some institutions, notably also the National Security Council, and how re-organizing them to take into account the broadening of what national security means could make them more effective. His enthusiasm for reform, however, also includes the building of numerous new bureaucracies. I won't pick a bone with the specifics, but on this topic, too, would encourage Mr. McCormick to spend more time thinking about how to put guardrails in place to have minimal impact on small business (new bureaucracies tend to hurt small business the most) while minimizing unintended consequences (e.g. cronyism). We love to blame political leaders for failings of government institutions, especially when 'the other side' is in power; in reality, failing of government institutions is in no small part a question of design of these institutions.

Here's an example where more analysis would have been helpful: McCormick lists two approaches on managing exports of sensitive technology, although you shall be excused to miss the first of these when you read his book: companies that engage in certain activities internationally should not be eligible to participate in, for example, the public private partnerships. The other approach he mentions is a board that approves exports to certain countries (a few) of certain technologies (many). An approval process of course increases barriers to entry (bad for small business), might push certain technology developments overseas; and invites a growing bureaucracy. He shrugs off these concerns, but that's too easy; take public key cryptography, the key for secure transactions over the internet - exports were severely restricted until 1996 and there was a real risk the US was falling behind as developments took place elsewhere (or take today's uncertainty over blockchain technology that's pushing much development abroad). More relevant on the big picture: how about exploring in more detail an approach that could safeguard national security while not imposing undue burden. For example, he could build on his initial concept where businesses that don't adhere to the standards he proposes are restricted in participating in public contracts; this would impose compliance on big business without imposing undue burden on small business.

On that note, McCormick mentions that he's advocated to get more voices into the room. I would encourage him to take this a step further, especially when it comes to business interests: specifically consider the interests of small business when devising policy. And to address the Milton Friedman question, include economists from the Chicago school. Not just for show, but make them an integral part of policy development.

Self Centered

The book's concept and message is solid and valuable. America is in decline and the author presents a thorough analysis of the causes and solutions. It's a pity that David through the entire book hammer us all the time without mercy with his personal experiences and achievements. One becomes fed up with West Point, Bridgewater, his high school, football, Ray, and so forth. He sells himself more then he sells his ideals.

This is a clear blueprint for American leaders.

This book is an unusually clear and direct roadmap for America right now. David’s leadership skills are inspiring. I’ve heard him speak and I’ve now read his book. His vision comes from his tremendous experience and an innate will to excel. I’m a big fan.

A must read do you understand it he pervasiveness to China and the needed American response.

This is an absolute must read when you want to understand how America is falling short of its duties in combating the Chinese communist party. McCormick should have won the Pennsylvania senate race, and the United States is worse off for not having him in the Senate.

excellent book, Visionary

The book provides an excellent outlook for where we currently stand. It is an honest look at how we have gotten to where we are that is sometimes scary. But at the same time provides, A visionary outlook For what needs to be done to achieve greatness.