It’s an interesting exercise in evaluating the current state of politics in the U.S. to take a good, long look at Bill Moyers’ new book, Moyers on Democracy (excerpted by Truthout.org, here) and compare it to Chalmers Johnson’s review of Sheldon S. Wolin’s new book, Democracy Incorporated: Managed Democracy and the Specter of Inverted Totalitarianism, (discussed here on Alternet.org).
The two authors take parallel courses through their research and observations, but they both imagine subtle differences to the similar conclusion: the American ideal of "government of the people, by the people, for the people" is just about over. Moyers believes that time is running out to save our souls and the ticks are getting closer together, while Wolin has (to Johnson’s reading) chronicled the end of Our Way of Life. If so, it would be a sad day indeed, since it’s one thing to realize that the Greedheads have won but it’s quite another to realize that you’ve been helping them win all along.
Anyway, read the articles and if you’re feeling especially flush, buy the books. Enjoy!
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