Rating: 
Summary: Penetrating Analysis Of Federal Political Corruption!
Review: Ah, once more into the breach, dear friends. Like Shakespeare's goode King, Rolling Stone editor and contributor William Greider is once more up in arms, and in this powerful and provocative book takes thoughtful aim against the bloodied and crippled state of the contemporary American polity. Greider convincingly details the many ways in which the democratic process has been compromised, corrupted and co-opted by the powerful economic influences of corporate America. In doing so, he focuses on the actual process of how the federal government works, and illustrates in shocking fashion with a number of specific anecdotes the degree to which the political system has been bought off by transnational corporations and the media. The author's list of un-indicted co-conspirators is long and illustrious; transnational corporations, the electronic media, the political parties, so-called interest groups like the NRA and the Milk Lobby, and an occasional populist group, all trying to foist their narrowly focused interests into self-serving legislation and regulation against the much broader interest and liberties of the citizenry at large. The fact that they consistenly succeed to our detriment is powerful testimony as to the accuracy of this analysis. The author reserves special vile for the activities of the two political parties, who he contends are more aptly described as the power-drunk fraternal twin children of the wealthy power elite than they are a responsive and representative force out to accomplish the messy business of democratic governance. Acting in the elite's perceived social, economic, and political interests, the federal government manages the tax structure, social benefits, and economic policies in ways that ensure the rich and powerful gain further advantage at the cost of the rest of the populace. Yet Greider sees a unique opportunity in the brave new world of post-cold war conditions to right the existing wrongs of the present situation. Through a re-energized populist political movement, he argues, the people could seize control of the process and demonstrate the continuing power of the citizenry to manage and control their collective destinies. By such practical means as organizing boycotts of errant transnational corporations to bring them into line in order to continue benefiting in our domestic marketplace (the largest single economy in the world), the people could bargain by using the power of their purse strings. As much as I like Greider and enjoy his critical skills and analysis, even I have to admit that such a social revolution is an unlikely event; anyone aware of the degree to which our citizenry are politically apathetic, and who recognizes that the only energy an average middle class American expends is usually associated with an self-absorbed pursuit of video games and backyard barbecues, also realizes that they are unlikely to be the nucleus of any kind of meaningful social revolution. Viewed in such circumspect terms, it is hard to picture the citizens of contemporary society gaining anything like that sort of enlightened self-awareness or concerted political action in the near future. Yet despite his unrealistic hopes for such an unlikely change in the present arrangements, this is a good book, and has a worthwhile and penetrating analysis that quite specifically blueprints the nature of the corruption and co-option of the federal government by the transnational corporations. I enjoyed reading it, and plan to read sections of it again because of its powerful analysis. Enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Worth to read even if you are not an US citizen.
Review: Author loves to coin words and long phrases. Book is more than twice as long as it should be. His very liberal bias is annoying. Too much focus on the envirionment and how corporations are killing us for their greed. Far too simplistic of an analysis. He belives that unlimited sums should be spent to save just one life or one tree. He does not agree with cost/benefit analysis. However, buried in his excess wordage are many very good points, so book is good for gaining perspective on many naughty things going on in government. It makes one wonder about honesty in government (is there any?).
Rating:
Summary: Boy Am I Glad Greider Is On The Job!
Review: I ate this book up- it is basically a searing condemnation of the decline of our democracy. Greider attributes this decline to many different sources: Corporate power and the cozy relationships between industry and regulators, the withering of groups like labor unions, the media establishment, and more. I could go on about how right he is, but one example I found particularly disturbing: his analysis of what the Democratic Party really is. In 1992, the Democrats were going to have a bicentennial celebration, and so they thought they should invite, among other people, the "party regulars" who were working at the community level. To their suprise, they realized that they had lost contact with those people: they have no party regulars! Well, then who comprises what we call the Democratic Party? He goes on to analyze what really makes the party tick, and concludes that the real powerhouse of the democrats are six huge D.C. law firms and the affiliated corporations. A disturbing idea, to say the least. The book loses its focus a bit when he goes into the ramifications of the cold war, and of course his bias is very evident, but every book should be taken with a grain of salt, and there are some truly compelling ideas in here. I'm glad Mr. Greider did the legwork, because he really puts a voice and articulation to what many of us feel in our gut: There is something very wrong with how our country works, and we need to fix it.
Rating:
Summary: Boy Am I Glad Greider Is On The Job!
Review: I ate this book up- it is basically a searing condemnation of the decline of our democracy. Greider attributes this decline to many different sources: Corporate power and the cozy relationships between industry and regulators, the withering of groups like labor unions, the media establishment, and more. I could go on about how right he is, but one example I found particularly disturbing: his analysis of what the Democratic Party really is. In 1992, the Democrats were going to have a bicentennial celebration, and so they thought they should invite, among other people, the "party regulars" who were working at the community level. To their suprise, they realized that they had lost contact with those people: they have no party regulars! Well, then who comprises what we call the Democratic Party? He goes on to analyze what really makes the party tick, and concludes that the real powerhouse of the democrats are six huge D.C. law firms and the affiliated corporations. A disturbing idea, to say the least. The book loses its focus a bit when he goes into the ramifications of the cold war, and of course his bias is very evident, but every book should be taken with a grain of salt, and there are some truly compelling ideas in here. I'm glad Mr. Greider did the legwork, because he really puts a voice and articulation to what many of us feel in our gut: There is something very wrong with how our country works, and we need to fix it.
Rating: 
Summary: History Proved Him Right
Review: It's funny how some negative reviews of this book spoke about how wrong Greider was and how right corporate superheros like Jack Welch were. Now in 2003 as America struggles to rebuild after the savage [things] that these corporate overlords have done (Enron? Worldcom? Global Crossing?) we see just how accurate Greider's predications were. The men who rose to power in the 1990's didn't get there because they loved all humanity, they got there because they wanted power above all else. It wasn't the job or the love for their products, it was for money. If they had to fire tens of thouands of people, if they had to bankrupt the company, that was fine. THEY got to keep their millions in the form of Golden Parachutes. History has now born this simple truth out. Power doesn't neccesarilly corrupt, but absolutely corrupt people seek power at any cost.
Rating:
Summary: WAKE UP CALL FOR AMERICAN POLITICS
Review: Mr. Greider gives us a sobering account of the void we once called democracy. Multinational corporations have priveleges and immunities that citizens cannot ascribe to. The GEs' and the Exxons' are here to grab our government, folks, and Mr. Greider is here to tell you all about it.
Rating: 
Summary: Luddite Nonsense
Review: Regurgitated Luddite foolishness from an economic ignoramus. This is the worst kind of populism, based not in love but in fear: "He is really big, but if you and I get together we can bop him." Mix that with the leitmotif of intellectuals ("How unfair that people like Jack Welch have influence: what were his grades in high school?" and "What a better place the world would be if we were in charge!") and you get the picture. It is amazing to me that this stuff still has an audience.
Rating:
Summary: Exciting in a way that most politics don't try to be...
Review: This book captures an energy too rare in political nonfiction. Much like any notoriously liberal thinker, Greider will not appeal to everyone. However, also like most any biased thinker, he is a compelling read for both sides of the political spectrum. One of Greider's most salient points is the lack of real alternative that we have in the current American political system. Democrats and Rebublicans are, he argues, cut from the same (corrupt) cloth. He definitely doesn't play partisan favorites, he fundamentally attacks the system of special interest politics. Now all this sounds a bit dry, but Greider's style really is wonderful, in a way that few political writers are. He has a sort of sassy, knowing tone that is both personal and grandiose. He manages to make you feel simultaneously at a rally and in his living room. He turns political writing from broccoli into chocolate cookies, which is a welcome change. I have used this book extensively for quoting, have taught chapters and, sometimes, the whole book as a text in an activism internship class, and have used it in volunteer circles for a conversation starter. I think its energy carries it along to some great observations about our political system.
Rating:
Summary: Exciting in a way that most politics don't try to be...
Review: This book captures an energy too rare in political nonfiction. Much like any notoriously liberal thinker, Greider will not appeal to everyone. However, also like most any biased thinker, he is a compelling read for both sides of the political spectrum. One of Greider's most salient points is the lack of real alternative that we have in the current American political system. Democrats and Rebublicans are, he argues, cut from the same (corrupt) cloth. He definitely doesn't play partisan favorites, he fundamentally attacks the system of special interest politics. Now all this sounds a bit dry, but Greider's style really is wonderful, in a way that few political writers are. He has a sort of sassy, knowing tone that is both personal and grandiose. He manages to make you feel simultaneously at a rally and in his living room. He turns political writing from broccoli into chocolate cookies, which is a welcome change. I have used this book extensively for quoting, have taught chapters and, sometimes, the whole book as a text in an activism internship class, and have used it in volunteer circles for a conversation starter. I think its energy carries it along to some great observations about our political system.
Rating:
Summary: Disgusted with politics? Find out, specifically, why.
Review: William Greider, on-the-scene in the nation's captital and intelligent enough to understand what he sees and hears, has described American politics in an overshoot mode. His subtitle, "The Betrayal of American Democracy," conveys his theme. Corporate and financial interests have simply enlisted the federal establishment into their service, and partisan labels have become matters of huge indifference. Greider gives empiric evidence to the thrust of the Perot campaign: both Republican and Democratic officeholders have literally sold their talents and their principles. Intelligent citizens who simmer in civil outrage need this book to document the basis for their anger
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