Idiot America: How Stupidity Became a Virtue in the Land of the Free Review

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Idiot America: How Stupidity Became a Virtue in the Land of the Free Review"Idiot America" is great, informative book about concepts we see everyday. Also, many of the 1-star reviews are likely biased because of some of the political and religious topics noted. I think this book is definitely a full, 5-star book.
The Following comments aren't meant to be particularly negative towards the United States and the concepts in this book aren't exclusive to the USA. The concepts in "idiot America" exist all over the entire world. "Idiot America" is a superbly covered account of something that's very prevalent in the US.
Charles Pierce provides the history of "cranks" (con artists and showmen) from the founding of the nation to current examples today in contemporary America. I focused on TV and Radio because of it's widespread impact on the populace today (even in the age of the growing Internet, which is becoming dominant). Much of TV and Talk Radio promote misinformation based on emotion, histrionics, shock, being loud, and over-the-top attempts to get ratings.The author notes "The 3 Great Premises: and applies them to many instances in this book:
1. Any theory is valid if it moves units (rating, and making money).
2. Anything can be true if it is said loudly enough.
3. Fact is what enough people believe (the Truth is what you believe).
There are many examples in this book. Here are just a few: The NAFTA Superhighway, that never was:
Even in the year 2003, a completely false rumor can end up being debated by Congressman, and end up on Lou Dobb's TV show. In 2003, the Texas legislature approved the the Trans Texas Corridor (TTC) to improve road and rail lines to facilitate the movement of good within the state of Texas. Due to modern day mass communication (mostly the Internet) the TTC very quickly turned into a fictitious NAFTA Superhighway. The Superhighway was to be 400 yards wide and stretch from El Paso, TX to Saskatoon, Canada. North to South, East to West. The NAFTA superhighway would be the trade corridor for the newly united states of Canada, US, and Mexico. Congressman were asked their position on the highway by reporters in DC, and many cited their opposition to it and the erosion of America's Sovereignty. Lou Dobbs ran the story on his show on a major American news network. Viewers were "outraged." Silly as this may seem, it reinforces the point that we
cannot automatically trust nor believe the mainstream media. Intelligent Design:
Religion and politics have merged, and both use the characteristic tactics of brand marketing in the modern marketplace. Church consultant George Barna in 1988 stated that the church has failed "to embrace a marketing orientation in what has become a market-driven environment" (page 131).
After failing to sneak religion into classrooms to get Creationism taught in biology classes, in addition to nation-wide prayer in schools, a new brand was carefully and methodically invented: intelligent design. ID was funded among many, including the owner of Domino's Pizza through a right-wing legal foundation.
A school board tried to sneak ID into the Dover, Delaware school system not by Constitutionality but by marketing. The Intelligent Designers tried to remove a science textbook and replace it with one advocating Intelligent Design. The scientific basis for the ID movement was by the term "irreducible complexity." Under this, if you cannot remove one element with demolishing the system, it proves creationism works. The ID legal strategy in court under 'irreducible complexity' was, bacterial Flagellum. But the micro bacterial flagellum fell apart in court, and a judge ruled that ID was not sufficiently proven to be taught in public science classes in Delaware. Later this judge, who was given the case, was called a "fascist" by Tim O'Reilly on TV, with Pat Robertson calling him "absurd."POLITICAL TALK RADIO:
One set of rules noted by a professor studying radio discourse:
*Never Be Dull
*Embrace willfully ignorant simplicity
*The American public is stupid; treat them that way
*Always ignore the fact and the public record when it's convenient TELEVISION: "Television is an emotional medium. It's entertainment, not analysis or reasoned discourse."
In spite of the massive growth of those getting their information from the Internet in recent years (which I think is good if people check the source appropriately) many folks still get their information from TV.
I think TV has devolved so much and become so bad, that instead of becoming more informed on issues, people are actually becoming less informed. When I visit the US, instantly notice how bad television news is, not only on reporting the issues to the public but by its inclusion of tabloid stories. .
How many people do you know, that simply regurgitate the ideas, positions and arguments they see on radio & television? I know and witness this plenty, and yes I sometimes do it myself. "Idiot America: How Stupidity Became Virtue in the Land of the Free," by Charles Pierce, is an excellent book.
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The Unfinished Global Revolution: The Pursuit of a New International Politics Review

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The Unfinished Global Revolution: The Pursuit of a New International Politics ReviewMark Malloch-Brown has unique personal experiences and insights-journalism, elections, political philosophy,UN, World Bank, UK cabinet, Asia, Africa, Middle East, Annan, Bush, Obama, Roosevelt, Thatcher, Wolfsensohn. This will be of interest to all concerned about the future of nations and people in our world. This book well written, 240 pages, an easy read and will make you feel more qualified to judge what is to be done after getting to know more how these organizations and people functioned. We will start with his conclusions followed by his experience and knowledge on which these conclusions are based.
What are Mark's conclusions? Mark, in a controversial very public speech, stated that since Roosevelt and Truman none of the American Presidents had given full support to the United Nations and had failed to convince the American people about the benefits the United Nations could deliver. Without a commitment of the United States and other countries to building an international framework of rules and institutions the UN is unable to carry out the tasks as foreseen by Roosevelt. This speech, not surprisingly upset the American President Bush and especially John Bolton the US representative the US representative to the UN. Bolton instead of "selling" the UN to the American public did the opposite,
Mark believes that the three main challenges we face are: Integration, Growth and Limits. Integration refers to globalization with ever increasing cross border trade, growth to the absolute increase in population, three billion more people by 2050. This growth will well before 2050 hit limits in many areas, food, energy, minerals, pollution levels, water and probable also financial meltdowns. This is likely to lead to violence. He is convinced that only a coordinated approach at the level of the world can avoid disaster. He sees as the greatest obstacle increasing nationalism in almost all countries. He says that government leaders understand the necessity of internationally binding cooperation but most voters are only interested in what the leader can deliver to them in increased prosperity and security. Mark believes that the only way forward is a contract, a binding contract between all nations.
Mark was right when he said that Roosevelt believed that binding enforceable contracts between nations were a necessity. Roosevelt had worked with this insight from 1933 to 1945 when the UN agreement was signed. Roosevelt had concluded that it would only be possible to convince the American voters to support such a contract if they felt sure it was in their direct personal interest. He was convinced; it could not be based on their compassion for other people in other countries. Only if current political leaders start to think and work the way Roosevelt did is such a new contract within reach. The most urgent problem is probably gaining control over the most integrated system in the world that is financial institutions. Again nationalism makes that almost impossible.
In summary the conclusion might be that globalization could be a savior but infected with Nationalism will become a monster almost impossible to liquidate.
Next Mark's vast experience. Mark joined the Economist as a journalist soon after graduating from Cambridge University. He observed Margaret Thatcher from up close. He was surprised and impressed what she as a conviction politician and with a strong will could accomplish. Her limit was nationalism. She did not understand sufficiently the need to build bridges with other countries in addition to the USA.
Next, the United Nations to help the Cambodian refugees in Thailand to survive and start new lives. His conclusion was that this kind of tragedy could have been avoided if the poor Cambodian peasants and the rich oligarchy had started a dialogue at an early stage. That would have required before a similar approach to prevent the Vietnam War. Next three years, the Economist Development Report, a monthly publication as founder and editor.
Next, lead partner in a consultancy group with as one its main services to introduce modern election techniques in developing countries working with Corazon Aquino in the Philippines, who won, and other candidates. His conclusion was that even after a free election in countries previously being ruled by dictators or one party democracies that the same political class would still remain in power continuing to enrich themselves rather than decreasing poverty and reducing corruption.
Next, the World Bank under the charismatic leadership of Jim Wolfsensohn. Mark found it extremely difficult to change the fundamentalist economic mindset and bureaucratic methods of the theoretically highly qualified staff. Another serious problem was unhealthy competition between the World Bank and the IMF.
Next, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, (UNDP) a job he really liked. Different from the World Bank the Developing Countries really liked the UNDP. They felt the UNDP was genuinely interested in understanding their problems and helping them. Mark as always was looking at the big picture. He concluded that instead of carrying out small appreciated projects that the main task of the UNDP should be to help the government to govern better, with new, different and more effective policies and institutions. One of his conclusions was that a government that does not include poverty reduction will not last. The UNDP became more effective under his leadership and the annual resources doubled to US$ 4 billion.
Next, he rejoined the United Nations serving eventually as Deputy-secretary to Kofi Annan. There is probably no better description about the internal problems of the UN; the potential of the UN and the lack of intelligent external support the UN receives as has already been described.
Finally Mark joined the UK cabinet under Gordon Brown. It surprised him that British Prime Ministers see themselves as dependent on American Presidents. An attitude that is not even appreciated by the Americans, other than President Reagan with Margaret Thatcher. Reading about these experiences you feel as if you were present when they happened.The Unfinished Global Revolution: The Pursuit of a New International Politics Overview

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