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American Theocracy, 2010-06-16

Reviewer: K. Luse

American Theocracy by Kevin Philips should be on the reading list of every High School in America. K Philips brillantly explains(and foresees the current 2007-9 Real Estate bubble and recession)a lot of the troubles America is in now by going back to the past religious,political, and mercantil history of Europe and America. He weaves his facts with statistics,quotes and clever analysis.The recent rise of the religious right,its links to Oil and politics, the rise of the Financial milieux take-over of the US economy, the monstous debt weighing the average American consumer and the merger of the Republican Party with religious fondamentalists and creationists is troubling for a multitude of reasons. He deplores the new backwardness this creates in America(less Sciences more Faith based curiculums in schools)and the loss of our influence in the World.
A fantastic read.

Oh America! 2010-03-28

Reviewer: Andrew Desmond

Oh America, what has become of you? This might well be the subtext of Kevin Phillips's "American Theocracy". How could such a previously enlightened nation conceived with such great hope fall to imperial over-reach, debt and uncompromising religion?

Kevin Phillips has written a thorough book that broadly compares 21st century America with other historical examples of over-reach. He notices eerie similarities. In America today we see the prosecution of wars on several fronts, a nation falling into increasing private and public debt and the rise of religious intolerance. Indeed, although this book was published in 2006, he very presciently anticipates the rise of the tea party movement.

So, can America fail? Well, possibly but not in the short run. A nation of such depth and entrepreneurial spirit will not collapse overnight. But, in the longer run? Well, the jury is still out. Afghanistan looks like a morass, debt will take decades to be repaid unless inflation helps out, and this creates problems of its own. And, as far as religion is concerned, America has made a clear turn to the unenlightened. No other nation in the developed world has such belief in a supernatural god, miracles and an eventual world ending clash between good and evil. The rest of the world is far more rational. Yet, it is not just the fact that Americans are religious. This is not a problem per se. Rather, it is that religion has become so intolerant. Never in living memory has America elected a non-believing President and there are no signs that this is about to change.

Kevin Phillips has done an admirable job documenting modern America. It will not be well received. My fear is that it will be even less heeded.

Well-thought out thesis 2009-10-09

Reviewer: Newton Ooi

This book is a diagnosis of the 3-big problems facing American in the 21st century, and how their growth was facilitated by the Republican party. The 3 big problems are dependence on foreign oil, the ascendant power of the FIRE (finance, insurance, real estate) industries, and the growing power of the religious right wing. The author shows how the Republican party has intertwined itself with the Religious Right, Big Oil, and Wall Street such that they are almost indistinguishable from each other by the end of G. W. Bush's 2nd term in the White House. The author also shows how this has played out over election cycles, affecting the electoral landscape, and helped to produce today's Red vs Blue divide in the US. All in all, a great book that explains the transformation of the American political landscape over the past 50 years.

This book is reselling for what its worth 1 cent. 2009-09-06

Reviewer: Davemesaaaz

When ever the Bush said the word God liberals freaked and said that the GOP was turning the country into a theocracy. But now that Obama is President God is back, and he is using God to sell his programs in the name of social justice. Obama refers to God and Jesus more than Bush did. Obama has declared that we can have the kingdom of God here on earth. But if the GOP said something like that it would have echoed from hear to tibet, when Obama says stuff like that they are suspiciously silent.

recommended by a friend 2009-08-28

Reviewer: Ivan Rorick

I'm not really into politics, but a friend of mine is. I am interested in history though, and my politically~inclined friend told me about this book. It draws a number of parallels between the current state of the USA and the declines of various historical empires, and that made it interesting to me. Anyone who likes to analyze how history goes in in cycles shoudl check this book out.

Ivan Rorick