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Title: The Decline and Fall of the American Empire by Gore Vidal ISBN: 1-878825-00-3 Publisher: Odonian Press Pub. Date: 01 December, 2002 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $8.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.23 (13 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: A Superb Polemic
Comment: Gore Vidal has the power to drive conservatives insane, I can't say why, but the mere mention of his name seems to turn them into screaming maniacs, that alone would make this book worth owning. In addition to its value as a heart attack inducer, it is also easy reading, witty and well written. I especially enjoyed his vicious attack on the Christian Church (which he refers to as the cult of the 'Sky God'). He is also right on target with his assessment of the pervasive dangerous of corporate power. This slim volume is not a scholarly tome by any means, but Vidal's strength is in the way that he says things, not in the way that he backs up his assessment. Less a stunning indictment than a readable, witty summing up of the Vidal take on several important topics. A superb little pamphlet.
Rating: 4
Summary: Astute and Relevant.
Comment: This collection of six essays and speeches by America's most astute and acerbic critic, though somewhat dated, (written from 1987-92) still manages to pack a powerful and relevant punch directly at what Vidal perceives to be the reasons for America's political, cultural and economic continuing downward spiral. He states in the Preface that his intention is to "...put into historical perspective the state of our nation and what can be done to salvage it." (p.5)
In the essay, The National Security State, he explains its history and formation and its official start in the National Security Act of 1947; this was a blueprint created after WW2, which the country had never seen before. This doctrine, (only declassified in 1975) grants the pentagon unlimited power and spending on "defence" against the Soviet Union during peacetime. To justify such a massive spending on weapons, part of the document states that the American society had to be "mobilized" to fight communism. This, of course, manifested in the form of media-generated propaganda, creating fear in the hearts of ordinary Americans, to justify high taxes to pay for defence during peacetime. Vidal writes, "...thanks to the brainwashing of the national security state's continuing plan, Americans have a built-in horror of the Evil Empire, which the press and the politicians have kept going for forty years." Now that this particular "Evil Empire" has unfortunately fallen, we currently have a new "Axes of Evil" to justify billions of dollars spent on "defence".
It is impossible to cite all of Vidal's arguments in the space provided. However, rather than merely list everything wrong with America, he offers solutions, albeit radical solutions, to some of the problems. For example, the campaign-funding system for presidential candidates is fundamentally problematic, as it opens the door for corruption at every turn. If a candidate doesn't want to be bought, he shouldn't take campaign donations from specialist and corporate groups. In other democratic countries, including Australia, the taxpayers provide campaign funds and the actual four to six week campaign is broadcast on public television. This ensures that no special interest group can tarnish a politician with promises of unlimited cash for unlimited airtime on commercial television. The campaign is short and "corporate free". This one solution he offers, however, to my mind, would fundamentally pave the way to a less corruptive and more democratic system.
Vidal is deeply concerned about the United States and its perceived decline. The problems he writes about are real, and his solutions, though radical on face value, are pragmatic and workable. These essays strike right at the heart of the matter and despite being somewhat dated, are relevant today.
Rating: 5
Summary: Vidal on Target
Comment: Gore Vidal demonstrates once more that as author and political pundit he remains well ahead of his time, but that it appears as if we are starting to catch up and comprehend the importance along with the necessity of his message.
When Vidal ran for U.S. Senator in the 1982 California Democratic Party primary his opponent was Jerry Brown. The California Governor had a reputation for being unconventional in many ways like Vidal. When Brown later sought the Democratic Party's presidential nomination in the 1992 primaries he sought out the anti-establishment ideas he had heard Vidal espouse earlier. Vidal willingly helped Brown in the idea department in 1992 and the Californian ran a strong and idea-effective anti-establishment primary campaign.
Since the sixties Vidal has preached that the American political system has become increasingly beholden to entrenched corporate interests, which is further reflected in an all too often obeisant media. Now the public has demonstrated an increasing alertness of the captivity as more individuals seek fundamental changes based on Vidal's concepts.
Another fundamental idea that Vidal has tackled for many years, and on which the public is finally catching up with him, is the degree of infringement upon basic freedoms, as evidenced by the Bush-Ashcroft Patriot Act. He also rails against the dangers of the military industrial compex, and how its most reactionary elements have been served by an active intelligence community through the auspices of the CIA and the FBI.
Vidal preaches hard core liberty in the best tradition of Founding Fathers such as Thomas Paine and Benjamin Franklin. This volume shows him at his best, witty, acerbic, and driving his point home with an economy of effort.
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Title: Dreaming War: Blood for Oil and the Cheney-Bush Junta by Gore Vidal ISBN: 1560255021 Publisher: Nation Books Pub. Date: December, 2002 List Price(USD): $11.95 |
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Title: Inventing A Nation: Washington, Adams, Jefferson by Gore Vidal ISBN: 0300101716 Publisher: Yale Univ Pr Pub. Date: 01 November, 2003 List Price(USD): $22.00 |
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Title: Perpetual War for Perpetual Peace by Gore Vidal ISBN: 156025405X Publisher: Nation Books Pub. Date: 10 March, 2002 List Price(USD): $10.00 |
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Title: The American Presidency by Gore Vidal ISBN: 1878825151 Publisher: Odonian Press Pub. Date: 01 December, 2002 List Price(USD): $8.00 |
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Title: The Last Empire : Essays 1992-2000 by Gore Vidal ISBN: 037572639X Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 11 June, 2002 List Price(USD): $16.00 |
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