Geoffrey Barrett

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Revisado: 07-02-24

We thought we were rid of them in the 1940s after their disastrous attempts at state building ended in devastation. But, no, they kept lurking there in the sewers of society and now have emerged, brought out of hiding, all the creepy crawly maggots (MAGAts), slithering out of the fetid dung piles on which they have sustained themselves these long years. Called forth by a new demilord, a false prophet, an unlikely Pied Piper, not playing beguiling, entrancing melodies, but burping and vomiting out a morass of fecal matter upon which these MAGAts feed.

The author provided us with a history and guide book of this roiling mass of vileness. Acquaint yourselves with the wannabe rulers so you know who to stamp out before it is too late. It might already be too late.

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Heed the warnings

Revisado: 10-11-23

This is a must read for any American concerned with maintaining democratic rule in the face of growing fascist threats. It’s clear that a powerful a minority that has relied on the GOP to safeguard its interests against the needs and desires of the masses has run the numbers and sees that maintaining their rule through democratic means is becoming untenable. There is a concerted effort to break down faith in and sow cynicism toward democratic processes. This book shows how that elite (they aren’t shadowy or imaginary, you can see and hear them on FOX every day) can use the madness of the masses to suit their ends. The Q movement, as described by Will Sommer, is an expression of the real angst felt by many people who feel their deteriorating quality of life is being ignored by a liberal elite only concerned with advancing the interests of specific protected groups, racial minorities, LBGTQ+, etc. The irony is that the same people embracing these fascist tropes end up supporting the very party that creates the conditions that they aren’t satisfied with, the GOP. It is a perfect storm for a fascist movement, especially with a feeble Democratic Party as the main hurdle to overcome. We can see how feeble the DP is when we consider how it continues to maintain weakened institutions. The DOJ headed by Merrick Garland is unsure and hesitant, reluctant to even take action against conspirators who plotted a violent overthrow of the US government. The Mueller investigation wouldn’t indict Trump because of the existence of a policy memo created under a different corrupt GOP president. Congress can’t seem to pass reforms that would wrest control of government from a minority determined to maintain anti-democratic rule (ie, white supremacist minority rule). There are bright moments. The House Jan 6 investigation and the special prosecutor investigation. But overall, the prescription to undermining the fascist movement is to meet the needs of the people, regardless of race or gender or anything else.

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Fascinating

Revisado: 05-07-22

I listened straight through. Fascinating, important, and compelling. Atack’s delivery was straight forward, easy to listen to. Everybody should read this book.

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Essential reading

Revisado: 08-07-21

This is essential reading for anyone worried about the rise of the alt-right. The author illuminates the dark corners of the radical right exposing their sources and methods.

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Understanding Far Right Critical for Democracy

Revisado: 05-02-21

This is must read if we want to defend democracy in an era of rising Authoritarianism.

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Must read for Patriotic Americans

Revisado: 05-28-20

Kendzior paints a dismal portrait of the state of American democracy. Besieged by an international crime syndicate focused on weakening the rule of law, inadequately defended by elite members of the mass media too timid to call it like it is, betrayed by quisling politicians quaking at the knees in the face of Trump’s minority base, the American experiment is at a crossroads.

Will we continue to be the beacon to the world for democracy and the rule of law? Or will we sink, like much of the world, into to morass of kleptocracy and racketeering? Kendzior says, correctly in my opinion, that the direction of America depends on us: We, the People.

If I have a complaint (I don’t really), it’s that Kendzior eloquently and passionately describes the problem, but doesn’t offer a blueprint for what we all should do. I’m all ready to tour the country’s national monuments, but in the face of a criminal threat to Constitutional rule, what are we supposed to do? We need leaders to step up and lead us there. It’s time. That’s not Sarah’s job. I know. She’s doing plenty.

You can’t finish this and not want to do something about this mess. Every day I think about what kind of country we’re leaving to our kids. What kind of world. We need to step up.

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Scary, yet hopeful.

Revisado: 04-24-20

This should be a must read for every adult American. Left, Right, or center. Everybody. Hedges lays out clearly and articulately the corruption that is at the heart of the American political economy. He demonstrates with undeniable facts the economic stagnation of the working class amid outrageous accumulation of wealth by the ruling classes.

He roots the rise of fascistic movements and support the buffoon Trump in the abandonment of the working class by the liberal political elite. His eye-opening take on the American prison as a modern gulag system of slavery and debt peonage reveals that original sins upon which “America” was built, is still with us.

At the same time, Hedges throws the reader a lifeline. He points to positive movements aimed at empowering communities to create institutions parallel to the neoliberal dystopia we are told is the only way. He describes the Nordic model and how people did not settle for the trickle down scraps of the ruling elites.

Our path forward, which doesn’t include necessary collaboration with corporate-controlled Democratic Party, must include local leaders emerging who are “incorruptible.” Leaders and movements willing to sacrifice their own well-being, even their lives, to confront the structures of power and work toward a more humane future.

I have been reading Hedges for years. His latest books are masterpieces of political commentary. I could not emphasize this more: read this book (I listened and I believe Hedges is the narrator.) It is gripping, forceful, understated yet passionate, prescient, and hopeful.

If you have not read Hedges before, you will look at the world with new eyes after you put this book down. Read it. Then do something to make the world a better place.

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