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أفضل ديمقراطية يستطيع المال شراءها
Greg Palast digs deep to unearth the ugly facts that few reporters working anywhere in the world today have the courage or ability to cover. From East Timor to Waco, Karachi to Santiago, he has exposed some of the most egregious cases of political corruption, corporate fraud, and financial manipulation, globally. His uncanny investigative skills as well as his acerbic wit and no-holds-barred style have made him an anathema among magnates on four continents and a living legend among his colleagues and his devoted readership, worldwide. This exciting new collection brings together some of Palast's most powerful and influential writing of the past decade. His columns in the Observer have a cult following and he made headline news when he went undercover for the Observer to break open the 'Lobbygate' scandal of corruption inside the Blair Cabinet. Included here are his reports on that story, which earned him the distinction of being the first journalist ever to be personally attacked on the floor of Parliament by a prime minister; his celebrated Washington Post exposé on Jeb Bush and Katherine Harris's stealing of the presidential election in Florida, which made him "a legend and a hero on the Internet" (Alan Colmes / Fox Radio) when it ran in Salon.com; and recent stories on George W. Bush's pay-offs to corporate cronies, and the business-created 'energy crisis.' Also included in this volume are new and previously unpublished material, television transcripts, photographs, and letters.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
44 people are currently reading
2335 people want to read
About the author
Greg Palast
40 books141 followersGreg Palast is the author of the New York Times bestsellers Billionaires and Ballot Bandits, Armed Madhouse and The Best Democracy Money Can Buy and the highly acclaimed Vultures' Picnic, named Book of the Year on BBC Newsnight Review.
Palast turned his skills to journalism after two decades as a top investigator of corporate fraud. Palast directed the U.S. government’s largest racketeering case in history – winning a $4.3 billion jury award. He also conducted the investigation of fraud charges in the Exxon Valdez grounding.
Following the Deepwater Horizon explosion, Palast set off on a five-continent undercover investigation of BP and the oil industry for British television’s top current affairs program, Dispatches.
Palast is best known in his native USA as the journalist who, for the Observer (UK), broke the story of how Jeb Bush purged thousands of Black Florida citizens from voter rolls before the 2000 election, thereby handing the White House to his brother George. His reports on the theft of the 2000 and 2004 US elections, the spike of the FBI investigations of the bin Ladens before September 11, the secret State Department documents planning the seizure of Iraq's oil fields have won him a record six Project Censored awards for reporting the news American media doesn't want you to hear. "The top investigative journalist in the United States is persona non grata in his own country's media." [Asia Times.] He returned to America to report for Harper's Magazine.
Palast's Sam Spade style television and print exposés about financial vultures, election manipulations, the War on Terror and globalization, are seen on BBC's Newsnight and Amy Goodman's Democracy Now!
Palast, who has led investigations for governments on three continents, has an academic side: the author of Democracy And Regulation How the Public can Govern Essential Services, a seminal treatise on energy corporations and government control was commissioned by the United Nations based on his lectures at Cambridge University and the University of São Paulo.
Beginning in the 1970s, having earned his degree in finance at the University of Chicago studying under Milton Friedman and free-trade luminaries, Palast went on to challenge their vision of a New Global Order, working for the United Steelworkers of America, the Enron workers' coalition in Latin America and consumer and environmental groups worldwide.
In 1998 Palast went undercover for Britain's Observer, worked his way inside the prime minister's inner circle and busted open Tony Blair's biggest scandal, "Lobbygate," chosen by Palast's press colleagues in the UK as "Story of the Year." As the Chicago Tribune said, Palast became a "fanatic about documents--especially those marked "secret and confidential" from the locked file cabinets of the FBI, the World Bank, the US State Department and other closed-door operations of government and industry--which regularly find their way into his hands. The inside information he obtained on Rev. Pat Robertson won him a nomination as Britain's top business journalist.
Palast is Patron of the Trinity College Philosophical Society, an honor previously held by Jonathan Swift and Oscar Wilde. His writings have won him the Financial Times David Thomas Prize--and inspired the Eminem video, Mosh. "An American hero," said Martin Luther King III. In the BBC documentary, Bush Family Fortunes, Palast exposed George Bush Jr.'s dodging the Vietnam War draft. Greg Palast, says Noam Chomsky, "Upsets all the right people."
Palast won the George Orwell Courage in Journalism Award for his BBC documentary, Bush Family Fortunes.
Palast turned his skills to journalism after two decades as a top investigator of corporate fraud. Palast directed the U.S. government’s largest racketeering case in history – winning a $4.3 billion jury award. He also conducted the investigation of fraud charges in the Exxon Valdez grounding.
Following the Deepwater Horizon explosion, Palast set off on a five-continent undercover investigation of BP and the oil industry for British television’s top current affairs program, Dispatches.
Palast is best known in his native USA as the journalist who, for the Observer (UK), broke the story of how Jeb Bush purged thousands of Black Florida citizens from voter rolls before the 2000 election, thereby handing the White House to his brother George. His reports on the theft of the 2000 and 2004 US elections, the spike of the FBI investigations of the bin Ladens before September 11, the secret State Department documents planning the seizure of Iraq's oil fields have won him a record six Project Censored awards for reporting the news American media doesn't want you to hear. "The top investigative journalist in the United States is persona non grata in his own country's media." [Asia Times.] He returned to America to report for Harper's Magazine.
Palast's Sam Spade style television and print exposés about financial vultures, election manipulations, the War on Terror and globalization, are seen on BBC's Newsnight and Amy Goodman's Democracy Now!
Palast, who has led investigations for governments on three continents, has an academic side: the author of Democracy And Regulation How the Public can Govern Essential Services, a seminal treatise on energy corporations and government control was commissioned by the United Nations based on his lectures at Cambridge University and the University of São Paulo.
Beginning in the 1970s, having earned his degree in finance at the University of Chicago studying under Milton Friedman and free-trade luminaries, Palast went on to challenge their vision of a New Global Order, working for the United Steelworkers of America, the Enron workers' coalition in Latin America and consumer and environmental groups worldwide.
In 1998 Palast went undercover for Britain's Observer, worked his way inside the prime minister's inner circle and busted open Tony Blair's biggest scandal, "Lobbygate," chosen by Palast's press colleagues in the UK as "Story of the Year." As the Chicago Tribune said, Palast became a "fanatic about documents--especially those marked "secret and confidential" from the locked file cabinets of the FBI, the World Bank, the US State Department and other closed-door operations of government and industry--which regularly find their way into his hands. The inside information he obtained on Rev. Pat Robertson won him a nomination as Britain's top business journalist.
Palast is Patron of the Trinity College Philosophical Society, an honor previously held by Jonathan Swift and Oscar Wilde. His writings have won him the Financial Times David Thomas Prize--and inspired the Eminem video, Mosh. "An American hero," said Martin Luther King III. In the BBC documentary, Bush Family Fortunes, Palast exposed George Bush Jr.'s dodging the Vietnam War draft. Greg Palast, says Noam Chomsky, "Upsets all the right people."
Palast won the George Orwell Courage in Journalism Award for his BBC documentary, Bush Family Fortunes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
February 3, 2011
Among other things you get great stuff from Palast as he exposes the election fraud during the 2000 Presidential election that ultimately decided the outcome of the race, the attached strings that come with IMF "bailouts", Pat Robertsons hypocritical money making scams, the CIA/Kissinger/Corporate engineered coup in Chile, Wal-Mart using Chinese prison slave labor while at the same time promoting themselves as a squeaky clean all American entity, the Exxon Valdez oil spill and clean up, the horror of Wackenhut privatized prisons, Pfizer knowingly selling defective heart valves, etc. He also is like Michael Moore in that he does a good job at using humor in his journalistic work even while exposing some very nasty things.
Palast is Jewish and comes from the left so while you get good exposures of corporate shenanigans you also have to put up with the typical hypocritical anti-white snipes that comes from that demographic. Like at one point Palast mocks a cab driver that is worried about too many immigrants coming into England and says he wants to preserve his English culture and heritage. Palast then equates English culture with drunken football hoologanism and says that the English should be begging to add new material to their gene pool! So for all the good work he has done Palast can't seem to shake the Jewish leftist tendency to hate working class whites. If it wasn't for that I may have given this book five stars.
Palast is Jewish and comes from the left so while you get good exposures of corporate shenanigans you also have to put up with the typical hypocritical anti-white snipes that comes from that demographic. Like at one point Palast mocks a cab driver that is worried about too many immigrants coming into England and says he wants to preserve his English culture and heritage. Palast then equates English culture with drunken football hoologanism and says that the English should be begging to add new material to their gene pool! So for all the good work he has done Palast can't seem to shake the Jewish leftist tendency to hate working class whites. If it wasn't for that I may have given this book five stars.
August 6, 2013
The Best Democracy Money Can Buy by Greg Palast is a fascinating, eye-opening and disturbing collection of investigative journalism. Greg Palast is an investigative journalist, who is currently working for the BBC and The Guardian. He formerly worked fighting corporations with Labor Unions and consumer groups. He brings his investigative experience from these organizations to uncover greed, avarice, and injustice the world over. He is probably most well know for uncovering the voting shenanigans in Florida during the last election, which makes of the first chapter of this book. His documentation is meticulous, and his style is straight forward and to the point.
He takes on the Bush family and the corporations (i.e. Enron) and countries (i.e. Saudi Arabia) that have supported them throughout their political lives. He also has a lot to say about deregulation of power, which has significant relevance in light of the recent blackout in the northeast. He also shows how the IMF, World Bank, and WTO have had a negative impact on developing economies and challenges the globalization. Of course he devotes a full chapter to corporate America. In another chapter, he goes after Pat Robertson and Pepsi Cola among others.
Furthermore he provides a handy appendix for "your turn-resources for action." In that section he lists organizations that are fighting against injustices all over as well as suggestions as to what people can do to get involved.
He takes on the Bush family and the corporations (i.e. Enron) and countries (i.e. Saudi Arabia) that have supported them throughout their political lives. He also has a lot to say about deregulation of power, which has significant relevance in light of the recent blackout in the northeast. He also shows how the IMF, World Bank, and WTO have had a negative impact on developing economies and challenges the globalization. Of course he devotes a full chapter to corporate America. In another chapter, he goes after Pat Robertson and Pepsi Cola among others.
Furthermore he provides a handy appendix for "your turn-resources for action." In that section he lists organizations that are fighting against injustices all over as well as suggestions as to what people can do to get involved.
July 26, 2009
Every chapter of this book left me feeling more and more depressed. I was happy to get to the next to the last page and read, 'I've got a stack of letters that read, "Your book is depressing." True, but only if you put your hands in your pockets, look at your shoes and whistle. You can shut the book and use the binding to scratch your nether parts or you can do something. Read, learn, join, holler, act. Sue something....If not, then don't come crying to me; I don't have time for the corporate abuse enablers....'
The appendix that follows has lots of resources for action. I don't know about you, but I'm starting today.
The appendix that follows has lots of resources for action. I don't know about you, but I'm starting today.
December 30, 2008
This was incredibly hard to find, in fact I had to special order it which I sure put me on a government list somewhere... well, okay, I sure it secured my position on that list.
November 8, 2020
A couple of weeks ago I was watching a session of the Joint Economic Comitee where Ben Bernanke (Chairman of the Fed. Reserve Board) was being grilled by Sen. Charles Schumer.
Schumer: It’s clear to me, and many experts agree, that China’s policy of keeping its currency pegged to the U.S. dollar helps to perpetrate the imbalances in the global economy by subsidizing even more Chinese exports at the cost of increasing American — increasing American exports. It makes us too much of a consumption country, and China too much of an exporting country and not enough of a consumption country.
...
So if China appreciated its currency and moved to the free- floating exchange rate, it would do more for jobs here in the U.S. than any single stimulus program we could pass into law.
MR. BERNANKE: Yes, I broadly agree with that. I think the — most economists agree that their currency is undervalued and has been used to promote a more export-oriented economy.
I think it would be good for the Chinese to allow more flexibility in their exchange rate. It would give them more autonomy in their monetary policy so they could address inflation and bubbles within their own economy. And I think that they should combine — it would be in their interests also to combine a more flexible exchange rate with other efforts to increase domestic demand, domestic consumption and achieve a more balanced economy.
SEN. SCHUMER: Okay, now why do you think — if it’s in China’s interests to do it, why don’t they do it?
At this point an almost imperceptible smile creeps up on Mr. Bernanke's face and right at that moment I'm sure we are both thinking the same thing-
Because it is not really in China's interests at all to revalue its currency, it will not benefit the Chinese economy, and most importantly its not reasonable to expect the Chinise to take into consideration what benefits the american economy whilst making policy decisions.
This is a master class in Doublethink and self deception. In this case you see Schumer equating America's interests to China's and going on to argue that the chinise must therefore be asinine to not advance a policy that benefits America - it's a no brainer....or is it?
Let's not forget that China is the fastest-growing major economy in the world, and has had the fastest growing major economy for the past 30 years with an average annual GDP growth rate of over 10%. Last year, in the midst of a global recession China's GDP grew by over 11%. You could argue that from China's point of view it's doing everything right and should continue pegging it's currency to the dollar.
To be honest -in the words of the author - 'who gives a shit?' if Americans are stealing their own elections, illegally removing African Americans of the registered voters list, removing regulations aimed at protecting consumers then charging up to 300% on electricity in states like Florida, and are unwilling to investigate the Bin Laden family's business deals with the Bush family?
But that was just the starter, as soon as Greg Palast moves his narrative on to the World Bank/IMF in South America and Africa I am seriously pissed off. The level of deception perpetuated by these global money launderers has always been my one soft spot and Greg Palast wasted no time in exposing the truth.
I will not cheapen his book by trying to summarize the economic policies of the World Bank/IMF/WTO/IAB, it's Poverty Reduction Strategy, Country Assistance Strategy and it's Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). All in all the World Bank/IMF and it's subsidiaries condemn people to death and take over governments without firing a single bullet. This is modern day colonialism. Please open wide and swallow the economic medicine, it will definitely kill your economy.
Back to the comitee meeting, Sen. Schumer is a reasonably smart man, why would he assume that China would revalue it's currency during a global recovery at the expense of its exports?
Why, because the U.S, just like western Europe always assumes that there is only one correct perspective and forgets that other nations have their own national interests.
This book asks you to question the motives behind foreign policy and the absolute hypocrisy of Globolization.
Greg Palast is really good at what he does. This is what investigative reporting looks like - follow the paper trail all the way to the end and then keep going. It's unfortunate I didn't read it when it was published in 2002.
Schumer: It’s clear to me, and many experts agree, that China’s policy of keeping its currency pegged to the U.S. dollar helps to perpetrate the imbalances in the global economy by subsidizing even more Chinese exports at the cost of increasing American — increasing American exports. It makes us too much of a consumption country, and China too much of an exporting country and not enough of a consumption country.
...
So if China appreciated its currency and moved to the free- floating exchange rate, it would do more for jobs here in the U.S. than any single stimulus program we could pass into law.
MR. BERNANKE: Yes, I broadly agree with that. I think the — most economists agree that their currency is undervalued and has been used to promote a more export-oriented economy.
I think it would be good for the Chinese to allow more flexibility in their exchange rate. It would give them more autonomy in their monetary policy so they could address inflation and bubbles within their own economy. And I think that they should combine — it would be in their interests also to combine a more flexible exchange rate with other efforts to increase domestic demand, domestic consumption and achieve a more balanced economy.
SEN. SCHUMER: Okay, now why do you think — if it’s in China’s interests to do it, why don’t they do it?
At this point an almost imperceptible smile creeps up on Mr. Bernanke's face and right at that moment I'm sure we are both thinking the same thing-
Because it is not really in China's interests at all to revalue its currency, it will not benefit the Chinese economy, and most importantly its not reasonable to expect the Chinise to take into consideration what benefits the american economy whilst making policy decisions.
This is a master class in Doublethink and self deception. In this case you see Schumer equating America's interests to China's and going on to argue that the chinise must therefore be asinine to not advance a policy that benefits America - it's a no brainer....or is it?
Let's not forget that China is the fastest-growing major economy in the world, and has had the fastest growing major economy for the past 30 years with an average annual GDP growth rate of over 10%. Last year, in the midst of a global recession China's GDP grew by over 11%. You could argue that from China's point of view it's doing everything right and should continue pegging it's currency to the dollar.
To be honest -in the words of the author - 'who gives a shit?' if Americans are stealing their own elections, illegally removing African Americans of the registered voters list, removing regulations aimed at protecting consumers then charging up to 300% on electricity in states like Florida, and are unwilling to investigate the Bin Laden family's business deals with the Bush family?
But that was just the starter, as soon as Greg Palast moves his narrative on to the World Bank/IMF in South America and Africa I am seriously pissed off. The level of deception perpetuated by these global money launderers has always been my one soft spot and Greg Palast wasted no time in exposing the truth.
I will not cheapen his book by trying to summarize the economic policies of the World Bank/IMF/WTO/IAB, it's Poverty Reduction Strategy, Country Assistance Strategy and it's Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). All in all the World Bank/IMF and it's subsidiaries condemn people to death and take over governments without firing a single bullet. This is modern day colonialism. Please open wide and swallow the economic medicine, it will definitely kill your economy.
Back to the comitee meeting, Sen. Schumer is a reasonably smart man, why would he assume that China would revalue it's currency during a global recovery at the expense of its exports?
Why, because the U.S, just like western Europe always assumes that there is only one correct perspective and forgets that other nations have their own national interests.
This book asks you to question the motives behind foreign policy and the absolute hypocrisy of Globolization.
Greg Palast is really good at what he does. This is what investigative reporting looks like - follow the paper trail all the way to the end and then keep going. It's unfortunate I didn't read it when it was published in 2002.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2016
This is a tough emotionally challenging book which dueled with all of my established and secure blocks my world stands on.
Democracy is the best system of governance.......
Corporations are successful due to all their collective hard work and customer focus.....
Western governments are not corrupt.........
Big Media always tells us the unedited truth......
Standing for ones right against authority is bad.........
I think the world need more Palasts to help us deal with our learned helplessness.
Democracy is the best system of governance.......
Corporations are successful due to all their collective hard work and customer focus.....
Western governments are not corrupt.........
Big Media always tells us the unedited truth......
Standing for ones right against authority is bad.........
I think the world need more Palasts to help us deal with our learned helplessness.
June 29, 2008
Step one to really understand WTF is happening to America !
The end of democracy, cronies parade & general mayhem all wraped up in one awfull mess of ignorance and greed.
“Even a banana Republican would be distressed to discover how much of our nation’s treasury has been siphoned off by our vice president in the interest of his Cosa Nostra company, Halliburton, the lawless gang of mercenaries set loose by his administration in the Middle East. I have known for a long time that the media of the U.S. and too many of its elected officials give not a flying fuck for the welfare of this republic. “ – Gore Vidal
The end of democracy, cronies parade & general mayhem all wraped up in one awfull mess of ignorance and greed.
“Even a banana Republican would be distressed to discover how much of our nation’s treasury has been siphoned off by our vice president in the interest of his Cosa Nostra company, Halliburton, the lawless gang of mercenaries set loose by his administration in the Middle East. I have known for a long time that the media of the U.S. and too many of its elected officials give not a flying fuck for the welfare of this republic. “ – Gore Vidal
July 31, 2013
الكتاب بشكل عام يفضح السياسة الداخلية للولايات المتحدة الأمريكية وتزويرها للانتخابات وقضايا متعلقة باقتصاد البلد ..وهو موجه للشعب الأمريكي
فيما يخص السياسة الخارجية فكلامه حول سياسات العولمة وصندوق النقد الدولي والضغط على الدول النامية بالابتزاز المالي وإعطاء القروض مقابل شروط اقتصادية مقيتة ..كلام مهم ينبغي علينا قراءته والبحث فيه ..إضافة إلى التآمر على الرئيس الفنزويلي المناهض للعولمة للإطاحة بهةبسبب رفضه للشروط المفروضة من قبل سياسة الهيمنة الأمريكية.
على كل الدول أن تنتفض بوجه حكامها الذين يوافقون على قروض البنك الدولي وعلى إخضاع بلدانهم للهيمنة الاقتصادية باسم المساعدات وغيرها!
الترجمة سيئة
فيما يخص السياسة الخارجية فكلامه حول سياسات العولمة وصندوق النقد الدولي والضغط على الدول النامية بالابتزاز المالي وإعطاء القروض مقابل شروط اقتصادية مقيتة ..كلام مهم ينبغي علينا قراءته والبحث فيه ..إضافة إلى التآمر على الرئيس الفنزويلي المناهض للعولمة للإطاحة بهةبسبب رفضه للشروط المفروضة من قبل سياسة الهيمنة الأمريكية.
على كل الدول أن تنتفض بوجه حكامها الذين يوافقون على قروض البنك الدولي وعلى إخضاع بلدانهم للهيمنة الاقتصادية باسم المساعدات وغيرها!
الترجمة سيئة
January 23, 2013
Palast is/was pretty big in the UK doing features for the Guardian and BBC during the New Labour project. This book focuses on the US election rigging of 2000 and 2004 and domestic issues (like Waco and the artificial blackouts) as well as international topics such as the conditioning of loans by the "unholy trinity" of the IMF, WTO and World Bank. Well written, although the topics and themes might come across as endemic of its time
November 10, 2009
Palast takes seriously the investigative role of the (recently anemic) fourth estate. As a longtime reader of The Economist, I found the tales of corporate malfeasance and global finance raiding to be most useful, as counterexamples and caveates to that paper's (mostly laudible) market liberalization cheerleading.
January 1, 2008
I loved this book! I'm sure I'm on some government watch list because I bought it and am now recommending it to others, but Greg Palast is an amazing journalist. He lays out the truth about much of what goes on in government and big business. It is a very eye-opening read. (He's funny, too.)
Read
August 6, 2011He trashes the right, he trashes the liberals -- and all with a sense of humor and documented facts. Eye opening, depressing and funny.
Because what you think you know you realize is either just the tip of the iceberg, or just plain wrong.
Because what you think you know you realize is either just the tip of the iceberg, or just plain wrong.
June 12, 2007
Where has investigative Journalism gone? To the British Guardian perhaps?
He is something between an essayist and a muckraker in the best possible tradition. Read and get agitated.
He is something between an essayist and a muckraker in the best possible tradition. Read and get agitated.
December 5, 2014
lead essay is probably the best contemporary analysis of the 2000 US election, demonstrating that Florida was 'won' through use of unlawful voter-cleansing.
December 2, 2018
لقد استنتجت من قراءة الكتب السياسية عموما، أنه مهما كان فيها من الحقيقة، فلابد أن يكون هناك بعض كذب ، لتحقيق الهدف منها، والمرتبط بالزمن الذي نشرت فيه، لذا فالباحث الدقيق، ذو الهدف المحدد، يقارن الكتب بالكتب ليصل إلى الحقيقة.
لاأحد يكتب دون أن يربح شيئا ما ...خاصة لو كان مايكتبه يمس شخصيات معروفة...ومشهورة..
لاأحد يكتب دون أن يربح شيئا ما ...خاصة لو كان مايكتبه يمس شخصيات معروفة...ومشهورة..
January 25, 2018
Very interesting in regards to some of the closed-door dealings outlined in the book.
May 19, 2010
Greg Palast's "The Best Democracy Money Can Buy" is a collection of the most important of his investigative reports about dozens of shocking events all around the world.
Palast writes about the "fixed vote in florida" thatallegedly made George W. Bush president, as well as the secret deals of IMF, WTO and World Bank. The chapter about the "Lobbygate" scandal was most interesting, as well as the information about the lack of a "freedom of press" right in Great Britain.
Basically the message is that nearly all governments face corruption and that you should never trust your government, just because it's a "western" one. The same goes for international organisations that mainly serve as a means to save US domination of international markets. Whether this is true is for the reader to decided, but it certainly is backed up by similiar findings in "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man".
The big problem with this book is that Palast has a special kind of sarcastic and ironic style, talking to his reader as though he was a secret conspirator against all these corporate fraud and so on. This makes for one or two good laughs, but also makes it hard to read. This problem is not aided by the repitition of facts - the author just doesn't get to the point.
All in all an interesting but straining read - if only Palast's writing would be better, this would certainly be a 4-star read!
Palast writes about the "fixed vote in florida" that
Basically the message is that nearly all governments face corruption and that you should never trust your government, just because it's a "western" one. The same goes for international organisations that mainly serve as a means to save US domination of international markets. Whether this is true is for the reader to decided, but it certainly is backed up by similiar findings in "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man".
The big problem with this book is that Palast has a special kind of sarcastic and ironic style, talking to his reader as though he was a secret conspirator against all these corporate fraud and so on. This makes for one or two good laughs, but also makes it hard to read. This problem is not aided by the repitition of facts - the author just doesn't get to the point.
All in all an interesting but straining read - if only Palast's writing would be better, this would certainly be a 4-star read!
November 20, 2011
It took me longer to read this book because I could only take a little bit of the ugliness reported at a time. While most of the stories are from the early 2000, I think they're still relevant for everyone to know. This was also written before the supreme court made it okay for corporations to legally contribute to campaigns. I'll definitely have to check out his new book Vulture's Picnic which I think came out last week which features Liberia. He acknowledges in the last chapter that others have complained that it's a depressing book because it seems the big guys always win, but I think he'll be supportive of the occupy wall street movement as he believes in the power of the American people to stand up for what's right. I hope he's right.
November 1, 2016
Each chapter of this book could be its own book. All are equally disgusting looks at how our government is ran by a bunch of filthy-rich assholes who are united under the common goal of increasing their wealth and the wealth of all their jackass friends at the expense of their constituents and countries who foolishly trust their agenda. October in a horrifying election year seemed the perfect time to read it and, sure enough, some of the names from political disgrace 15 years ago are in the news yet still. It's a depressing read, but funny in parts in that holy-shit-we're-all-screwed kind of way. I appreciate the kind of work Palast does. I wish there was more of it because there's absolutely no question the hanging chads of yesteryear are still dangling over us today.
September 6, 2023
Though only half read, I could not finish this book. It is too deeply disturbing to realize how far our "democracy" has fallen and to read the damning research indicating that the last several elections were stolen by billionaires who bought winners by disappearing over 6 million legal voters. Since Clinton, the only election that had the sheer numbers to swamp their ability to do so was Obama's. While I trust this reporter's facts because they match up with information I've gleaned from other reputable sources, I do not appreciate his cutesy banter and name calling (though deserved) which undermine his credibility. Not particularly well written. He should have used editors from some of the first-class newspapers that have employed him.
March 22, 2019
I read the ebook version of this book and while I really appreciated the investigative journalism and stunning details about voter suppression in this country, the way the text was overlaid onto photos didn't work for me, nor did the sudden shift into graphic novel mode in the middle of the book. A book should be a complete package and I like a more consistent read throughout the book. That said I think the material in this book is important and newsworthy considering the 2020 elections are closing in on us. We can only hope they haven't removed all the democrats and progressives by the time we actually get to vote.
June 18, 2007
"Dont let them lie to you", Greg wrote in my book. I hadnt even read it at that point. Was passing a lamp post, saw a sign and dropped inhibitions. Real informative lecture. BBC Newsnight and crew dropped by. So I drop everything; psychology degree, Rehab role, and girls. Great job done well. Sure i still hear lies, but i sense a lot more. What better that being here and knowing what goes on.
another influence; but what else can a book do but capture me in the moment... thats you who is being lied to
another influence; but what else can a book do but capture me in the moment... thats you who is being lied to
January 3, 2008
Greg Palast has a chip on his shoulders, as he should. The state of journalism in this country blows and nobody seems to give a damn. He writes about some real important overlooked stories, mostly aimed at the bush administration and the world bank. It's sad we live in a country where election fraud and rampant corruption at such high levels are overlooked. He writes with a subjective voice though which can get a little distacting at times. Otherwise it's a good read. Also it was about current events, so it may be a bit out of date by now.
January 2, 2018
a bit of a slog but worth it
February 19, 2008
This book is liberal propaganda, as I already knew going in. But the parts about Florida handing the election to Bush are pretty damning. The guy has actual documents in the book which show that the BS they pulled regarding felons likely cost Gore over 10,000 votes. He claims it's more than that, but it dooesn't even matter since Bush only won the state by about 500 votes. But ultimately, it doesn't matter because Gore was a crappy candidate.
February 23, 2008
Worthwhile. The information he gets and the in-depth reporting is very interesting and insightful. Eye-opening.
The thing is, his writing sucks. He goes for this over the top almost cheap way of putting things, probably so as to highlight the sleazy way government and buisness get into bed together, but I writhe whenever I read it.
Good for what it is, but not to be taken too seriously.
August 2, 2011
Read it and dispair. Here is the truth about economic liberalisation and a thorough exposure of the lies which go under the name of the Free Market. Basically the great unwashed have lost the struggle. We have been brought off with trinkets and cholera infected iMacs. The world belongs to the criminal elite who fill the boards of the multinationals and the rubber stamping chambers of parliaments and congresses.
November 12, 2012
This book could have been written and edited much better than it was. I also wish the documentation would have been much more extensive. I guess my biggest gripe is that Palast overstates his bias; by presenting the factual data without the hand-wringing, his thesis would have been much stronger. Overall, though, the book is very much an eye-opener and lends credence to the broad accusations leveled at many public figures.
July 30, 2007
I went to hear him give a lecture once...in Houston, of all places. He said that because of the Freedom of Information Act, anyone can write the kind of books that he does. That was inspiring. It really was. Still, I'd rather just let him do all the spewing than try to write the kind of books he writes myself.
August 13, 2007
They impeached Bill Clinton because he had an affair & lied about it, & the Bushes & Dick Cheney & Karl Rove have bankrupted (financially & morally) my beloved United States & he's still in the Oval Office? You couldn't make this stuff up, folks. Pray without ceasing for January 20, 2009. I'm counting on you, HRC.
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