What do you think?
Rate this book
Inside the Shadow Government: National Emergencies and the Cult of Secrecy
Shocking information about a "shadow government" is revealed, with details of secret plans to arrest Americans without probable cause and seize control of media outlets, in the event of a national emergency. Original.
240 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2003
54 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
July 15, 2024
AN EXAMINATION OF THE POTENTIAL EFFECTS OF "NATIONAL EMERGENCIES," ETC.
Harry Helms is "a published expert on clandestine and pirate radio, and co-founder of a technical book publisher."
He wrote in the first chapter of this 2003 book, "This book scrutinizes the Shadow Government's origins, legal foundations, powers, structure, facilities, and potential for abuse... this book considers whether the Shadow Government can preserve American constitutional government in the event of catastrophe... Because of the highly classified nature of the Shadow Government, parts of this book must rely on unconfirmed reports, rumors, and outright speculation. In all such cases, however, the information will be identified as unconfirmed, rumors, or speculation." (Pg. 19)
He begins by book by noting that the President has the authority "to suspend constitutional government... and rule like a dictator through a little-known procedure called an 'executive order," in the event of a national emergency. He adds, "And who determines if a situation constitutes a national emergency? The president." (Pg. 2) He later asserts that "Executive orders are the glue that holds the Shadow Government together." (Pg. 52)
He defines the Shadow Government as "the collection of facilities, plans, people, presidential emergency powers, hidden budgets, and classifications systems used to shield the U.S. government's emergency plans from potential enemies, the American public, and even Congress." (Pg. 18)
His major point is that "the United States has no need for a Shadow Government. We already have a 'Sunshine Government' defined by the Constitution and implemented by laws passed by elected representatives of the American people. The legitimate need to prepare for unexpected emergencies and catastrophic events can easily be accommodated within the framework of constitutional, not shadow, government." (Pg. 20)
While the book will be viewed as unduly "alarmist" by many, it's a serious posing of some rather sobering possibilities (remember that it was written during the early days of the Iraq War, when the post-9/11 fears were still very strong).
Harry Helms is "a published expert on clandestine and pirate radio, and co-founder of a technical book publisher."
He wrote in the first chapter of this 2003 book, "This book scrutinizes the Shadow Government's origins, legal foundations, powers, structure, facilities, and potential for abuse... this book considers whether the Shadow Government can preserve American constitutional government in the event of catastrophe... Because of the highly classified nature of the Shadow Government, parts of this book must rely on unconfirmed reports, rumors, and outright speculation. In all such cases, however, the information will be identified as unconfirmed, rumors, or speculation." (Pg. 19)
He begins by book by noting that the President has the authority "to suspend constitutional government... and rule like a dictator through a little-known procedure called an 'executive order," in the event of a national emergency. He adds, "And who determines if a situation constitutes a national emergency? The president." (Pg. 2) He later asserts that "Executive orders are the glue that holds the Shadow Government together." (Pg. 52)
He defines the Shadow Government as "the collection of facilities, plans, people, presidential emergency powers, hidden budgets, and classifications systems used to shield the U.S. government's emergency plans from potential enemies, the American public, and even Congress." (Pg. 18)
His major point is that "the United States has no need for a Shadow Government. We already have a 'Sunshine Government' defined by the Constitution and implemented by laws passed by elected representatives of the American people. The legitimate need to prepare for unexpected emergencies and catastrophic events can easily be accommodated within the framework of constitutional, not shadow, government." (Pg. 20)
While the book will be viewed as unduly "alarmist" by many, it's a serious posing of some rather sobering possibilities (remember that it was written during the early days of the Iraq War, when the post-9/11 fears were still very strong).
Displaying 1 of 1 review