false http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172973065m/234871.jpg 234871 2 Author, populist, and radio commentator Jim Hightower is nothing if not direct. In <I>Thieves in High Places</I>, Hightower lambastes the current American power structure and exhorts his readers to fight against it. Hightower's indignation runs deep in this "us versus them" exposé of corporate malfeasance, governmental abuse, the militarization of American society, and the Bush administration's empire building. In the first part of the book, Hightower illustrates how the Bush administration and Congress work with major corporations (including our nation's vast media conglomerates) to add to their obscene wealth at the expense of America's working class, our environment, and (most lamentably) our rights and liberties. "The elites have pulled off a slow-motion coup, radically wrenching America's power balance from a people's democracy to Kleptocrat Nation." </p> Hightower defines "Kleptocrat Nation" as "a body of people ruled by thieves...a government characterized by the practice of transferring money and power from the many to the few...[and] a ruling class of moneyed elites that usurps liberty, justice, sovereignty, and other, democratic rights from the people." His catalogue of corporate greed and governmental complicity is breathtaking in scope, and though he admits that the fusion of business and government is not new, he persuasively states that "never have so few done so much for so few." Unfortunately, Hightower's serious message is delivered in such a "down home" style, it may lose its impact on the more brainy among us. Also, one wishes there were more documentation for the copious examples and facts in the book. Still, Hightower's call to action is sincere, and his descriptions of the triumphs of average people over corporate power might give some fledgling activists some hope. <I>Thieves in High Places</I> urges Americans to reclaim control of our government--Hightower thinks we can with community organization and grass-roots movements. However, judging from his description of the current power structure, we are going to need all the help we can get. -- <I>Silvana Tropea</I> 227486 2003 Thieves in High Places: They've Stolen Our Country and It's Time to Take It Back total:66|5:12|4:25|3:25|2:4|1:0| 66 243 92 7 4 0 false false Sun Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Wed Nov 18 12:32:53 -0800 2009 Fri Nov 20 13:26:55 -0800 2009 more...]]> 4 0 false false Sat May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2004 Tue Nov 06 20:26:32 -0800 2007 Wed Nov 07 06:39:35 -0800 2007 more...]]> 5 0 false false Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2005 Sun Mar 29 00:03:31 -0700 2009 Sun Mar 29 00:07:55 -0700 2009 more...]]> 3 0 false false Sat Sep 29 09:56:41 -0700 2007 Sat Sep 29 10:01:34 -0700 2007 more...]]> 3 0 false false Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2003 Fri Jan 25 00:40:24 -0800 2008 Tue Jan 29 19:41:44 -0800 2008
Another thing I remember, is Jim High...more...]]> 4 0 false false Sun Apr 15 12:06:39 -0700 2007 Sun Apr 15 12:10:59 -0700 2007 US government or Bushco?]]> 0 0 false false Tue Nov 18 13:14:48 -0800 2008 Tue Nov 18 13:15:04 -0800 2008 0 0 false false Tue Nov 03 11:23:26 -0800 2009 Tue Nov 03 12:05:44 -0800 2009 3 0 false false Thu Oct 15 11:41:56 -0700 2009 Thu Oct 15 11:41:56 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Mon Oct 05 16:47:20 -0700 2009 Mon Oct 05 16:47:20 -0700 2009 4 0 false false Mon Nov 03 00:00:00 -0800 2003 Mon Sep 21 12:01:18 -0700 2009 Mon Sep 21 12:01:32 -0700 2009 5 0 false false Wed Aug 26 20:13:58 -0700 2009 Wed Aug 26 20:13:58 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Thu Aug 20 15:42:10 -0700 2009 Thu Aug 20 15:42:10 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Thu Jul 23 19:27:51 -0700 2009 Thu Jul 23 19:27:51 -0700 2009 5 0 false false Fri May 08 22:33:57 -0700 2009 Fri May 08 22:33:57 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Mon May 04 21:11:46 -0700 2009 Mon May 04 21:11:46 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Sun Apr 26 19:17:16 -0700 2009 Sun Apr 26 19:17:17 -0700 2009 5 0 false false Tue Apr 21 08:07:23 -0700 2009 Tue Apr 21 08:07:23 -0700 2009 3 0 false false Sun Apr 19 08:23:47 -0700 2009 Sun Apr 19 08:23:54 -0700 2009 3 0 false false Tue Mar 24 22:13:16 -0700 2009 Tue Mar 24 22:13:16 -0700 2009 http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=234871