Questions About Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right

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Answered Questions (16)

Is there hope that we can overcome the oligarchs and that my vote will once again mean something?

Sundra I am still in the middle of the book - pouring over every word - so know that. But what Mayer is helping me understand (or reminding me) is that all p…moreI am still in the middle of the book - pouring over every word - so know that. But what Mayer is helping me understand (or reminding me) is that all politics is local. I'm based in Oklahoma, and my side of the political spectrum blames ALEC, or political leaders, or others for our horrendous situation with privatizing and all "gah'ment" being evil or ineffective. This book is helping me sooo much better understand why our state's poor and marginalized vote against their self-interests and trust the rich to take care of them. It's very empowering to understand how and why ALEC is just a tool, and so many of our politicians (not all!) are just tools. My saving grace is our organizing work in Oklahoma City - and getting to know there are some conservative reps who hate every ALEC bill, etc. etc. Being a responsible citizen is more that voting every four years, which is what way too many people do, and then rest, satisfied (or not!). Being a citizen requires fighting the disempowerment that some nurture, and staying on top of local and state elections. Know the candidates. Organize yourself and your neighbors to identify your interests and insist that candidates, representatives, and other leaders know your wishes and are accountable to their voters. Amazingly, politicians and representatives will listen when you show them the numbers of voters you turn out. They know local elections can flip on a few thousand votes and still, at bottom, they have to be elected. Organized people can fight organized money - and this book is helping with understanding the context and being able to follow the money. Our current state of affairs can be changed, but it will take every bit as much work to do so that it has taken to get us here. It's worth it every minute.(less)

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I want to understand what's going on, but is reading it likely to cause loss of faith in humanity? Still reeling over the election and cabinet choices.

Bronwyn This book is depressing, but if you want to understand what is busy happening you need to read this. Understanding what is going on will help you to k…moreThis book is depressing, but if you want to understand what is busy happening you need to read this. Understanding what is going on will help you to know how to respond to this. Now more than ever, every American should read this book.(less)

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This was an incredibly fascinating, and sometimes nauseating book to read. I'm wondering if there is a sort of counterpoint or offering that may track folks such as Soros or Buffet to see if there is a similar effort on the left? Meyer makes several mentions of Democratic Party initiatives to try to do something similar.

Jess There isn't a parallel on the left in terms of using private money to undermine government agencies that oversee industry regulation. You can find ple…moreThere isn't a parallel on the left in terms of using private money to undermine government agencies that oversee industry regulation. You can find plenty of left leaning orgs that fund causes you may disagree with, or similarly on the right, but this is about fundamentally undermining the core function of government, how elections are run, etc. The dark money is about destroying government to maximize personal profit, eg. what is happening right now to the EPA, which benefits the fossil fuel industries. Who has funded this? Koch Industries. Not Soros. Not Buffet.(less)

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Is there a political bias behind this book? These kind of books extremely interesting but I am not interested in reading propaganda.

Rick The only political bias of this book is a search for truth and honesty. As far as propaganda, there is none: it is extremely well researched and docum…moreThe only political bias of this book is a search for truth and honesty. As far as propaganda, there is none: it is extremely well researched and documented. The book is 462 pages long, with 53 pages of footnotes and 24 pages of index. It goes deep into an area that urgently needs more sunlight: how untrackable money from the radical right One Percent is being used to shape our political system to their liking. All in plain view, supposedly, using front groups and super PACs, but hidden and behind the scenes in reality...all thanks to Citizens United and pathetically weak political finance laws. You will learn much from reading it, guarantee it.(less)

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Shouldn't this book be in the fantasy section, Because it is certainly not non-fiction?