Kevin Phillips on the American Theocracy
by RonChusidThe New York Times reviews reviews American Theocracy
Prophetic Christians, Phillips writes, often shape their view of politics and the world around signs that charlatan biblical scholars have identified as predictors of the apocalypse — among them a war in Iraq, the Jewish settlement of the whole of biblical Israel, even the rise of terrorism. He convincingly demonstrates that the Bush administration has calculatedly reached out to such believers and encouraged them to see the president’s policies as a response to premillennialist thought. He also suggests that the president and other members of his administration may actually believe these things themselves, that religious belief is the basis of policy, not just a tactic for selling it to the public. Phillips’s evidence for this disturbing claim is significant, but not conclusive.
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Kevin Phillips has written a number of rational, well researched, and thorough books that should have been much wider read for their prescience.
This looks like another one. As the reviewer notes, much of the information is not new. Phillips gift is gathering large amounts of factual data and organizing it so that the implications are impossible to miss. (“American Dynasty”)
The reviewer, Alan Brinkley ( Allan Nevins professor of history and the provost at Columbia University) does not find Phillips claim that theology is a basis for much of the administration’s policy compelling; recent reports from those who have worked with or in the administration support it.
As he concludes in his review:
“Phillips has created a harrowing picture of national danger that no American reader will welcome, but that none should ignore.”
Phillips writing is too difficult for the average American reader who is looking for entertainment. I also believe that for humanity generally and America especially ‘Forwarning is futile’. All the more reason for as many as possible to invest the time.
Phillips is an astute commentator.
Back in the 60′s, when there was good reason to look for an alternative to Democratic control, Phillips predicted the GOP take over.
Unfortuantely the Republicans turned out to be even worse than those they replaced, and Phillips has had the integrity to criticize them–in economic policy as well as theocracy.
The most frightening trend that I can gather from this book is the potential for the economic crises that arises from oil and national debt to create a new vulnerability for the American public, who may become susceptible to the rise of a real broadbased Christian Facist movement. Such a movement would be possible because a right wing christian worlview would provide a compelling narrative to millions citizens who feel insecure about their economic futures and the social decay that accompanies these types of economic hardships. THIS is a REAL POSSIBILITY. The stage has been set!!
I’m about half way through Phillips’ book, THE AMERICAN THEOCRACY.
What an eye opener. I am truly impressed with the great amount of research that had to have gone into its writing. Looks to me as though the South has risen and is doing its best to destroy our northern economy by sending our manufacturing ability overseas. Furthermore, it looks as though the present strategists of the Republican Party have got something up their sleeve that doesn’t give a hoot for America.