American Fascists

Now this is a book everyone should read

Democracy is something you either participate in, value and defend, or you will find one day that you don't have it anymore. This book provides a comprehensive description and insight into the organisations presently active in the determined attempts to obliterate the Democracy you take for granted.This is a war that the Christian Fundamentalists are hoping to win by stealth. In this war the application of knowledge is power and they are depending on your ignorance that their ultimate objective that one day you will wake up and find that you are in a totalitarian state governed under the rule of a book of magic.

An interesting analysis of the mutual interests of the religious right,big business and right wing politics in the US.It also examines the hidden anti-democratic agenda of the religious right as well as the alleged subterfuge used in attempting to realize its vision for setting up a christian theocracy in America and what it might mean for those who do not share its values.

Well worth a read. As relevant today as when it was written.

america seems to have its own logic system an this is a very scary look at right wing christian who have there own hate filled view of the word,from tawdy preachers with tv scams who think god will give cash rewards to believers to homophobic klan loving bible bashers.these folk are organised and powerful and will be knocking on our doors

In this hard-hitting book, Chris Hedges attacks head-on the Christian Right and their ideology, dominionism, which calls for the church to take political and institutional power and install a theocracy in the US.The movement has very wealthy backers for two main reasons, politically, the assault on democracy and economically, the promotion of unfettered capitalism.Assault on democracyThe Christian Right calls for the destruction of an open and pluralist society with its civil-rights laws, trade unions and public schools teaching secular humanism.Education and welfare should be handed over to the churches. `Tithes' should be paid by the population.The movement is anti-gay, anti-abortion, anti-liberal, anti-immigrants, anti-Hindu, anti-Muslim and for severe sexual repression.Chris Hedges accuses one of its members as being the mastermind of vote counts manipulation in recent elections.Unfettered capitalism (the gospel of prosperity)Unfettered capitalism allows the exploitation of human workers by paying less than living wages, thereby generating billions of dollars of profits for the corporatocracy.Political influenceThe Christian Right controls a big part of the Republican Party. Its organizations received billions of dollars under the Bush II administrations.It has representatives in the Supreme Court, in the Senate and the House of Representatives.It can spread its message through its own TV channels, radio stations and newspapers.Social influenceThe Christian Right tries to create a political mass movement with people, who are, in fact, victims of this unfettered capitalism (see also, T. Frank: What's the Matter with Kansas.)On the other hand, it is a money machine for its preachers (`Let me be very clear. I want your money. I deserve it.').(Un)scientific influenceIts belief system and its handbook (the Bible) are the basis for understanding the world. Facts are treated as opinions (`Why condoms aren't safe').It believes in and supports the anti-Darwinian gospel of creationism (Intelligent Design).Chris Hedges's crystal clear book shows ominously the dangers of the Christian Right for democracy.His book is a must read for all those who want to understand the world we live in.

This book is incredible. Hedges eloquently constructs his arguments using the words of the preachers themselves, to draw a chilling comparison between the Christian Right and the fledgling fascist movements of 1920s and 1930s Europe.Unlike many books about fundamentalist Christians, American Fascists is not an attack on religion itself, and doesn't seek to mock or condescend - indeed, the author lays out his own faith from the start. It is, however, a stark warning about the ongoing misuse of religion by powerful fundamentalists, and how we can ALL be taken in.If you believe in God or if you are an atheist, read this book.

Thank dog religion is on the way out is all I can say. Frightening.