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Newest Blog Entries:
How Our Growth-Hungry Economy Has Devastated the Planet — And How We Can Change Course
This review capsulizes the over all 'body of the iceberg'. Gives a clarion cry and some pointers as what needs to be done. There is no question that these problems are staggering. Let us hope they are not overwhelming. The real problem is the lack of leadership in recognizing their existence and in doing something about them. Most of the elite realize they will probably not be around when the shit hits the fan. So let us party on! But think of the kids. Help!Posted by Michael Butler, Saturday, January 26, 2013
Truthdig – Richard Nixon at 100: The Man Who Matters
Richard Nixon sure is 'the man who matters'. We, our children, their children and beyond will pay a serious price for his actions. For a fascinating look at him, who 'Fractured America', do get the book, "Nixonland" by Rick Perlstein. One of the best political books I have ever read. mb Amazon has paperback or KindlePosted by Michael Butler, Sunday, January 13, 2013
Zombie Politics: Dangerous Authoritarianism or Shrinking Democracy – Part II
Recently MBCivic posted Part I of this book. That was a good post. This Part II carries the message further. It is very worthwhile to read. Might make you want to go back to Part I. However this should be enough to make anyone take notice. Respect what he writes. It is very hard to disagree with his positions as unpleasant as they maybe. All of us are into history. What we have learned from its study makes his points well worth serious respect. mbPosted by Michael Butler, Saturday, June 4, 2011
Chalmers Johnson on American Hegemony : ICH [VIDEO]
Yes, we know that education is a disgrace. The media is controlled by a small group of oligarchs. These and the MICC (Military Industrial Congressional Complex) thrive on the direction of continuing the American Empire. Fear does not make us secure, only paranoid. Chalmers Johnson RIP just passed away. His remarks and books portrayed the betrayal of the great American dream by greed and hubris unchecked. mbPosted by Michael Butler, Tuesday, November 30, 2010
The Killer in the Pool
Just read "The Killer in the Pool" from Larry Burke's 'Outside' magazine. A fascinating story which which makes one think about the pros and cons of captive animals. mbPosted by Michael Butler, Saturday, July 24, 2010
AlterNet: Why The Way We’re Working Isn’t Working — A Survival Manual for the Modern Age
"Speed Kills", "Smaller is Better", "Long Term not Short Term" -if these terms resonate, this book reviewed by Arianna Huffington, might worth your while. I have ordered it. mbPosted by Michael Butler, Saturday, May 15, 2010
Entering the Scary “Lacuna” of American Politics
This is not only a good review of a great book, it is a digression into some of the frightening aspects of the effects of the 'manifest destiny' of the American Empire, past and present, causes and effects. mbPosted by Michael Butler, Thursday, April 29, 2010
How the US can learn to survive and thrive, by Hubert Védrine
This is a great review of a very interesting book. It outlines aa positive approach to our climbing out of the abyss into which the last two terms have plunged us. MBPosted by Michael Butler, Monday, November 17, 2008
American Fascists by Chris Hedges (The Christian Right and the War on America)
George Milman, consigliare and one of our astute Editors kept insisting that I read "American Fascists" When I finely succumbed it almost created nightmares. A tome for serious thought, one thinks it cannot happen here but it can. This movement has a long lead time of preparation. To counter its siren sounds is going to take serious work. It will notgive in easily nor shortly. It is frightening when he deals with the number of politicians who are committed to support this movement. I include an excellent review: By Preston C. Enright (Denver, CO United States) Hedges does a great job of exposing how the Christian Right serves fascism - fascism defined as the marriage of corporate power and the government, along with beligerent nationalism and the utilization of state violence. There's no better example of that marriage than our massive military industrial complex and the growing prison industrial complex. It can be difficult to get normal, healthy human beings to support invasions, overthrows, economic injustice and global class war; but when people like Pat Robertson and James Dobson are there to put a smiley, pious face on it, then "good" Americans will rally behind the cause of Christo-fascism.. Not surprisingly, the high priests of Christo-fascism, people like Michael Medved, Hugh Hewitt, Dennis Prager and others spend countless hours on this nation's airwaves to rally the troops. Oftentimes accusing our victims of the sort of terror and plans for world domination that our masters of war have been implementing for generations. That's one aspect of this pseudo-Christian movement Hedges should've spent more time on, the role of right-wing talk radio to misinform an intellectually vulnerable segment of the US population. Then again, there are those who simply want to be deceived, since they are the ones who have been pulling the triggers on the Apache attack helicopters and the .50 caliber machine guns. As Sinclair Lewis said, "When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in a flag and carrying a cross."Posted by Michael Butler, Monday, October 20, 2008
AlterNet: The Pornography of Power: How Defense Hawks Hijacked 9/11 and Weakened America
"Delusions of grandeur, insecurities and greed" are a summation, by Robert Scheer, of the drives behind our imperial hubris. This great book by a serious author of our political scene really emphasis our pornography. Scheer quotes Washington's and Eisenhower's final addresses. Both should have been taken seriously. Those remarks should be required reading. Two of our greatest military chieftains have sounded the same tocsin.The false premises upon which most of our imperial adventures have been based. Greed has been the mantra of our current administration. Wanting it all for us. The rest of the world go hang. A total waste of resources which are not infinite. Actions based on false premises sold to an unsuspecting and ill-informed public. Totally ignoring that peace and prosperity go hand-in-hand. We must get out of the empire business. If we do not I guarantee the sunset of the American dream. MBPosted by Michael Butler, Thursday, September 4, 2008
t r u t h o u t | The Long Life of the Frontier Mullah
"The Great Game", as it was/is called, pertained to the competition over the control of Central Asia. Primarily this diplomatic and military contest was fought by Britain and Russia. The Germans made a few forays into the fray but never really scored. They did have a very bizarre period during the Nazi Reich when Himmler (head of the SS) pursued the Tibetans and the Afghans to prove that the Aryans from that area were the ancestors of the Germans. The Americans came on the scene very late not until the end of the 1900's. They interposed the CIA into an area where they had little expertise nor historical knowledge. The other players had been at 'the game' for a couple of hundred years. Naturally we really messed up and have continued to do so until the messes we are in today. For those who are interested in this fascinating subject the attached article will give you some insight into the complex scene. Some interesting recent books are mentioned and slightly reviewed. My advice is get a copy of "Tournament of Shadow" reviewed on MB CIVIC some years back. This fascinating volume will give you a base for further exploration. It is important to understand something of this scene which is the world's most dangerous playground. MBPosted by Michael Butler, Wednesday, July 16, 2008
The Family’s Values: America’s Most Influential (and Secretive) Religious Organization | AlterNet
This book is not about a conspiracy. It is about an actual, ongoing movement to preempt to secular aspect of of our government with a theocracy. It also shows the details of many religious movements into the area of our foreign relations. Unmasked and not discussed this can only lead to more control of our lives by those whole feel they are morally superior to us. Fascism, under the cloak of Religion, is the ultimate method of dictating the conduct of our lives.MBPosted by Michael Butler, Tuesday, July 8, 2008
AlterNet: Inverted Totalitarianism: A New Way of Understanding How the U.S. Is Controlled
Chalmers Johnson writes a great, detailed review of "Democracy, Inc." by Sheldon S. Wolin. This review is interesting enough to oblige me to order the book. I remain in hope that it may lay out some solutions to the depth of the serious problems which the American people need to address. This review will give a good view of the landscape. MBPosted by Michael Butler, Sunday, June 15, 2008
King Hussein of Jordan
Recently The Economist reviewed a new book about King Hussein, my closest friend in the Middle East. Oh my, how the world could use him now. He was the sanest voice in that turbulent part of the world. Hussein was a survivor with great class. His family was the oldest ruling in the Middle East-if not the world. His first trip to America was to visit me at Oak Brook. I have also enclosed the link to a story about our relationship. MBPosted by Michael Butler, Tuesday, December 11, 2007
CREATION by Gore Vidal [Book Review]
Posted by Michael Butler, Wednesday, October 31, 2007NEMESIS by Chalmers Johnson [Review]
Posted by Michael Butler, Saturday, September 29, 2007OFF THE RECORD by Norman Pearlstine
I have not received my copy but hasten to advise that this book must be an interesting read of a fascinating and important subject. Written by a friend of long standing, I am solely influenced by his ability as a writer. A tough decision made for the right reasons caused him some grief. In fact everyone involved with this national 'cause celebre' has felt some heat. It will not be a boring read. MBPosted by Michael Butler, Sunday, July 1, 2007
