American Theocracy: The Peril and Politics of Radical Religion, Oil, and Borrowed Money in the 21st Century – Kevin Phillips
American Theocracy: The Peril and Politics of Radical Religion, Oil, and Borrowed Money in the 21st Century – Kevin Phillips, Viking/Penguin Group (2006) 462pp. (S) ***
For those familiar with Kevin Phillips last work, American Dynasty, what will strike such a reader most about his most recent book, American Theocracy, is its breadth in scope. Phillips’ analysis provides a strong historical context, bolstered by a dizzying array of statistics, so much so that some readers may become overwhelmed. In fact, Phillips’ scope is so wide that it is a marvel just to see how he pulls everything together. And what Phillips must be fully respected for is his bold initiative in introducing “theocracy” into the popular lexicon. For the line separating the Taliban and Christian Reconstuctionists is very fine indeed. The principle thrust of his argument is threefold, as spelled out in the subtitle: the impact of radical fundamentalist religion, imported oil, and national debt, both on the modern day Republican party and upon the nation, and even the world as a whole, in general. Given the historical precedents he cites, principally that of the Dutch, the British, and the Spanish, Phillips demonstrates that there’s real cause for concern in the debt load currently being shouldered by the U.S. (and those internationally, who are forced to buy U.S. debt in the form of bonds and the like). What this portends for the future, perhaps only China will tell.
At one point, Phillips succinctly captures the notion of the evangelical information cocoon. His words are as follows: “Many of the evangelical, fundamentalist, and Pentecostal churches, especially the megachurches, become the principal source of both belief and information in their congregations’ lives. Broadcast, publishing, and direct-mail empires have grown up around these fellowships and communities, creating umbrellas against the effects of secular communications. The viewpoints of so-called sophisticates have little access to the minds of the faithful.”(p.385)
While Phillips’ argumentation is often full-bodied and dead-on target, there are however, a few things missing. Readers of other reviews by this writer may find this point tediously belabored and redundant, though in reality it really can’t be iterated enough. Two words: election fraud. Any serious analysis of Republican success at the polls over the past five years, can not overlook the reality of election fraud perpetrated by the Republican party. From purged voting rolls in Florida, to the criminal machinations of Kenneth Blackwell in Ohio, George W. Bush would not be president, were it not for the ready assistance he received from corrupt campaign cronies, willing to go that extra mile, even if it took them into territory of the illegal. To this reader’s disappointment, Phillips mentions none of this. For while as much as 40% of the U.S. population may call themselves religious fundamentalists, 40% will never make a majority, no matter which way you cut it. But it is the zeal with which this 40% backs and supports George W. Bush, not as president, but as something akin to being God sent, that must be watched closely. For it is exactly this zeal, and perception of George W. Bush not as a public servant, but as something other than – as in of a divine nature, that carries some of these people into adopting illegal measures that helped to usher in their Highness into office, and re-select him to keep him there.
The other area where Phillips is a bit weak in, is in regards to “peak oil” and the 9/11 attacks. In his opening pages, he gives only passing mention to Michael Ruppert’s Crossing the Rubicon with respect to peak oil, and then in a spattering of spaces throughout the rest of the book. What is really lacking is any closer investigation into the event of 9/11, territory that Ruppert has fearlessly navigated, and for so doing, is oddly not recognized by Phillips. For the sake of brevity and to prevent further redundancy, this reviewer will not explore the many facets of the irregularities of that fateful day, here. Suffice it to say, Phillips has dropped the ball by assuming the standard interpretation of the 9/11 attacks (i.e. that foreigners, and foreigners alone, without any stateside assistance, planned and executed the attacks). But, we can’t have it all in a single book, can we?
For those familiar with Kevin Phillips last work, American Dynasty, what will strike such a reader most about his most recent book, American Theocracy, is its breadth in scope. Phillips’ analysis provides a strong historical context, bolstered by a dizzying array of statistics, so much so that some readers may become overwhelmed. In fact, Phillips’ scope is so wide that it is a marvel just to see how he pulls everything together. And what Phillips must be fully respected for is his bold initiative in introducing “theocracy” into the popular lexicon. For the line separating the Taliban and Christian Reconstuctionists is very fine indeed. The principle thrust of his argument is threefold, as spelled out in the subtitle: the impact of radical fundamentalist religion, imported oil, and national debt, both on the modern day Republican party and upon the nation, and even the world as a whole, in general. Given the historical precedents he cites, principally that of the Dutch, the British, and the Spanish, Phillips demonstrates that there’s real cause for concern in the debt load currently being shouldered by the U.S. (and those internationally, who are forced to buy U.S. debt in the form of bonds and the like). What this portends for the future, perhaps only China will tell.
At one point, Phillips succinctly captures the notion of the evangelical information cocoon. His words are as follows: “Many of the evangelical, fundamentalist, and Pentecostal churches, especially the megachurches, become the principal source of both belief and information in their congregations’ lives. Broadcast, publishing, and direct-mail empires have grown up around these fellowships and communities, creating umbrellas against the effects of secular communications. The viewpoints of so-called sophisticates have little access to the minds of the faithful.”(p.385)
While Phillips’ argumentation is often full-bodied and dead-on target, there are however, a few things missing. Readers of other reviews by this writer may find this point tediously belabored and redundant, though in reality it really can’t be iterated enough. Two words: election fraud. Any serious analysis of Republican success at the polls over the past five years, can not overlook the reality of election fraud perpetrated by the Republican party. From purged voting rolls in Florida, to the criminal machinations of Kenneth Blackwell in Ohio, George W. Bush would not be president, were it not for the ready assistance he received from corrupt campaign cronies, willing to go that extra mile, even if it took them into territory of the illegal. To this reader’s disappointment, Phillips mentions none of this. For while as much as 40% of the U.S. population may call themselves religious fundamentalists, 40% will never make a majority, no matter which way you cut it. But it is the zeal with which this 40% backs and supports George W. Bush, not as president, but as something akin to being God sent, that must be watched closely. For it is exactly this zeal, and perception of George W. Bush not as a public servant, but as something other than – as in of a divine nature, that carries some of these people into adopting illegal measures that helped to usher in their Highness into office, and re-select him to keep him there.
The other area where Phillips is a bit weak in, is in regards to “peak oil” and the 9/11 attacks. In his opening pages, he gives only passing mention to Michael Ruppert’s Crossing the Rubicon with respect to peak oil, and then in a spattering of spaces throughout the rest of the book. What is really lacking is any closer investigation into the event of 9/11, territory that Ruppert has fearlessly navigated, and for so doing, is oddly not recognized by Phillips. For the sake of brevity and to prevent further redundancy, this reviewer will not explore the many facets of the irregularities of that fateful day, here. Suffice it to say, Phillips has dropped the ball by assuming the standard interpretation of the 9/11 attacks (i.e. that foreigners, and foreigners alone, without any stateside assistance, planned and executed the attacks). But, we can’t have it all in a single book, can we?
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