I am skipping a review of Junichiro Tanizaki's two novellas, The Reed Cutter and Captain Shigemoto's Mother, two compelling stories of desire and passion by one of Japan's modern masters which I recently read. Instead, I want to discuss The Best Democracy Money Can Buy by Greg Palast, a fascinating, eye-opening and disturbing collection of investigative journalism.
Greg Palast is an investigative journalist, who is currently working for the BBC and The Guardian. He formerly worked fighting corporations with Labor Unions and consumer groups. He brings his investigative experience from these organizations to uncover greed, avarice, and injustice the world over. He is probably most well know for uncovering the voting shenanigans in Florida during the last election, which makes of the first chapter of this book. His documentation is meticulous, and his style is straight forward and to the point.
He takes on the Bush family and the corporations (i.e. Enron) and countries (i.e. Saudi Arabia) that have supported them throughout their political lives. He also has a lot to say about deregulation of power, which has significant relevance in light of the recent blackout in the northeast (click on "Greg Palast" to get to his website to read more about it). He also shows how the IMF, World Bank, and WTO have had a negative impact on developing economies and challenges the globalization. Of course he devotes a full chapter to corporate America. In another chapter, he goes after Pat Robertson and Pepsi Cola among others.
Furthermore he provides a handy appendix for "your turn-resources for action." In that section he lists organizations that are fighting against injustices all over as well as suggestions as to what people can do to get involved.
Were you able to download my ice machine pictures?
I want 'em.
Posted by: Lou | August 22, 2003 at 02:01 AM
Sorry, you have to wait until I get back to Tokyo.
Posted by: MC | August 22, 2003 at 09:38 AM
Mark is reading this book at the moment and loving it. He's already told me about a lot of the stuff you mention above. Thank God for people like him who actually write about these things or we'd all be in the dark. The section at the back sounds good - I'll have to take a peek.
We went to see an amazing play 2 nights ago btw - The Madness of George Dubya. I doubt it would run anywhere other than London but was v clever, insightful and incredibly funny! Try and see it if you can...
Posted by: Ella | August 22, 2003 at 11:22 AM
Actually, Bush is coming through my home state in the next few days. Today there was a protest advertisement from The Sierra Club (an environmental group) in the local paper. I have also heard that there are several groups planning to stage protests when Bush visits Seattle.
Pat
Posted by: MC | August 23, 2003 at 01:08 AM