Customer Reviews

100 Ways America Is Screwing Up the World

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Be it 'AIPAC', 'Big Pharma', 'Consumerism' or 'Disney, Inc.', John Tirman's celebration of democracy provides the reader with much food for thought. In 'Altering the Earth's Climate' and 'Television', the leadoff chapters of 100 Ways America Is Screwing Up the World, the author sets the tone for his fascinating book and shows how a fresh perspective of some common topics can easily set your mind spinning.

Tirman is a well respected political scientist who has written widely on foreign policy, politics and human rights. This book takes a long look at broad range topics that you are probably well aware of but may never have really given them this kind of thought. His very personal style of writing makes each topic quite understandable and sensible at the same time. He also packs a lot into just a few pages on each subject. I have paraphrased some of his reflections on 'Agribusiness' below to provide you with what I feel is a good example.

'The lower cost of Government subsidized corn in the US has created an incentive for processed food manufacturers to substitute high-fructose corn syrup for other sugars, which now strongly correlates with obesity and an epidemic of diabetes that offsets any intended good of the subsidies. Genetically modified foods are sure to be another health-related problem of farm subsidies that's just over-the-horizon. And to make matters worse, such subsidies end up costing the developing world some $300 billion annually with actual assistance being only $50 billion! And just because Europe is as guilty as we are on these issues doesn't make it right.'

In 'We Don't Do Body Counts', Tirman shows how, with our current policy in the Middle East, we have callously attempted to deflect attention from the moral consequences of our war of choice, which are always inconvenient. It makes us remember the Vietnam Nightly News and the failure of past policies. 'America as Victim', 'Damsels in Distress', 'The Weapons Habit', 'The Killing Fields of Death Row'; the list goes on. Each topic is a masterpiece of insightful analysis. I feel that his discussion of 'Consumerism' should be required annual reading for people of all ages until 'we get it.'

As the current Executive Director of MIT's Center for International Studies, he is obviously no pessimist and he demonstrates that by ending this work on a positive note with a wrap-up called Ten Things America Does Right. I encourage you to read this book; it will definitely open your eyes.

Bob Magnant is the author of The Last Transition... - a fact-based novel about Iran, Iraq and the Middle East...

This book, rather obviously, synopsizes the major flaws with, from, and metastasizing within American politics (primarily), culture, and society at large.

I agree with about 98% of what the author has to say. I just appreciated that so many of the hypocrisies and flaws erupting within American society that bother me are shared by Mr. Tirman and the reasons why one should be bothered are raised as concerns above being trivial and petty. (Love the Paris Hilton and celebrity worship entry).

Mr. Tirman wants to come off as objective, or at least apolitical, but his liberal leanings become more pronounced, and more painfully obvious as his list progresses. This in and of itself is not problematic, it's his occassional assertions that he is not swaying to far to the liberal side (or simply falling prey to conservative bashing ) which seem all the more ridiculous.

Otherwise, he comes off as rather fair and reasonable. Although, I can't agree with him that no-smoking laws in the US (and now creeping through Europe) are diminishing rights (especially coming from someone so adverse to wonton pollution and selfish acts that harm others-which is what smoking is.)

I really didn't like his glossing over of the immigration issue that is now confronting America. He, in elitist and ivory tower flair, dismisses illegal immigration as spats with people vying for jobs as car wash jockies and maids. For a man so concerned with the "global south" to reduce illegal immigration to this is a shame. He never delves into the exploitation of these illegal immigrants by the agribusinesses, the Wal-Marts, and the profit seeking at all cost conglomerates that suck them up and spit them out that he spends 90% of his time railing against. He doesn't believe (or at least doesn't lead us to believe that he does) that this period of unheralded illegal immigration has its roots in profiteering at the expense of not only the migrants, but the working class and middle class for the benefit of the few, the wealthy, and powerful. He laments poverty in America, education, healthcare, and the prison system, but never acknowledges the role of illegal immigration in all of this (depressed wages for Americans and migrants fueled by illegal immigration, overburden on public schools, etc..).
If he doesn't care about the low wage jobs (the only ones being created now in America) being handed over to the exploited migrants, what will he think of the spreading impoverishment of the domestic working class that is resulting?

Then there is his unsubstantiated, no, make that conjecture regarding Scots-Irish(?) and military loyalty. (I think he must have been talking to an uncredited Jim Webb).

Finally, (me being petty) this guy has it out for SUVs, and mostly the SUVs of jingoistic troop supporters with their yellow ribbon decals. I also have witnessed this correlation. Fine, but don't expose your disdain as a phobia by constantly referring to it to almost the point of being irrational.

Overall, Mr. Tirman presents the reasons, the facts, and the history behind the screw-ups he documents succintly and utterly.
Other than that, it's nice knowing that such an intellectual and open-minded person is bothered by the same things.

Ughhh... Paris Hilton???
We're doomed!

great book and all Americans should read it. It doesn't make you ashamed to be an American, however it does show you logically how we fit into the rest of the world.

This book is full of short and quick but poignant points of what is wrong with America in today's world. Even though the book was published in 2006, a lot of what it says is relevant today. Not only that, it also provides an unabashed look at history in the years post-World War II (even though there are issues touched upon before WWII).

For me personally, this is nothing new other than a few insights that I hadn't heard about or knew about. But Tirman writes bitingly of issues like Christianity in third world nation, how it influences the White House and more. He doesn't just focus on one political parties as he criticized all the presidents in the last 30 years or so, but does reserve his wrath for the Bush administration. Not only are presidents held accountable for their actions, he also criticizes the fast food mentality, the celebrity culture and more.

It is a refreshing read of things I've read before or knew a little bit about as he doesn't hold back the punches. It'll be interesting to see if there will be a rewrite of this book in 4-8 years as the future develops.

If you like politics and history as well as sociology, then you will enjoy this book. It is full of information and written in an essay format (which makes it easy to read) and it flows smoothly as Tirman navigates among the issues that Americans have created in this world today.

1/22/09

Overall, I thought that this book did a very good job explaining all of the different topics disscussed in the book. I thought that it had a wide varitey of topics and I thought that the author always knew what he was talking about very well. However, sometimes I always didn't agree with him and I thought that he was very close minded and that what he thought was the only right way. Overall, the book didn't a very good job explaining many of the problems we have in America today and I learned a lot from it and I'm sure you would too.

This book could easily be misconstrued as a litany of whining. But John Tirman is a bright enough guy to have avoided that. He has worked in and out of the government for many years - it seems he knows his subjects well.

And it comes to pass that no one escapes Mr. Tirman's thunder - conservative, liberal, and everyone in between (although the Clinton's don't take as much heat as the heavy salvos directed at Bush One & Two).

Globalization; evangelism; consumerism; terrorism; Reaganism - from Fidel Castro to Paris Hilton, from SUV's to Vegas - the litany of screwups and new twists on old stupidites just keeps rolling along.

Each of these 100 vignettes is succinct and well delivered; the facts are cogent and convincing.

Yet what is glaringly missing are suggestions about undoing all this chronicled damage that "Americanism" has unleashed (although there is a 12 page addendum: 10 Things that America does right in the world).

Tirman should be credited with speaking out on this wide range of issues, most of them damaging to our credibility as the American people. Is it any wonder that the rest of the world is pissed off with the continuing arrogance and disrespect for their ways and cultures? After reading this book, one is left feeling a bit numb at how badly we have mismanaged our superpower role in the world.

This read is a real head shaker - and hopefully a wake up call.

The Cloud Reckoner

Extracts: A Field Guide for Iconoclasts

The author sweeps across a very broad panorama of forces that cause America to damage both itself and others. Many of the topics covered are not (readily) found elsewhere, such as the limitations of NY Times and Washington Post reporting, the making of pre-adolescent girls into sex objects, and the highly questionable mushrooming of graduate schools. The book's format leads to succinct, understandable writing that repeatedly hits nails on the head and takes dead aim at the sick dysfunctionality wrought by George Bush and company. It also covers America's ideals, which are alive and well, even if eclipsed or in instances sabotaged by the destructive forces previously cited -- and are worth working to regain. Overall, well, and nicely, done.

Any well-read person knows all that is between the covers of this book. Having said that however, because of its brevity and concise topics, this marvelous compendium of 21st century uniquely American disease symptoms qualifies as an extremely useful source book for the new millennium.

All of the familiar suspects are here: Las Vegas #85, consumerism #45, Reaganism #8 & #17, Wall Mart #10, etc, etc, etc. Obviously the reader will have thoughts about what was left out and what should not be there at all. The inclusion of SUVs #28 will no doubt cause as much outcry in America as was caused here when our former Prime Minister publically catigated these monsters some months ago for the same reasoms. Tirman was diplomatic enough not to even mention the engine driving many of his 100-the the onerous American style of capitalism or the Free Market or free enterprise, or whatever moniker the beast hides under. Virtually everyone of Tirman's 100 disease symptoms was mothered by this one evil-at least as it exists in the American variety.

Every evil in his book can be traced to a rampant market driven curse; there is too much of everything from bad Hollywood glamour #90 or gun stalls selling AK47s #37 to virtually anyone that wants one. Only days ago, Brazil voted down a proposition to curb gun sales. Why, because the National Rifleman's Association mounted a major campaign against the legislation-an American organization influncing political events in another country. Foreign interference like that would not be tolerated in Kansas or probably anywhere else in America.

This book brings all the problems together; if you read a newspaper and ever wonder how most of the world's problems started, get yourself this wonderful book and educate yourself. It will be money and time well spent.

Tirman is inconsistent in his analysis of American culture. His seeming bias as a 1960's advocate for the sexual revolution includes arguments for US taxpayer funding of abortions and contraceptives. This is the ultimate in cultural imperialism...Sterilize and kill the poor of the world. Let the poor decide their own family size in a healthy way through knowledge of fertility via natural family planning. Natural family planning is inexpensive, extremely effective, and relationship-enhancing. Tirman promotes embryonic stem cell research. Where's his sympathy for the human life that was destroyed? Adult stem cells don't destroy people and offer promise of healing. Tirman humorously promotes homosexual behavior and gambling, deliberately ignoring health and societal consequences. His contempt for those who believe in intelligent design is matched by his fervent belief in evolution. Where is the fossil proof for species gradually changing into other species? Evolution is a collection of interesting theories, but Tirman's pretense that it's proven is unscientific. Perhaps he should watch Ben Stein's "No Intelligence Allowed."

Tirman also trumpets the wonder of secularism in "the universities, art and literature, music, athletics, science, medicine, the military, news media." Universities, public and private, are almost all grossly overpriced and are driving many young people into debt-fueled economic serfdom for decades. What contemporary American art can he compare to the religious art of Michelangelo, Raphael, and many others? Where are the outstanding American literature and music he describes? American college athletics create a drain on university budgets paid for by the debt of other students. American science has innovated lots of amazing technologies, but the products are often made in poor countries at exploitative wages. US medicine is dominated by Big Pharma and is also way too expensive. Alternative, effective healings are marginalized. The military has lots of brave people in it, but too often they are sent to lose their health and lives for Big Oil. The news media is dominated by a few big companies like Fox, GE, and Disney, so don't count on them to get a viewpoint that threatens their dominance. Look online to youtube.

Finally, Tirman does an outstanding job of criticizing neoliberalism, exportation of toxic chemicals to poor countries, and the hypocrisy of open trade which means deals for rich transnational corporations and exploitation of natural resources and labor in poor countries. He points out the damage of agricultural subsidies for poor people, how Walmart's cheap wages push expenses for their workers onto taxpayers, the effects of corrupt lobbying, and US involvement in supporting dictators throughout the world. He rips US involvement in torture, weapons exportation, and limited views of democracy promotion that chiefly benefit large corporations who wish access to natural resources.

Tirman is broadly and deeply knowledgeable and articulate. Although he favorably quotes a passage from Pope John Paul II, his overall anti-Christian contempt is the downfall of this otherwise well-researched and presented book.

I've read most of this book and I've enjoyed what I have read. The points John Tirman makes are valid ones and I think a lot of people should read this book.

The chapters are, necessarily short, and Mr. Tirman gets to the point quickly and concisely.

For those interested in combatting Americanism, this book is a good place to start.