Customer Reviews

Myth America: Democracy Vs. Capitalism

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In Myth America: Democracy vs. Capitalism, William H. Boyer (Professor Emeritus in Philosophy, University of Hawaii) persuasively denounces the very real and alarming growth of corporate power in America, which has increased and proliferated to such an extent that it routinely co-opts the agendas of the media and of public schools in to serve the almighty dollar and the corporate bottom line. From an obvious erosion of democratic fundamentals, to self-righteous "myths" of foreign policy used to justify abusive world dominance, Myth America is resolute in its mission to forewarn society of dangerous present trends and conditions so that an horrific anti-democratic future can be avoided for our children and our grandchildren. A highly recommended and welcome addition to Political Science reading lists, Myth America is also available in a hardcover edition.

William Boyer presents an excellent summary of how things really are in our country and how the domination by corporations in just about every aspect of our lives, including the media, has led to mass ignorance by the American people. Although there is alot of disheartening facts presented in this book, I have found it to be quite optomistic as well because a lot of what has occured in this country can be changed with proper education of the American people. Institutions were invented and can be reinvented is Boyer's perspective. I have been moved to become more active in our polical system because of this book.

This book offers nothing new, and what it does say has been said better, for instance, by Michael Albert.. Particularly in his new book, "Realizing Hope." But for those who want a simple overview of the inherent problems of capitalism, this book will do.

Several vital points: Corporate capitalism is indeed a problem, but it is not the same thing as "state capitalism." State capitalism is capitalism controlled, regulated, or organized by the state, but today's corporate capitalism is under various corporations' control with the state "backing it" because cooperation's are more powerful than any government!

It should be made clear that capitalism has built into it a hierarchal power structure that whether controlled or wielded about by Exxon-Mobil or Washington, it is the direct opposite of democracy.

Also, state socialism is not the same thing as state capitalism either. The post-Stalin USSR and modern China were/are state capitalisms under the facade of Marxism. BUT, the USSR and China, under Stalin and Mao, were indeed state socialist nations - Even though those nations got rid of capitalism under those two leaders, they failed because they were still highly centralized - which led to dictatorship styled governments.

Michael Albert, and others like Noam Chomsky, rightly argue that the best way to attain real democracy is to do away with state socialism/communism AND all capitalism.

If you are doing an essay on logical fallacies, this book is your one-stop-shop for example after example. You will find appeal to pity, appeal to authority, appeal to the masses--anything but the straight scoop with the relevant information necessary to form rational conclusions. After you have done your homework, you will find that Boyer's complaints against "capitalism" are actually the problems caused by our gradual movement toward "state capitalism" (a subset of socialism), which are the results of the inevitable mismanagement by government of any economic system.

If you enjoy listening to old men telling war stories and ranting about things far above their intellectual levels of competence, then this book is mildly entertaining. Therefore, I give it two stars instead of just one.

Anti-capitalist mantras that have been spouted long before (and often more eloquently) than Boyer.
In response to previous reviewers: "State-capitalism" is an oxymoron. Capitalism, politically, is the seperation of State and economy. If it involves the State, it's not capitalism--the term you're groping for is "corporatism", which capitalists reject whole-heartedly. So check your premises before coming down on others for misusing terms.
To equate economic power (the power of persuasion) and political power (the power of the gun) is to understand neither.
Next, two points: 1)Democracy is the god that failed (in L. Rockwell's words). Democracy is tyranny of the majority--a system wherein the rules are determined by whichever group manages to muster up the majority of voters. It is the legalized persecution of the minority. 2) Chomsky's abysmal scholarship actual makes Boyer easier to stomach than Chomsky (though, by no means, more right).
Lastly, I agree with the "kid's review". This book is riddled with almost every textbook logical fallacy out there: appeal to authority, red herring, appeal to pity, ad hominem, strawman--it just goes on and on.
So, save your money unless your looking for a study in how to fail in offering a logically consistent defense of poorly thought-out ideas.