The Politics of Deceit: Saving Freedom and Democracy from Extinction [Hardcover]

Glenn W. Smith (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0471667633 | ISBN-13: 978-0471667636 | Publication Date: July 26, 2004 | Edition: 1

A compelling indictment of the Bush Administration's cynical, anti-democratic manipulation of the media
In this devastating analysis of American politics today, a former Democratic campaign advisor pulls back the curtain on the pervasive political manipulation of the media-and reveals just how fragile our democracy is. From political ads and talk shows to mainstream media reporting, Glenn Smith shows how American political discourse is now dominated by carefully scripted images and rhetoric-most of which benefit the Republicans and their corporate allies. The result is public apathy toward politics-and a real threat to American freedom.
To reclaim our nation, Smith argues, we must revitalize politics at the grassroots level-and liberals must realize that religion and spirituality are not antithetical to a progressive agenda. For anyone troubled by manipulative political advertising, self-aggrandizing celebrity pundits, and the undiminished role of money in politics, this necessary book lays out the full scope of the problem-and points the way toward solutions.
Glenn Smith (Austin, TX), a former journalist and political consultant, managed MoveOn.org's Defending Democracy Campaign. He is currently managing DriveDemocracy.org, a spin-off of MoveOn, and a consultant to the Rockridge Institute, a progressive think tank.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Smartly written and provocative, Smith’s book draws on colorful and historical anecdotes to depict a degraded state of democracy in the U.S., at one point comparing, in detail, the country’s de facto mechanisms of ideological control to those of Cold War-era communist regimes. A long chapter on "some of the deficiencies of the news media" touches on familiar gripes about the banalization and commercialization of news, but includes a useful history of how corporate consolidation happened. A related discussion on the psychology of politics and imagery ("I see someone shake Bugs Bunny’s hand; I shake Bugs’ hand. Bush rattles a sabre; I draw my sword") draws out real consequences from virtual presidential appearances, whether ad- or soundbite-based. In terms of assessing what the electoral consequences have been, Smith, director of DriveDemocracy.org, essentially accuses Bush of being a consummate politician (relying on political advertising, manipulative slogans, flashy and often substance-light appearances), but it’s clear that he believes Bush is more an expression of the current system than its creator. Smith recommends increasing public involvement in the political process by using the Internet to encourage grassroots participation and to decrease reliance on large financial contributions. Those propositions are familiar, as is much of the analysis, but Smith’s clarity and ingenuity set his book apart.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From the Inside Flap

Today, Americans face a tyranny built upon contemporary political practices that devalue personal and communal responsibility as well as overall participation in the political process. Life-and-death political discussions and decisions are now limited to a virtual world of illusion and coercion. No politician has so cynically wielded these manipulative political practices as has George W. Bush.

In The Politics of Deceit, political insider Glenn Smith reveals why our political customs threaten democracy and freedom with extinction, and illustrates how we can ultimately fix these problems. Among the most hopeful developments is the cultivation of new interactive media, including the successful efforts of MoveOn.org and other online groups. Smith skillfully argues that our shrugging acceptance of the politics of manipulation doesn’t mean our political practices are right or just. Their very structure lends advantage to politicians like George W. Bush, who would mislead rather than lead, and who believe their own power is more important than the health of democracy.

This thought-provoking book digs deep to raise questions that others are afraid to ask, and shatters the two-way mirror that separates "we the people" from the democratic institutions and mechanisms of power that are supposed to serve our interests, not the interests of those in power. You’ll become familiar with important issues that can and will affect your life, including:

• How the reliance on manipulative advertising leads to deceit
• How public dialogue has become a monologue of monied interests
• The failure to address citizens in their full humanity
• How President Bush gets away with his manipulation of the "embedded" press
• How vital new citizen action can promote and protect a more democratic society and the possibility of freedom for all Americans

Through anecdotes from history and contemporary politics, The Politics of Deceit offers realistic recommendations for a democratic renewal. You’ll receive an insider’s view of what must be done to protect the future of liberty, including the reversal of numerous political practices such as the power of money over argument in the public sphere, and the disproportionate amount of spending on advertising over grass-roots recruitment and public discourse.

Democracy and freedom cannot survive if we continue to accept our current political situation. Nothing short of a revolution in the way we practice politics in America will keep freedom and democracy from disappearing behind the two-way mirror of our self-absorbed, vain, and impoverished political habits. The Politics of Deceit will open citizens’ eyes to the ways they are being manipulated, and point to ways every American can participate and make a difference in a renewed democracy.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (July 26, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471667633
• ISBN-13: 978-0471667636
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,460,384 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspired to Engage, July 21, 2004

By 

J. Bullock - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Politics of Deceit: Saving Freedom and Democracy from Extinction (Hardcover)

I couldn't put this book down! The Politics of Deceit challenged my thinking on many levels. Though I am a regular voter, I often feel a sense of disconnect from the political process. By deftly blending the ideas from a variety of philosophers with his own anecdotal evidence to form a coherent argument for what he calls "freedom-to-experience", Smith has motivated me to engage in a more meaningful political dialogue with neighbors and friends. This intellectually stimulating book has reawakened my desire to explore more fully this grand experiment of democracy -- not as a bystander, but as a full participant.

23 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Give Freedom A Chance, August 2, 2004

By 

El Jefe (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Politics of Deceit: Saving Freedom and Democracy from Extinction (Hardcover)

Writers like Molly Ivins and Al Franken make us laugh and sometimes angry at how the conservatives maintain so much control in America. Glenn Smith makes us think -- about how we truly got here and how to get out. Smith shows how modern campaign practices -- the politics of deceit from the title -- corrode the system and rob us of our freedoms. To overcome the far right, Smith says progressives should quit trying to fight a war under rules written by the right. Instead, we should turn to the Net and grassroots organizing to reach out to the millions of non-voting Americans who can ultimately turn the tide. In the end, we must embrace the idea that none of us is truly free as long as one of us is not.

20 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Making a Difference, July 26, 2004

By 

P. Horridge - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Politics of Deceit: Saving Freedom and Democracy from Extinction (Hardcover)

For the past several years, I have been disenchanted with the business of politics. The dishonesty, insincerity, and condescension was maddening and insulting. After reading this book, I understand why. According to Smith, we have been robbed of an authentic public sphere. Politics of Deceit delves into the roots of our democracy and defines what freedom means for us all. Smith has done his homework, as he refers to many of our greatest thinkers to back his own ideas. Smith says, it is necessary to redefine freedom because the politics of deceit demoralizes us all by substituting false idols for human freedom, by driving too many from the public sphere, and by creating a virtual polis inhabitied by oppressors who masquerade as liberators. In tackling the subjects of political advertising, news media, and voter suppression, Smith's credibility shines because of his obvious first hand knowledge. He has several practical solutions which give me hope that, if followed, I can make a difference.