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There's Nothing in the Middle of the Road but Yellow Stripes and Dead Armadillos: A Work of Political Subversion

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The following article will appear in the April, 1998, edition of the Ashland, Ore., Lithiagraph:

(c) 1998 by Fred Flaxman

(used by permission of the author)

I just finished a book called "There's Nothing in the Middle of the Road but Yellow Stripes and Dead Armadillos" by someone who ought to know -- Texan Jim Hightower. I agree 100% with another Texan, Molly Ivins, who said: "If you don't read another book about what's wrong with this country for the rest of your life, read this one. I think it's the best and most important book about our public life I've read in years."

Hightower served two terms as Texas's elected agriculture commissioner. He has a weekday nationally syndicated radio program called "Hightower Radio: Live from the Chat & Chew" which, unfortunately, I've never heard since it isn't broadcast in my area. He also gives many speeches which have frequently been televised by C-SPAN, which I've never seen, unfortunately, because I don't have cable or satellite TV. And he publishes a biweekly political newsletter, "The Hightower Lowdown" which I've never read, unfortunately, because I spent my entire budget for reading materials to buy his $23 hardcover book.

One of the amazing things about Hightower's book, considering its deadly serious subject matter, is how outright funny it can be. It is an easy read, as well as an important one. Hightower has a folksy, breezy style. He knows how to be as entertaining as he is informative.

For example, Hightower discusses how the megacorporations have been taking over every aspect of our lives in the last few decades, from the media to the food supply, education, the politicians and the government. By comparison, one of the least critical areas is that of college and professional sports. It is certainly least critical to me. I'm so uninterested in the Superbowl and baseball and every other kind of bowl and ball, that I'll be a prime suspect for investigation by the House Committee on Un-American Americans, whenever the far right completes its take-over. Yet Hightower kept me riveted to the text and laughing my head off, even in the section on sports, with paragraphs like this:

"A group of pro-football executives have had discussions with various corporations and CBS Television about creating a new football league that would have twelve teams -- each one representing not a city, but a corporation. Among those named as possible owners are Anheuser-Busch, PepsiCo, and Federal Express. I think this is a terrific idea if for no other reason than it presents the opportunity for some absolutely great team names! Instead of "Bears," "Panthers," and other ferocious animals, why not some more-descriptive monikers that truly reflect the fearsome power of the team owners: the Exxon Oil Spillers, for example, is a natural; the FedEx Unionbusters rings true; the McDonald's Minimum Wagers says it all; millions would turn out to boo the Prudential Policy Cancelers; maybe the GM Job Punters could play in Flint, Michigan; the Monsanto Cancer Causers would strike terror coast to coast; the Lockheed-Martin Cost Overrunners is a winner; and what could be more fitting than the Archer-Daniels-Midland Price Fixers?"

There's one other quote from the book I would like to share with you. This one isn't so funny and it isn't by Jim Hightower. Can you guess who said this?:

"I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. As a result of the war, corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign... until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands, and the Republic is destroyed. I feel at this moment more anxiety for the safety of my country than ever before, even in the midst of the war."

That is from a letter written in 1864 by a chap you may have heard of -- the very first Republican president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. He may have been just a few wars and 134 years ahead of his time.

The Hightower book is a well-researched, fascinating summary of how far and how fast we've come to the verge of a corporate dictatorship. With both major parties beholden to the major corporations, with laws made by the rich and for the rich, what are the rest of us to do?

"Some say we need a third party," Hightower quips. "I say we need a second one."

I agree. I, too, have been totally turned off by the Republicans and the Democrats, which seem, more and more, like two branches of the Corporate Party. A lifelong Democrat, I have just reregistered as a Pacific Party supporter. I've also joined the New Party and the Alliance for Democracy, all of which seem to have so much in common that I wish we could all get together in one national organization, pooling our limited funds and our unlimited intellectual resources, energy and spirit.

I'm not going to make any effort to summarize Hightower's 292-page book here for two reasons: (1) I couldn't do it justice, and (2) I wouldn't want you to think that reading this is any substitute for reading the book. I want you to read the book because I hope that the more people who do, the more recruits we'll have for the struggle against the corporate take-over and all that this means to our freedom, our health, our environment, our quality of life, and our future.

And I think that it is just as important for people around the world to read this book as it is for Americans. We are dealing with multinational corporations here. They cause as much or more damage in other countries than they do in the U.S. They have gotten so powerful they have governments all over the world doing their bidding. Awareness of the dangers posed is the first step toward doing something about them.

On this score Hightower seems optimistic. He points out that big corporations seemed to be taking over the country a hundred years ago, too, in the age of the "robber barons." "Muckraking" journalists exposed their excesses then, some of which, like bad meat and sweat-shops, are becoming all too familiar once again. Once alerted, the people demanded reform and they got it, and it included a series of antitrust laws which seem all but forgotten nowadays. But can history repeat itself when the media are now controlled by a handful of media barons who run some of the very corporations which need to be reformed and controlled? Corporations which charge candidates for public office unconscionable sums of money for a few seconds of airtime on what were supposed to be the public airwaves? Corporations which are prime contributors to the pollution of our air and water, not to mention our minds?

It may already be too late for the people of America and the world to stop the high-speed corporatization of the known universe. The dictatorship of the bottom line has already taken over most of our country, and other nations will be quick to follow, despite the wishes and needs of the vast majority of their populations. Nevertheless I think the tide can be turned or I wouldn't be writing this. And it all starts with being informed as to what's been happening, what is happening, and what is going to happen if we don't wake up very soon and support a peaceful, populist uprising.

"We don't own the networks," a good friend of mine points out, "so we have to network." Read Hightower and you'll want to join the opposition to corporate control. The megacorporations will certainly not be easy to beat. Look how long it took to begin to get at the cigarette industry! But that very example gives me hope that good will eventually triumph over evil -- as long as there are enough dedicated, hard-working, idealistic people around to fight for what is right.

I voted for Jim Hightower (for Land Commissioner or something like that) way back when I'd just turned 18 and was able to vote for the first time. I'm very glad to see he's still fighting for the little guy. I live abroad, and whenever anyone asks where home is, I always used to proudly say, "Texas!" These days, it's getting harder and harder to be proud. At least with Bush the First, we could say, "Well, he's not really a Texan." But Junior...well, there's really no denying it, is there? He embodies every negative stereotype of the Texas millionaire.

But when I read Hightower, I remember all the good things about Texas, and about America, too. People like Jim Hightower and Molly Ivins make me proud to be a Texan and an American--people who cut through the lies and take on the big boys without a drop of fear in their hearts...just because it's the right thing to do.

I just finished reading this book - and it's amazing. Hightower will make you laugh heartily while at the same time getting you very riled up at what's going on today. Besides his writing style, I found the most satisfying part of reading this book to be the tons of examples and statistics that he uses to uphold his opinions. Though you'll probably get more of a kick out of it if you're on the left end of the spectrum, I would recommend this book to everyone. Hightower definetley dosen't cater to the Democrats, in fact he chides Clinton's crew of "New Democrats" for selling out to corporate interests, which they have.

Feeling disillusioned with the Democratic party, I turned to this book, and I am so glad I did. Hightower gives a rowdy look at the problems facing today's "two party system" that never fails to bring a smile to the reader's face. Since I am from the South, I loved the sayings and colloquialisms that dotted the pages as much as I craved the ideas they described. I was truly sad to finish the book--by the end, I not only felt encouraged to right the wrongs of society, but also refreshed to hear someone who has it together. Hightower gives us a view of capitalism that seems both revolutionary and strangely old-fashioned in that his are the views that many have harbored for years. I feel that this is a book everyone should read, even those who identify with Republican ideals. You will be surprised about how much you agree with Jim Hightower.

This is an absoulutely wonderful book. It is a book for people no matter where they fall on the political spectrum. Why are righties and lefties arguing, let's all go after the real culprits - the greedy corporate types bleeding us all.

I purchased this book out of mild interest to see who Jim Hightower was, I had little expectation that the book would hold much interest.

It is however an interesting attempt to forge a new notion of leftism. The reality of the party system is that most countries, which have single member constituencies have two party systems. Each party has a certain core of support and to gain electoral office the competition is over the middle range of voters. This leads to notions of parties being similar or having similar policies. Left wing parties have traditionally identified themselves by not having any substantive difference but by adopting certain issues to develop a veneer of being caring.

Hightower is critical of this, and he is critical of the American Democratic Party. He suggests that what is happening is that by phrasing policy in a narrow guise of rights rhetoric the Democrats are losing support of their traditional constituency which is basically keen on economic issues. He suggests that the drift to the right in US politics is because of working class or potential Democrat supporters drifting out of the system.

He further suggests that the "new left" not only has lost its constituency but it fails to try to reach potential voters. His section on the media is one of the more interesting in the book. He argues that the main way ideas are spread in modern America is through talk back radio. Talk back however is something that the right dominates because the left will not touch it. They are afraid to enter into dialogue with common people.

Hightower argues that the future of the left must be to develop "populist" policies which are aimed at the welfare of the vast majority of ordinary Americans. He also argues that the message should be sold in a way that resembles the old grass roots political campaigns of the past rather than the carefully scripted media events of today.

A book which is interesting, always amusing and raises some real issues of interest about politics in all countries.

I read this book in less than a week while attending school at night and working during the day. That's how good it is. Hightower has that rare gift to strip away the topsoil and shows us all the bugs in the ground. Corporations are now ruling this country like feudal lords and tell us what we should think and act. Hightower points to the encroachment of corporations into the classrooms where they spend millions of dollars educating children on how delicious big macs are and how they should all aspire to wear a pair of Nike cross trainers. Corporations do it all better we are told. Do what better exactly? Care about the poor and downtrodden? Not bloody likely according to Hightower. It's about the bottom dollar and if you happen to get trampled while some elite 1% fat cat gets his extra billion, then too bad.
Hightower moves on to tackle what is my favorite section, the so-called "liberal" media. Yes indeed, it can be said that most anchors and reporters are liberals for the most part, but their bosses are most certainly not. In addition, the liberal mainstream of this country has become quite centrist and not very liberal at all. All is not lost though! Hightower points to independent media outlets that have to constantly struggle with behemoths like Disney whose conservative agenda is no secret to anyone who has seen what they have done with ABC. It is hilarious to read about his take on shows like Crossfire, which claim to illustrate the "conflict" between left and right. Again, it's more like center and right and what's more how leftist are the liberals when they support, for example, the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza? How liberal are commentators when they are pro-death penalty and their biggest gripe is that the poor don't get enough tax cuts? Hightower slices through the jungle of rhetoric and "conventional wisdom" (which he correctly points out is a way to make the masses believe that there is just one common sense way of looking at issues) and makes the point that we all have to learn to think for ourselves and not allow the media outlets and corporations to run our lives. We are living in a country where democracy is dying. Corporations have a strangle hold on both parties (merging into one despite the public banter and "conflict" over minor points at best), voter turn-out remains low, and no viable 3rd parties are allowed to compete because corporations control the airwaves and the big two parties dictate who gets the airtime. Freedom of speech is no good unless you have an outlet for people to listen. Otherwise you might as well as get on a soapbox and bullhorn and yell to passersby.
Lastly, what makes Hightower unique is that he brings a much-needed progressive view from the most conservative region of the US, the South. He's a native who is rebelling against what of his fellow southerners and Texans believe and he does so with brilliance and a compelling writing style. Don't miss out on this superb example of progressive politics!

It has been a long time since a book has made me both want to laugh and cry at the same time. Hightowers wit is evident throughout the book and his on-target analysis of what is wrong with Corporate America really hits the nail on the head. He truly tells it like it is. I agree with another reviewer who said that Hightowers book should be required reading in every school. I will go one step further! It should be required reading by EVERYONE! It will make people want to scream bloody murder at the way Corporate bigwigs and greedy politicians are working together to screw over the common folk. This book will make you want to kiss some ass. (Pardon my French.)

There's nothing like dead-on muck-raking told with elegance, wit and style. Jim Hightower has all of these in abundance. None of his commentaries should be missed. Still, to those looking for fresh iconoclasm, there is little new soil here. He works much the same ground as Bartlett and Steele, but with far fewer statistics and far more humor. The rich get richer, the poor poorer, and the middle-class barely hangs on even as everybody punches a time-clock. Do the Democrats spell relief for the oppressed masses. Yes, says the author, but only if we get off our tails and scratch the corporate logo off the name. Hightower's villians are corporate America ( so unpopular with most everyone, they'll have to find a new dodge), not the capitalist class. A true populist, he sees nothing wrong with small business since it doesn't occupy the top three floors of fortress high-rise. With expert strokes he stokes the prairiefire he hopes will bring them down. On second thought, maybe you can't tell the same important story too many times. Hightower's version is vintage Americana.

I have to read this books in small doses because it really bothers me. Hightower does us a service by giving us this peek into his experiences which seem alien in what we think of as an America of, by and for the people.

He's right that we can take back control, but we have to be informed first. Thanks, Jim.