National radio commentator, columnist, public speaker, political sparkplug and author of If the Gods Had Meant Us to Vote They Would Have Given Us Candidates, Jim Hightower has spent three decades battling the Powers That Be on behalf of the Powers That Ought To Be: consumers, working families, environmentalists, small business, and just-plain-folks.
Twice elected Texas Agriculture Commissioner, Hightower believes that the true political spectrum is not right to left, but top to bottom, and he has become a leading national voice for the 80 percent of the public who no longer find themselves within shouting distance of the Washington and Wall Street powers at the top.
Known as "America's Most Popular Populist," Hightower is a modern-day Johnny Appleseed, spreading the message of progressive populism all across the American grassroots.
He broadcasts daily radio commentaries that are carried in more than 100 commercial and public stations, on the web, on Armed Forces Radio, Radio for Peace International, One World Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio.
Each month, he publishes a populist political newsletter, "The Hightower Lowdown," which now has more than 100,000 subscribers and is the fastest growing political publication in America. The hard-hitting Lowdown has received both the Alternative Press Award and the Independent Press Association Award for best national newsletter.
Constantly on the hustings, he delivers about 100 speeches a year to colleges, union meetings, environmental groups, citizen rallies, farm and food organizations, social justice gatherings, teachers, legal activists, community groups, and others.
His newspaper column is carried in more than 75 independent newspapers, magazines, and other publications. He is also a frequent contributor to The Nation, America's leading progressive journal.
A best-selling author, his latest book, THIEVES IN HIGH PLACES: They've Stolen Our Country and Its Time to Take it Back is published by Viking. His previous books are If the Gods Had Meant Us To Vote They Would Have Given Us Candidates, There's Nothing In the Middle Of the Road But Yellow Stripes and Dead Armadillos, Eat Your Heart Out, and Hard Tomatoes, Hard Times.
He frequently appears on television and radio programs, bringing a passionate populist viewpoint that rarely gets into the mass media. In addition, he works closely with the alternative media, and in all of his work he keeps his ever-ready Texas humor up front, practicing the credo of an old Yugoslavian proverb: "You can fight the gods and still have fun."
Hightower also devotes much of his energy to revitalizing grassroots progressive politics with his nationwide "Rolling Thunder Down-Home Democracy Tour." Sort-of like a county fair of progressive activism, these festivals include top-notch speakers, great music, how-to workshops, food, drink, games, clowns & fun for the whole family. In 2002, the Rolling Thunder Tour traveled to Austin, Chicago, Tucson, Seattle, Minneapolis and Duluth. The Tour will continue to roll on in 2003 with the aim of becoming a permanent fixture on the American political landscape.
Hightower was raised in Denison, Texas, in a family of small business people, tenant farmers, and working folks. A graduate of the University of North Texas, he worked in Washington as legislative aide to Sen. Ralph Yarborough of Texas before returning to his home state, where he was editor of the feisty biweekly, The Texas Observer.
He then made what he calls "the only downward career move you can make from journalism" by entering politics. He was twice elected to statewide office, serving two productive and boisterous terms as Texas Agriculture Commissioner (1983-1991).
Since then, Hightower has become his own media conglomerate, using his writings and voice to reach millions of people a year, raising issues, raising hope and raising hell. Describing himself as a Luddite with a Website, Hightower provides updated information about his newsletter, radio commentaries, books, speaking schedule, and other work at jimhightower.com.
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