Dark Money - tildebooks

audio cd

Published Jan. 19, 2016 by Random House Audio.

ISBN:: 978-0-307-97065-7

(1 review)

Who are the immensely wealthy right-wing ideologues shaping the fate of America today? From the bestselling author of The Dark Side, an electrifying work of investigative journalism that uncovers the agenda of this powerful group.

In her new preface, Jane Mayer discusses the results of the most recent election and Donald Trump's victory, and how, despite much discussion to the contrary, this was a huge victory for the billionaires who have been pouring money in the American political system.

Why is America living in an age of profound and widening economic inequality? Why have even modest attempts to address climate change been defeated again and again? Why do hedge-fund billionaires pay a far lower tax rate than middle-class workers? In a riveting and indelible feat of reporting, Jane Mayer illuminates the history of an elite cadre of plutocrats—headed by the Kochs, the Scaifes, the Olins, and the Bradleys—who have bankrolled …

Who are the immensely wealthy right-wing ideologues shaping the fate of America today? From the bestselling author of The Dark Side, an electrifying work of investigative journalism that uncovers the agenda of this powerful group.

In her new preface, Jane Mayer discusses the results of the most recent election and Donald Trump's victory, and how, despite much discussion to the contrary, this was a huge victory for the billionaires who have been pouring money in the American political system.

Why is America living in an age of profound and widening economic inequality? Why have even modest attempts to address climate change been defeated again and again? Why do hedge-fund billionaires pay a far lower tax rate than middle-class workers? In a riveting and indelible feat of reporting, Jane Mayer illuminates the history of an elite cadre of plutocrats—headed by the Kochs, the Scaifes, the Olins, and the Bradleys—who have bankrolled a systematic plan to fundamentally alter the American political system. Mayer traces a byzantine trail of billions of dollars spent by the network, revealing a staggering conglomeration of think tanks, academic institutions, media groups, courthouses, and government allies that have fallen under their sphere of influence. Drawing from hundreds of exclusive interviews, as well as extensive scrutiny of public records, private papers, and court proceedings, Mayer provides vivid portraits of the secretive figures behind the new American oligarchy and a searing look at the carefully concealed agendas steering the nation. Dark Money is an essential book for anyone who cares about the future of American democracy. ([source][1])

[1]: jane-mayer.com/

3 editions

dozens reviewed Dark Money by Jane Mayer

Review of 'Dark Money' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

"We may have democracy, or we may have wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can't have both." - Louis Brandeis

Why I picked it up

My friend read it and every time she mentioned it, her eyes would get real big and her mouth would get real small, and she'd just sputter, "man, I ... geez."

Why I finished it

I didn't want to at times. I just got so frustrated and disgusted with these people and the harm they are doing to people. Literal, direct, physical harm to individual people in their employee, and financial, economic harm to every person who is not ultra-wealthy, and harm to the ability of our government to function.

And the motive behind all this harm? As Charles Koch himself explains it, "I just want my fair share. And my share is all of it."

Who I'd recommend it to …

"We may have democracy, or we may have wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can't have both." - Louis Brandeis

Why I picked it up

My friend read it and every time she mentioned it, her eyes would get real big and her mouth would get real small, and she'd just sputter, "man, I ... geez."

Why I finished it

I didn't want to at times. I just got so frustrated and disgusted with these people and the harm they are doing to people. Literal, direct, physical harm to individual people in their employee, and financial, economic harm to every person who is not ultra-wealthy, and harm to the ability of our government to function.

And the motive behind all this harm? As Charles Koch himself explains it, "I just want my fair share. And my share is all of it."

Who I'd recommend it to

Everybody. Required reading.

I'd recommend it to my past self from a couple months ago, back when I started reading Hillbilly Elegy after somebody recommended it to me as a portrait of neo-conservative, pro-Trump America (which it is not).

I was looking to understand how our current political and cultural climate emerged, where its origins are among the people. What I now understand is that it did not emerge naturally from the people, nor did it gain traction from the ground up. It was instead carefully and painstakingly crafted over several decades of buying influence in public education, funding fake grassroots movements, and forcing plutocratic ideals into the center stage of our national politics.