Al Gores: The Assault on Reason - Book Report/Review Example

Al Gore: The Assault on Reason A. The Politics of Fear. Chapter One lays the foundation for the book and tells of the dangers involved with using fear as a tool for reelection. Gore contends that reason and logic can be suspended when confronted with danger. This is not a new situation, and history has several examples of a country in fear. Yet, fear needs to be managed and not manipulated. In the world of technology, the media can be over-emotional and bring about knee-jerk reactions to imaginary levels of threats. B. Fear is the antitheses of reason. 1. Success is measured by how we manage fear. 2. History has shown hoe we cope with fear. a. Examples are Susan B. Anthony, Neil Armstrong, and Franklin Roosevelt. C. The difference today is the intensity and pervasiveness of fear. 1. Fear is used to manipulate the political process. 2. We make snap judgments based on the conceptualization of danger. D. Television and the Internet have the power to hypnotize. 1. This effect has forever altered politics. 2. Print medium has more logic and reasoning and less emotional content. E. The current administration has used the politics of fear to wage the war in Iraq and the war on terrorism. 1. Though this is not a new tactic, it has become more ubiquitous. 2. Gore compares Bush to Nixon in his propensity to subordinate principles to gain reelection. A. Blinding the Faithful. Chapter Two discusses the aspect that the balance of government as designed by the founding fathers has been subverted by dogma. The balance between faith and reason has been broken, as the ultra-right has used fear and intimidation to seek absolute rule and unwarranted power. This has resulted in torture and unnecessary actions that Gore describes as American heresy. B. Reason, faith, and fear are a careful balancing act of emotions. 1. We overcome fear with faith. 2. Fear displaces reason and faith overcomes fear. 3. The founding fathers tried to limit the role of faith in government. C. The separation of Church and State is mandatory to eliminate dogmatic politics. 1. The system is further insulated from a concentration of power by a separation of powers. 2. These protections are the government's "immune system". D. Bush's reactionary politics has dominated government. 1. The revolving door of contributions, political support, and mutual benefit has become supreme. 2. This has allowed several perverse policies on the war and torture. E. At the core of the problem are ultra-right wing political groups. 1. Spearheaded by Tom DeLay, Ann Coulter, James Dobson and other ultra-conservatives. 2. They seek absolute power, which Gore describes as American heresy. A. The Politics of Wealth. Chapter Three describes America's necessity of having a base of wealth and the dangers that it poses in a technological society. Public opinion is molded by advertising and legislation id crafted by lobbyists. Only those that can economically afford access can influence the process. Though this is not a new problem, it has become more polarized and more pervasive. B. Capitalism and democracy are intertwined. 1. The American system demands economic and political freedom. 2. The power of self-government comes from reason. C. Money has the capacity to limit participation in government. 1. Access is controlled by gatekeepers. 2. Wealth determines who gets access to the hearts and minds of the politicians. D. Expensive election campaigns place politicians at the mercy of large contributors. 1. The pharmaceutical companies were able to undermine Medicare 2. This is a centuries old problem where wealth is necessary but needs to be kept in check. E. The combination of wealth and media technology opens the door to propaganda. 1. It can result in the "manufacture of consent" (96). 2. Large corporate interests dominate political opinion. A. Convenient Untruths. In Chapter Four Gore warns that the current administration has centralized the information and decision making process. Bush has repeatedly used the media to distort the truth and lie to the American public. This has led the American people into war with no clear plan and no good reasoning. In addition, this policy of lying extends into other issues such as global warming and energy policy. B. Democracy and capitalism are superior to centralized decision making. 1. Decision making is more widespread. 2. Television centralizes information in a one-way process. C. Bush has used this characteristic of the media to distort the truth. 1. Bush claimed war was a last resort. a. This was refuted by Paul O'Neill 2. George Bush and his administration lied about Saddam Hussein's weapons capabilities. D. Bush's claim that he had a plan for the war has been shown to be untrue. 1. The war is chaotic and based on faulty information. 2. Troops were poorly and under equipped. E. White House has also tried to direct scientific opinion on global warming. 1. The administration edits and directs research papers on several issues. 2. Gore contends that this is the most secretive administration since Nixon. A. The Assault on the Individual. Chapter Five outlines the erosion of citizen liberty as defined by the constitution. James Madison warned that liberty would be given up slowly, not usurped quickly. The broad powers to eaves drop and spy on the American public have given the current administration an extraordinary amount of executive power. This power manifests itself in the way we treat prisoners in Guantanamo and is a sign that our nation's founding principles are being compromised. B. Ingenuity has replaced raw materials in economics, and the force of thought has replaced the force of arms in politics. 1. Average people and especially minorities are locked out of the process. 2. New technological opportunities have diminished individual liberty. C. The Bush administration is willing to further sacrifice individual liberty. 1. In the name of national security liberty is being eroded. 2. The FBI and other federal agencies have been given broad powers to eaves drop and spy on the citizenry. D. Gore argues that the assault on individual liberty is against the constitution. 1. There is a difference between legitimate security concerns and the threat of adverse political opinion. 2. Bush-Cheney give a "false impression' that these violations are necessary. E. The treatment of prisoners is a reflection of the assault on liberty. 1. Gore contends that the abandonment of international conventions is a sign that our nation's principles have been overturned. 2. The obsession for power dominates not only foreign governments, but the American people as well. A. National Insecurity. In Chapter Six Gore makes the case that unilateralism is a dangerous policy in today's world. It creates enemies and eliminates international cooperation. There are many problems that face the world and the world looks to the United States for moral leadership. We have lost that leadership role and it needs to be regained. The preemption policy is unpopular on the planet and places the nation at greater risk. This can be seen from the results of the current Iraq war that shows the lack of sustainable planning involved with preemption. B. Unilateralism is a dangerous policy. 1. Claims of moral superiority precipitates war. 2. Going alone creates more enemies and recruitment opportunities for terrorists. C. Our moral authority is our greatest strength. 1. There are widespread problems that require international cooperation. a. Gore lists the environment, water crisis, terrorism, drugs and corruption, and AIDS as some of the most pressing issues. 2. America's moral authority needs to be restored. D. The policy of preemption is a failed policy 1. May lead to nuclear preemptive strikes. 2. Places the realm of outer space as a military objective. E. Bush ignored the consequences of going to war. 1. There were differences between the 1991 Gulf War and the current Iraq War. a. In 1991 President Bush Sr. had broad international support. 2. The current administration had not planned for the aftermath of war as provided by history. A. The Carbon Crisis. Chapter Seven defines the nature of the threats to the environment and their relationship to international politics. America's dependence on oil disrupts the environment and international relations. Bush has repeatedly shown an ineptness to deal with emergency situations as demonstrated by Hurricane Katrina. Gore maintains that the issue is a moral issue and not a political issue. B. The energy crisis and global warming are inextricably linked. 1. Solving the fossil fuel problem would reduce global warming and reduce our dependence on unfriendly nations. 2. Dependence on oil threatens our security and economic well being. C. Bush has abandoned all support for CO2 regulation. 1. The energy companies, such as big oil, have drafted the policy 2. The all-volunteer mechanism is "totally meaningless" (194). D. Gore compares the global warming issue to other Bush debacles. 1. He cites the ill-prepared agencies that responded to hurricane Katrina. 2. The administration has also mismanaged information about terrorism. E. The Bush administration has a "misguided vision" (207). 1. Gore argues that we must rise to the challenge. 2. This is a moral issue and not a political issue. A. Democracy in the Balance. In Chapter Eight, Gore makes the case that democracy is under a real threat from a unitary executive. The wide latitude of powers given to the president, while necessary during the time of war, have been abused by the Bush administration. The president has not defined the terms or length of the war. In addition, this executive authority has spilled into the judiciary and has created another political branch of government where checks and balances do not exist. B. Our democracy is dependent on the system of checks and balances. 1. The three branches help insure the existence of reason. 2. Wartime can subordinate the balance by granting the president a wide latitude of power. C. Bush has used a state of war as justification for diminishing democracy. 1. The war is ill defined and Bush has stated it may last a lifetime. 2. The failure to define the war is disrespect for constitutional law. D. Bush has expanded executive authority. 1. Rules and policies are vetted by political appointees. 2. This is the underpinning of a unitary executive branch. E. The judicial branch is the most vulnerable to this policy. 1. The Bush administration has called for mass firings of judicial appointees. a. This politicizes the judiciary. 2. Checks and balances need to be restored to prevent this abuse of power. A. A Well-Connected Citizenry. Chapter Nine contends that a democracy is only possible with a well-informed citizenry. Television has been a one way street for information and only available to the wealthiest people. There needs to be greater transparency for the citizens to determine the motivation behind the advertising. The Internet offers some hope that everyone can have a voice through the dissemination of content and shared ideas. B. Americans have lost their ability to connect to the government. 1. Television offers the opportunity to receive information, but not to send it. 2. This results in attachment disorder and a feeling of powerlessness. C. Democracy depends on the interchange of information and ideas. 1. The best minds are either shut out or opt out of the system. 2. In addition, the citizenry is under-educated in constitutional matters. D. The influence of concentrated wealth needs to be restricted. 1. This amounts to a campaign of "paid disinformation" (258). 2. Since prohibiting political advertising is unrealistic in a democracy, there needs to be greater transparency. E. Innovative Internet usage may alleviate the problem. 1. Free video time and formats are available for everyone. 2. Network services and shared information platforms give greater democracy of thought. A. The Rebirth of Democracy. Gore concludes his book by reiterating the importance of using reason to make our most important decisions. Throughout history, man has been confronted with political challenges that were overcome by the use of reason. However, the current administration has made an assault on reason and only a spirited citizenry can recapture it. Without active participation by the voting public, we are in danger of surrendering our rule of law to the rule of a few men. B. Our system of Democracy relies on reason. 1. Reason hold elected officials responsible for their actions. 2. When reason is threatened, democracy is at risk. C. History has shown that reason is the enemy of those that wish to dominate. 1. Reason helps us discern evil from good. 2. Today, reason is under assault. D. There is a movement to halt the assault. 1. It requires a courageous spirit among the citizens. E. Our democracy is a government of laws and not men. 1. The threat of war has led to an abuse of executive power. 2. We must restore the constitution or it will forever be diminished. Works Cited Gore, Al. The Assault on Reason. New York: The Penguin Press, 2007. Read More