George Bush leaves the White House in January 2009 and the United States goes
back to normal, right? Wrong, argues Susan George in this fascinating,
thorough and often chilling account of the decades-long transformation of
American society and political culture. Using the four Ms - money, media,
marketing, management--but above all with a keen sense of mission, the American
secular and religious right has made its long march through the institutions
and changed the way Americans think. As the left went about its business in
blissful ignorance, convinced that its policies, programmes and projects spoke
for themselves and would always prevail; the right´s well-oiled machine of
foundations, lobbies, think-tanks, publications, political cadres, lawyers and
activist organisations slowly and strategically took over. A broad alliance of
neo-liberals, neo-conservatives and the religious right successfully
manufactured a new common sense, assaulted Enlightenment values and targeted
the top of society where culture is created and legitimised, because they knew
that ideas have consequences--and not just in the United States. Hijacking
America is that rarity of a book, a thoroughly researched page-turner. Clearly
and gracefully written, it will enthral the general reader while providing
plenty of factual nourishment for the student of politics, culture, religion or
international relations. And for all those who hope for a different America in
the future, the first step is to hold the present one up to the light and
understand how it got that way.
