Rating: 
Summary: Emotional rollercoaster
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: It's a Must-Read
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: it is a must read
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Corporate Politics in the U.S.
Review: I read Mr. Hightower's book fully understanding what he is saying. He has done the best job of any author I have read. He is able to take the works of Noam Chomsky, Studs Terkel and Howard Zinn and made them understandable in layman's terms. He shows us how we are propagandized every day by our media conglomerates into believing the U.S. actually is a democratic nation. We think we can influence our Congressmen and Congresswomen, but as you read this bood it becomes quite apparent that we have little or no influence in Congress, which is why we need to find new ways of thinking about our "democracy" if it is to survive the onslaught of corporate money and power. I highly recommend this book to any one who really wants to know what is really going on, not what NBC, CBS, NBC or PBS nightly news programs want us to believe.
Rating:
Summary: Hightower's no nonsense reporting is astounding!
Review: 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!
Rating:
Summary: Give 'em Hell, Hightower!
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: The cure to the common apathy
Review: I was a typical, cynical citizen until I read this book. It will revive your spirit and make you want to go out and change things for the better. It opens your eyes to the real world around you and challenges your thinking in all the best ways. Read it and renew!
Rating: 
Summary: boredom sets in quickly
Review: if you are chatting with people and find yourself refering to the current year as 1986, this book is for you.
Rating: 
Summary: Depends on what you are looking for
Review: If you want to read a book that is anti-government and anti-corporate using a little humour, this book is for you. If you want a lot of humour, forget it.
Rating:
Summary: Depends on what you are looking for
Review: If you want to read a book that is anti-government and anti-corporate using a little humour, this book is for you. If you want a lot of humour, forget it.
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