Democracy in Chains by Nancy MacLean

Democracy in Chains by Nancy MacLean

This is not an easy read and if I’d read it before the 2016 elections, I probably would not have finished it and just chalked it up to a rather paranoid conspiracy theory from the left.  But is is impossible not to see what is actually happening. 

MacLean gives a history of the development of the radical libertarian movement.  But what is libertarian to most Americans is not what it is to the operatives from the octopian labyrinth of Koch-funded organizations. So let me clear that up right away. Their idea of liberty is an economic Darwinism with no restraints on the accumulation of wealth by the few without even a nod to democracy or majority rule. Any attempt to tax other than for maintenance of order and national defense in not to be tolerated.  So what are some of the public/governmental activities that should be abandoned?

1.) Public education should be abolished.  Instead, private education for those who can afford it. For those who can’t afford it, too bad. Same for college and university levels. No government subsidies. Besides, higher education just leads to unrealistic expectations. 

2.) Public Health. No kidding—no government regulation for safe drinking water, safe working conditions, no CDC, no NIH.

3.) Government regulation of anything. 

4.) Flat tax. No graduated income tax. 

5.) No Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid. Privatization of all retirement plans. No employer contribution to retirement accounts.  Not enough saved for retirement?—Too bad. Get sick?—Pay or die. 

6.) Most importantly, they want to amend the Constitution to effectively limit democracy and make it impossible to respond to the will of the people. 

The list goes on.  If you want a real life example of life under what the Cato Institute, Heritage Foundation, ALEC operatives are stealthily foisting on America, check out a book on life in Chile under Pinochet. (And be sure to learn under whose auspices the Chilean Constitution was written.)

I would never have believed this was possible, but all I have to do is look around at the current cabinet members to see that it is not just possible, but well under way. 

Hard to read but a must read.