100 Ways America Is Screwing Up the World

Overall, I thought that this book did a very good job explaining all of the different topics disscussed in the book. I thought that it had a wide varitey of topics and I thought that the author always knew what he was talking about very well. However, sometimes I always didn't agree with him and I thought that he was very close minded and that what he thought was the only right way. Overall, the book didn't a very good job explaining many of the problems we have in America today and I learned a lot from it and I'm sure you would too.

Be it 'AIPAC', 'Big Pharma', 'Consumerism' or 'Disney, Inc.', John Tirman's celebration of democracy provides the reader with much food for thought. In 'Altering the Earth's Climate' and 'Television', the leadoff chapters of 100 Ways America Is Screwing Up the World, the author sets the tone for his fascinating book and shows how a fresh perspective of some common topics can easily set your mind spinning. Tirman is a well respected political scientist who has written widely on foreign policy, politics and human rights. This book takes a long look at broad range topics that you are probably well aware of but may never have really given them this kind of thought. His very personal style of writing makes each topic quite understandable and sensible at the same time. He also packs a lot into just a few pages on each subject. I have paraphrased some of his reflections on 'Agribusiness' below to provide you with what I feel is a good example. 'The lower cost of Government subsidized corn in the US has created an incentive for processed food manufacturers to substitute high-fructose corn syrup for other sugars, which now strongly correlates with obesity and an epidemic of diabetes that offsets any intended good of the subsidies. Genetically modified foods are sure to be another health-related problem of farm subsidies that's just over-the-horizon. And to make matters worse, such subsidies end up costing the developing world some $300 billion annually with actual assistance being only $50 billion! And just because Europe is as guilty as we are on these issues doesn't make it right.' In 'We Don't Do Body Counts', Tirman shows how, with our current policy in the Middle East, we have callously attempted to deflect attention from the moral consequences of our war of choice, which are always inconvenient. It makes us remember the Vietnam Nightly News and the failure of past policies. 'America as Victim', 'Damsels in Distress', 'The Weapons Habit', 'The Killing Fields of Death Row'; the list goes on. Each topic is a masterpiece of insightful analysis. I feel that his discussion of 'Consumerism' should be required annual reading for people of all ages until 'we get it.' As the current Executive Director of MIT's Center for International Studies, he is obviously no pessimist and he demonstrates that by ending this work on a positive note with a wrap-up called Ten Things America Does Right. I encourage you to read this book; it will definitely open your eyes. Bob Magnant is the author of The Last Transition... - a fact-based novel about Iran, Iraq and the Middle East...

This book could easily be misconstrued as a litany of whining. But John Tirman is a bright enough guy to have avoided that. He has worked in and out of the government for many years - it seems he knows his subjects well. And it comes to pass that no one escapes Mr. Tirman's thunder - conservative, liberal, and everyone in between (although the Clinton's don't take as much heat as the heavy salvos directed at Bush One & Two). Globalization; evangelism; consumerism; terrorism; Reaganism - from Fidel Castro to Paris Hilton, from SUV's to Vegas - the litany of screwups and new twists on old stupidites just keeps rolling along. Each of these 100 vignettes is succinct and well delivered; the facts are cogent and convincing. Yet what is glaringly missing are suggestions about undoing all this chronicled damage that "Americanism" has unleashed (although there is a 12 page addendum: 10 Things that America does right in the world). Tirman should be credited with speaking out on this wide range of issues, most of them damaging to our credibility as the American people. Is it any wonder that the rest of the world is pissed off with the continuing arrogance and disrespect for their ways and cultures? After reading this book, one is left feeling a bit numb at how badly we have mismanaged our superpower role in the world. This read is a real head shaker - and hopefully a wake up call. The Cloud Reckoner Extracts: A Field Guide for Iconoclasts

I've read most of this book and I've enjoyed what I have read. The points John Tirman makes are valid ones and I think a lot of people should read this book. The chapters are, necessarily short, and Mr. Tirman gets to the point quickly and concisely. For those interested in combatting Americanism, this book is a good place to start.

This book, rather obviously, synopsizes the major flaws with, from, and metastasizing within American politics (primarily), culture, and society at large. I agree with about 98% of what the author has to say. I just appreciated that so many of the hypocrisies and flaws erupting within American society that bother me are shared by Mr. Tirman and the reasons why one should be bothered are raised as concerns above being trivial and petty. (Love the Paris Hilton and celebrity worship entry). Mr. Tirman wants to come off as objective, or at least apolitical, but his liberal leanings become more pronounced, and more painfully obvious as his list progresses. This in and of itself is not problematic, it's his occassional assertions that he is not swaying to far to the liberal side (or simply falling prey to conservative bashing ) which seem all the more ridiculous. Otherwise, he comes off as rather fair and reasonable. Although, I can't agree with him that no-smoking laws in the US (and now creeping through Europe) are diminishing rights (especially coming from someone so adverse to wonton pollution and selfish acts that harm others-which is what smoking is.) I really didn't like his glossing over of the immigration issue that is now confronting America. He, in elitist and ivory tower flair, dismisses illegal immigration as spats with people vying for jobs as car wash jockies and maids. For a man so concerned with the "global south" to reduce illegal immigration to this is a shame. He never delves into the exploitation of these illegal immigrants by the agribusinesses, the Wal-Marts, and the profit seeking at all cost conglomerates that suck them up and spit them out that he spends 90% of his time railing against. He doesn't believe (or at least doesn't lead us to believe that he does) that this period of unheralded illegal immigration has its roots in profiteering at the expense of not only the migrants, but the working class and middle class for the benefit of the few, the wealthy, and powerful. He laments poverty in America, education, healthcare, and the prison system, but never acknowledges the role of illegal immigration in all of this (depressed wages for Americans and migrants fueled by illegal immigration, overburden on public schools, etc..). If he doesn't care about the low wage jobs (the only ones being created now in America) being handed over to the exploited migrants, what will he think of the spreading impoverishment of the domestic working class that is resulting? Then there is his unsubstantiated, no, make that conjecture regarding Scots-Irish(?) and military loyalty. (I think he must have been talking to an uncredited Jim Webb). Finally, (me being petty) this guy has it out for SUVs, and mostly the SUVs of jingoistic troop supporters with their yellow ribbon decals. I also have witnessed this correlation. Fine, but don't expose your disdain as a phobia by constantly referring to it to almost the point of being irrationa